> The point is valid for the DDR, however, which I do
> know about. The Montagsdemonstrationen were initially
> demonstrations for political freedoms. The stereotype
> of "Banana Gabi" is a vicious Wessi caricature, though
> once monetary union occured, it was inevitable that
> people would start wanting Western goods.
I think this holds for the CSSR, too. But then weren't the standards of living better than in the USSR?
I also suspect that with 15 million people in the CSSR, the Kevin Bacon coefficient was a lot lower and you were more likely to know somebody who emigrated or got fucked over.
-- Andy