Where Are They Leading Us?

Abstract

K. K. Vladimir Aleksandrovich, I turned my attention long ago to the "lesser forms" in agricultural economics, and had written about them in years past because I was always certain that, without them, today's rural countryside would be hard pressed. One cannot ignore the personal homestead, much less the family farming contract. Now, one hears it all the time: a family farm has been started—first here, then there. … But it looks as though our readers don't quite understand this matter. Among us, alongside advocates of the "lesser forms," there have always been those against them—we have politely termed them "opponents." They are highly melodramatic about how many journalists and writers are standing up for cows and bulls on the personal homestead, advocating that the collective and state farms help in the conduct of this economic activity. Certain of our fellow citizens in recent times have taken to criticizing the press particularly zealously for all these "sins," although the Party is calling for a change in thinking and for the renunciation of antiquated perceptions. The Law on Individual Labor Activity is ratified, and at once its opponents are up in arms: "Help! Where are they leading us?"