ies view communism as the supreme enemy, only failures of the socialist societies are generally recognized. In point of fact, the USSR has recorded both failures of which the western publics have been made well aware by their own media, and successes of which the people of the USSR are proud (Gorbachev, 1987). Universal and free, medical care (not equal to western standards in many instances, 4but surpassing western standards in a few instances particu larly access), housing for all (albeit not the equivalent of that typical in the United States, but, nevertheless, far superior to that available to the significant number of Americans who are homeless), universal and free child daycare, and many other societal assets are credited by the Soviets to the success of the socialist system (Gorbachev, 1987). They are proud of these successes, and, while they are pursuing economic reform, they have no intention of dismantling the existing socialist system.
THE IMPETUS FOR AND INITIATION OF REFORM
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