I really liked that "I don't WANT to be like them" part. It resonates in a way that's clear in hindsight, 30 years later. Both Philip and Elizabeth are right - yes, the Soviet Union did need to change, but not by combining all the worst traits of Russian corruption and unregulated capitalism, which is what happened after the USSR fell apart and Yeltsin took the helm. If it had been anyone but him, Russia might have saved itself a lot of pain and agony and Putin never would've gotten a foothold.