Decades ago, when the Soviet Union was a relevant political force, half of Europe fell behind what political analysts referred to as the “iron curtain” — an area known for militant authoritarianism and severely limited civil rights.
Since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, these former communist proxy states have truly transformed themselves. Since ditching authoritarian socialism — and to a large degree, leftism in general — countries like Poland, Romania, and the Balkan states have seen their economies dramatically improve, along with their civil rights.
Western Europe has moved largely in the opposite direction. While the area was once known as the bastion of what liberal democracy and capitalism could accomplish, countries like the United Kingdom and France have actual “hate speech” laws on the books — effectively setting a precedent that the state can prosecute you if it doesn’t like what you have to say.
It’s not a large leap to suggest that the iron curtain of the past has simply changed sides.
~ Facts Not Memes
