Perestroika at a Crossroads in Soviet Heartland From: The Washington Post | Date: July 1, 1990| Author: Michael Dobbs | Copyright (null) The Washington Post. This material is published under license from the Washington Post.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post.Copyright information

The Communist Party ideologist and the leader of a radical opposition group in this Volga River city rarely see eye to eye. But there is one point on which they-and practically everyone else in town-agree: Living conditions have been getting steadily worse over the past five years, undermining confidence in Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev and his perestroika reform program.

"When Gorbachev came to power, it was at least possible to buy macaroni. Now everything is rationed," compla...