It's an individual / collective difference in that line, a rather weak example.
The overall comparison reveals how much the point of view warps our perception, though. "We" aren't nearly that much better as we think.
I had a similar experience when I looked at West and East German economic growth of the Cold War era: Supposedly, the East German planning economy had ruined East Germany.
Fact was, it did not ruin, but rebuild - with a growing lag of several years in comparison to West Germany and an altogether different set of problems.
The growth rates were actually quite decent, given the extra burdens carried (more %GDP for military, emigration of many working-age inhabitants, reparations to USSR, unfair trade in COMECON), the inferior 'allied' regions' economies and tech base and the smaller export market for its goods.
A planning economy sucks in many ways, but not that badly as Western propaganda made me believe.
I love such thought provoking stuff that challenges entrenched perceptions. It's good for learning about the real world.
Bookmarks