Magyar Herald, 1991 (1-2. szám)
1991 / 1. szám
1st QUARTER, 1991 1st QUARTER, 1991 QUARTERLY NEWS LETTER OF THE MAGYAR CLUB OF CLEVELAND MAGYAR HERALD “PERPETUATING HUNGARIAN CULTURE SINCE 1 9 2 4 ” Answers to the TEN most vital QUESTIONS of New Hungary: a Survival • Summerized conclusions of Dr. István Toth, after his recent visit to Hungary, presented to Thirtieth Magyar Kongresszus. * • How our own Magyar Club president views the problems from his high vantage-point in the Look-out tower of TRW, in Cleveland. * Is there any remnant of Marxism in Hungary? No such! Even whatever went wrong in Marxism has no interest anymore. How will the freely elected government accomplish the Nation’s rebuilding? No one knows! Satisfactory ability, organization and leadership is still in a dire need. Does the new leadership recognize Hungary’s geopolitical importance in East-Central Europe? Instructions in that regard are badly needed. Some system, similar to the MITI of Japan, may be the solution. How strong are the present new political parties? The poor participation at the freeelection polls signifies the fact that the present multi-parties lack the peoples’ confidence. Are the present firms in Hungary competetive enough? They all need modernization, efficiently working groops to produce in order to be able to compete on the World-market. (Wages are still 1 / 10th of competing countries.) How effective are the new managements in reforming the inefficiencies of the former Communist Era? Unfortunately the remnants of the by-gone system are still present and some former managers — in many cases — even deliberately hinder the renewal. How efficient are the Hungarian workers? Their efficiency superceedes the American and Japanese workers. Yet their productivity is much lower, mostly because of lack of technology and proper leadership. How do the present managers in charge qualify? They need retraining in applying new methods, which are the driving forces of the present World-market. How effective are the present private firms? Hungary was first to introduce private enterprise among the former Communist nations of Central Europe as early as 1968. There are great many very successful private firms. Strong increase in free competition is most desirable. How can we, business-leaders of West, offer most needed help? For the drastic transition they badly need business managers with Western training and knowledge at least temporarily. They also need the introduction of satisfactory compensation for all workers together with the injection of equal respectfullness for workers and their productivity at all levels. He He He Hungary, History and Hope The three capital “H” letters above appeared in our 4th Quarter Issue of 1989 as a sub-title in these changing times. Now they accelerated into Principle-Title in this first Quarter Issue of our Magyar Herald. This new year of 1991 started the last decade of this century of ours, the one, that has waged more wars than any former one before in the history of human race. The end of the former decade brought about the removal of the Iron-Curtain separating East and West. Much to our satisfaction our little Hungary commenced the chainreactions to follow. Hopes rose high! Kipling’s enigma was deleted! The twain did meet! But the struggle still goes on. The war in the Gulf has complicated things yet more. Glasnost is limping. Soviet is missbehaving. Poor Baltic-States! History reoeats itself. Remember 1956 in Hungary and how the untimely Suez-Canal attack killed everything. Hungary is free and democratic now. But pessimism there at the present is at the highest! In the surrounding nations to the East, North and South situation is yet worse; muchmuch worse! Little Hungary is still the Center of Hope! There is a forceful and dynamic movement for the new Democracy to survive. After the collapse of Marxism West should now do the utmost to give more moral and financial support and assistance in order to move the free economy forward. If it will not be done (Continued on Page 2)
