Guardian, 2008: Czechoslovakia '74 better place than the US, 2008:

Norm truly wonders as he reads:

Was Czechoslovakia in 1975 a better place politically than the US is in 2008? ...

Comparisons:

Czechoslovakia, 1975:

Despite widespread discontent with the oppressive Husak regime, a 1974 study finds active support for the government in 15% of the population, identified as pensioners, party bureaucrats, careerists, "parasites", extremist ideologues and persons involved in the Stalinist repression who fear that liberalisation might force them to account for their crimes.

US, 2008:

George Bush's approval ratings generally hover around 30%, although one recent poll put it as low as 19%.

here you go - low approval ratings for both Husak and Bush....


Czechoslovakia, 1975:

Despite an increased standard of living and the widespread availability of material goods, consumerism is failing to placate a population fed up with draconian political controls.

US, 2008:

Despite a rise in the cost of living, consumerism continues to placate a population largely oblivious to the curtailment of its freedoms....



Next up:

Czechoslovakia, 1975:

Growth of "net material product" is at an annual average of 5.7%, exceeding the target rate of 5.1% set out in the fifth Five-Year Plan. Full employment.

US, 2008:

Energy Information Administration this week predicted negative growth in the two forthcoming financial quarters, the official definition of recession. 101,000 private-sector jobs were lost in February alone.

Well, then, unbeatable, surgically-accurate analysis that answers the question in the affirmative... right?

Read Norm's understated connective comments, just in case you are pre-inclined to undue reverence for the Guardian's writers, it being British and everything...