this post was submitted on 10 May 2026
1 points (100.0% liked)

Ask Lemmygrad

1354 readers
24 users here now

A place to ask questions of Lemmygrad's best and brightest

founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Anyone wondering that between Brezhnev and Gorby they were Soviet leaders. Also the guy on the left was Nikolai Tikhonov the Soviet Premier at the time if your curious.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] HarryLime@hexbear.net 0 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Edit: Here is another passage, contrasting Andropov with Gorbachev:

Despite his neo-Leninist rhetoric, Gorbachev could not decide on a strategy of reforms during his first two years in power. As an admirer of Lenin, he searched for some key leverage that could revive Soviet society and the economy. Yet he also heeded Andropov’s conservative advice: before any radical political changes, suggested by Yakovlev, Soviet people should feel tangible improvements in the economy. Soon after coming to power, therefore, Gorbachev listed the economic and social problems he wanted to address: “1) Quality; 2) Struggle against drinking; 3) People in need; 4) Land for orchards and gardens; 5) Medicine.”35 Surprisingly, the list did not include the pressing issues that Andropov had raised about Soviet macroeconomic stability: the need to reduce the import of food, restore the balance of trade, crack down on the shadow economy, and discipline the labor force. Gorbachev’s notes did not contain any diagnosis of the economic and financial problems plaguing the Soviet Union.

[–] ComradeChris101@lemmygrad.ml 0 points 1 month ago (1 children)

So it adds that Gorbachev was not an experienced leader unlike Andropov?

[–] cfgaussian@lemmygrad.ml 0 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

To put it mildly. He was an idiot.

[–] ComradeChris101@lemmygrad.ml 0 points 1 month ago

Not really because in a way he knew that his actions were going to destroy socialism but he didn't care nor understood.