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C00002 00002	privil[f85,jmc]		Demonstrations against privilege in the Soviet Union
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privil[f85,jmc]		Demonstrations against privilege in the Soviet Union

To foreigners one of the most striking aspects of Soviet society is
the structure of privilege, from the dollar stores to the special
commissaries for central committee employees.  Yet the dissidents
have never made it a focus of protest.  It would seem that this
issue, the facts about which are known to all citizens, is one
that could get popular participation.  Moreover, it isn't obvious
what counter propaganda the Party could use.  They might try to
ride a campaign against privilege, but privilege is so pervasive
that they would find the campaign going much too far.

The demonstrations should be in Moscow in front of the Central Committee
commissary.  They can also be in front of dollar stores.  If there is a
suitable place next to a railway station or other place where large
numbers of ordinary citizens have to wait, this would be good.

1. Maybe children of high officials can be got to make such a demo, perhaps
after a demo by the underprivileged.  They should call themselves Decembrists.

2. A demo by poor pensioners.

3. Perhaps it could start with a complaint so minor that a Party
organization could be tricked into taking the complaint seriously
or a newspaper could be induced to publish something.