1987. Különkiadvány, 1987.10.01 / HU_BFL_XIV_47_2

enterpriee6, and turning avay from the economically disadvantageous cooperations brought about politically.

Can such a reform program fiod vide aupport in Hungary? In our opinion, it can. Considering its planks one by one, very many people find moat of the piánké appealing.

Bút there are alsó numeroua reservations. Rés istáncé to reform is generated in part by interests (and nőt only tbe interests associated vitb pover): it is nőt clear hov mucb inflation, reduction of income, and unemployment tbe reform vould bring at its start; and certain industries, districts, trades and plants vould be especially hard bit. And in part by principles (and nőt merely the ones professed by the pover structure): by a kind of ideál of equality that does nőt tolerate additional income from entrepreneurship or profit from investment; and by a kind of ideál of economic security vbicb cannot be reconciled vith temporary unemployment or fluctuating reál income.

Hovever, such misgivings vili veaken:- If the population sees tbat the State, before restricting consumption, has suspended all nonessential or questionable investment projects (development of the Yamburg gas deposits, the Bős[Gabcikovo]-Nagymaros darus, and defense spending);- If the economization drive includes alsó proportional cuts in the administrative apparatuses, beginning vith the party apparatuses;- If the priváté sector, once the legal guaranties fór entrepreneurship are in piacé, becomes one of the principal employers of the labor force shed by State industry; and- If, in addition to the compulsion to succeed in the marketplace, alsó the interest-representing organizations begin to exert pressure.

Hovever, the misgivings regarding the economic reform cannot be dispelled entirely, because reform is nőt possible vithout consolidation that vili involve painful restructuring.

Bút even those vho long to be back under the protection of the income- vithdraving and -redistributing State agree that political changes are desirable. It is unneces6ary to convince anyone outside the pover structure that:- Lies in the ma&6 média mu6t cease;- The practice of adopting decisions vithout Consulting the people, and then of making them pay fór the vrong decisions, must ceaBe;- The trade unions must cease representing the State against employees; and- The mockery of civil rights must cease.

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