Not really. The means were much more brutal, but the effect was the same: stifling opposition, containing criticism, controlling the population through fear of an external enemy and internal traitors, etc.
> Had to register with the local police department.
Every visitor to the U.S. needs to inform the authorities where s/he will reside for the duration. With the exact address, not something vague like state or city.
> and that was everyone's responsibility to report any suspicious activities
Have you heard about neighborhood watch? They even have menacing signs all over the area that they patrol, reporting any suspicious activity, calling the cops on you if you linger and look around.
Lately the public appeals to rat suspicious strangers intensified. About 3 years ago, in Boston's subway I was hearing a PSA with a friendly fireman telling us to be vigilant and report any suspicious individual to the local authorities. I did not have the courage to pull out my camera and take photos of the station. I was suspicious enough already.
> Promotion at work? well, you'd need a recommendation from the head of the block where you lived.
It was worse than that. You needed to be a member of the one true Party in order to get ahead. But it wasn't much different in the States at one point: you had to be proven innocent from accusations of un-american activities if you wanted to keep your job. Even today, people have to register as democrats, republicans or independents before voting. Can you guess how many of them get to keep their political affiliation a secret?
> No one cared about police listening to phone conversation or checking (snail) mail.
Of course they did. Those brave enough to seek information from external propaganda sources like Voice of America and Radio Free Europe were taking a serious risk. So were those who told jokes that mocked the regime. Or those trading in banned books. Or those practicing religion in an atheist state. Or those secretly passing manuscripts to foreign visitors so they can be published abroad. Or those dealing with abortions in a state that forbid them categorically because it needed as many new citizens as it could get. Etc.
If you didn't guess already, this was not the communist block's cushy poster state. This was Romania.
> Every visitor to the U.S. needs to inform the authorities where s/he will reside for the duration. With the exact address, not something vague like state or city.
You're talking about foreign visitors. That's very common in other countries as well. Obviously not a shining example of a freedom country. Still, I was talking about residents. In your own country.
> Have you heard about neighborhood watch? They even have menacing signs all over the area that they patrol, reporting any suspicious activity, calling the cops on you if you linger and look around.
Still, that's no where near as prevalent as what I described. Not even close. Also I figure neighborhood watch resonates well with Americans and their take-matter-into-my-own-hands, government-distrust mentality.
To be fair, I only experienced the last few year of the Cold War. I was young, my family didn't suffer from any hardship, and I still love the place and go back whenever I can.
>Have you heard about neighborhood watch? They even have menacing signs all over the area that they patrol, reporting any suspicious activity, calling the cops on you if you linger and look around.
It is beyond me why you think this is menacing. These things weren't set up to catch reds or terrists, they were set up to prevent burglaries and child kidnappings, which are real, regular occurrences. 99% of the time there's not even really a watch, it's just a sign to deter burglars.
Not really. The means were much more brutal, but the effect was the same: stifling opposition, containing criticism, controlling the population through fear of an external enemy and internal traitors, etc.
> Had to register with the local police department.
Every visitor to the U.S. needs to inform the authorities where s/he will reside for the duration. With the exact address, not something vague like state or city.
> and that was everyone's responsibility to report any suspicious activities
Have you heard about neighborhood watch? They even have menacing signs all over the area that they patrol, reporting any suspicious activity, calling the cops on you if you linger and look around.
Lately the public appeals to rat suspicious strangers intensified. About 3 years ago, in Boston's subway I was hearing a PSA with a friendly fireman telling us to be vigilant and report any suspicious individual to the local authorities. I did not have the courage to pull out my camera and take photos of the station. I was suspicious enough already.
> Promotion at work? well, you'd need a recommendation from the head of the block where you lived.
It was worse than that. You needed to be a member of the one true Party in order to get ahead. But it wasn't much different in the States at one point: you had to be proven innocent from accusations of un-american activities if you wanted to keep your job. Even today, people have to register as democrats, republicans or independents before voting. Can you guess how many of them get to keep their political affiliation a secret?
> No one cared about police listening to phone conversation or checking (snail) mail.
Of course they did. Those brave enough to seek information from external propaganda sources like Voice of America and Radio Free Europe were taking a serious risk. So were those who told jokes that mocked the regime. Or those trading in banned books. Or those practicing religion in an atheist state. Or those secretly passing manuscripts to foreign visitors so they can be published abroad. Or those dealing with abortions in a state that forbid them categorically because it needed as many new citizens as it could get. Etc.
If you didn't guess already, this was not the communist block's cushy poster state. This was Romania.