Q: Hey, how was growing up in Bulgaria in the ‘70s and ‘80s? Was totalitarianism good?

A: It was survivable.

Q: But did some people think it was actually good?

A: Yes. A few honest, simple-minded people thought it was great. They didn’t know what “totalitarian” meant or was. They just liked the simplicity of everything.

Q: I thought totalitarianism enjoyed wide popular support.

A: Many more people pretended to believe it was good; this was a common survival strategy, and a career booster for many.

Q: But once the wheels fell off, everything collapsed pretty quickly, right?

A: Like a house of cards.

Q: Were the “believers” first to abandon ship?

A: Aren’t they always?

Q: But this was in another place, another time, right? Nothing like that is happening now anywhere, right? Right???

A: Of course. Everything is great.

Q: …

A: …

Q: …

A: …

Q: Will there be another installment of “Ask a totalitarian survivor”?

A: Stay tuned.