Interviewer (Jeremy): Nice to have you here, Stalin! Stalin (Jessica): Nice to be here.

Interviewer: So, tell me, whats the deal with all this NEP business? Stalin: Well it allows some private profit fromInterviewer: Can I call you Joseph? Stalin: Uh..sure Interviewer: Ok, great. Continue. Stalin: As I was saying, it allows some private profit from selling excess crops, keeps control of major industries, banks, and communication. Some small factories and businesses are allowed to operate under private ownership. Interviewer: Oh, ok. So, Joseph, Lenin says youve concentrated enormous power and hes not sure you know how to use it. Stalin: Of course I do. I plan on using this power to improve all of Russia and its civilians. Interviewer: Ok, Joe. Can I call you Joe? So, back to this whole NEP thing- youre okay with it? Stalin: No. Thats why I replaced it with the Five Year Plan. It will increase productivity. We are 100 years behind advanced countries. We must make this up in ten years or they will crush us. Interviewer: Intense. But dont you think all this increased productivity will leave people in ruins? Stalin: This is about Russia as a whole, not every individual. Interviewer: Interestingand what are these Collective Farms? Stalin: Their purpose is to increase production. The government controls these farms and its a good idea because I believe it will help us industrialize faster. Interviewer: I see, I see. And how do you plan on getting people to conform into this socialist realism you are trying to spread? Stalin: I will show Soviet life in a positive light, of course. Interviewer: OkI understand you changed the Soviet Union into a totalitarian state- what does this mean? Stalin: I pretty much regulate every aspect of the lives of citizens because I know what is good for them. Interviewer: Do you really So whats with the secret police?

Stalin: Well, the secret police keep the citizens in check. They monitor the phone lines and read peoples mail. Interviewer: Ohhhh. Okay And what would you say is most important to you? Stalin: Loyalty, of course. Interviewer: Great. I hear youre also trying to replace religion with communism. How? Stalin: I am closing churches and synagogues. School children are learning the virtues of the Communist Party and anyone who questions it will be imprisoned. Interviewer: And what else have you done? Made any changes to the economy? Stalin: Yes, Ive created a command economy. Interviewer: Can you explain what that means? Stalin: It means the government makes decisions about what to produce, how to produce it, and who will consume it. Interviewer: Wow, what dont you have under control?! Stalin: Interviewer: Okaaay, so how do you think this command economy will benefit Russia? Stalin: The government knows whats best for Russia and its civilians, so it should be in control of the goods distributed in Russia. Interviewer: Nice point of view. But back to what we were saying before, dont you think imprisoning people for questioning the communist party is a little harsh? Stalin: The children are the future of Russia. We want the children to be taught what is best for the country and people questioning this is in no way beneficial to us. Interviewer: Ahhh, okay and it seems were out of time. Sosee ya next timeJoe.