[speaker001:] let me ask you do you think the Soviet Union is a still a threat to the United States
[speaker002:] do you know I don't know what to think I I the person I am I want to believe that it's an honest effort I want to believe that that they really are trying to change that that maybe they are headed for a more democratic society and I I want to believe it's all okay
[speaker001:] uh-huh
[speaker002:] but then there's that side of me that says yeah but they've put on faces before
[speaker001:] right
[speaker002:] and never to this extent though you know so so it's like there is a struggle within me going do do I be open minded and give them the benefit of the doubt which is kind of my basic personality you know I I trust people I'll do that
[speaker001:] uh-huh
[speaker002:] or do I keep on going well we'll wait and see
[speaker001:] well I think there's a a struggle within the Soviet Union um I think the people are are just fed up and I think it's showing in all the republics trying to gain their independence and I think uh that's making Gorbachev and others realize that hey maybe this Communist thing isn't working
[speaker002:] yeah that it's not just American uh or western society telling you it it's it doesn't work
[speaker001:] right
[speaker002:] you know they've always said you know the the Soviet people were united we believe this and maybe they're seeing that no no hey we don't believe this you know
[speaker001:] that's right I think
[speaker002:] but it's still you know I guess I keep that one part of me that's like well I don't know I want to trust them and I it's like I can't and maybe it's because you know we've had our own propaganda over the years I don't know
[speaker001:] well that that could be you know what I we always we think of the KGB and we think such bad things you know but I wouldn't doubt if the Soviet people think CIA and they think such bad things you know
[speaker002:] and they probably do the same things
[speaker001:] exactly exactly they do
[speaker002:] you think the CIA doesn't spy I'm sure they do
[speaker001:] oh yeah they do you know
[speaker002:] now the difference is we don't I don't I don't think we take people and kill them just because they don't believe what we believe you know I think to that extent we don't go as far but I'm sure they lie you know
[speaker001:] oh yeah oh absolutely that's part of that propaganda thing and I think if we can get away from that or if we can keep that out of our minds ah excuse me I've got a cold today
[speaker002:] so that's all right I hope you get better
[speaker001:] thank you um I think if we can get that propaganda thing because I'm sure both countries are seeing seeing it you know thinking KGB and CIA and all that but uh
[speaker002:] yeah
[speaker001:] just on an economic point of view if the Soviet Union doesn't do something fast they're they ain't gonna be able to feed their people this this winter you know but
[speaker002:] yeah yeah that's true
[speaker001:] but on the other hand I'm kind of getting fed up with uh our own country and presidency ah always concerning themselves with other nations' problems when we have so many at home yet
[speaker002:] and I'm not against them being concerned but I feel like we ought to be spending maybe the same time and effort and and energy into trying to solve our own or resolve our own
[speaker001:] right
[speaker002:] you know I mean you know any any country that wants to be democratic I'm all for helping them you know because I I understand that you know you're looking at United States as the biggest and longest supporter of that type of government
[speaker001:] right
[speaker002:] but at the same time I agree I don't think we can do it and and just you know turn our backs or or be ignorant per se to the things that are happening here
[speaker001:] that's right you know we've got uh we've got quite a few domestic problems that uh that I feel we ought to be concentrating more on I think the problem is and on the international scope maybe the president feels that uh you know for long term relations with all these countries it's important and well we'll always we'll always have the United States and you know we need to solve these international problems but um I've think I heard in the news about last week sometime that uh the president ended up canceling one of his international trips so he could spend more time on them on a domestic issue because the American public's kind of getting fed up with it
[speaker002:] yeah we we we believe in what he's doing abroad but but like you said there's issues here too
[speaker001:] right
[speaker002:] and but I I am encouraged by what's happening in the Soviet Union I'm encouraged by what's happened in you know the the iron curtain countries you know in in that block and
[speaker001:] right
[speaker002:] and I think it's moved in the right direction I now I think sometimes people expect it to happen overnight you know it's not going to it didn't happen here overnight and it didn't happen here without a struggle
[speaker001:] yep no that's right that's right
[speaker002:] you know and I I think sometimes we forget that but I I I'd I have to say yes I'm you know I'm encouraged by the way it's going uh
[speaker001:] well I think uh
[speaker002:] uh
[speaker001:] I think in the long