Stalin's biggest mistake was stopping at Berlin

I've got nothing against the GDR ideology wise but I value criticism. I want it to be heard, not repressed, because you can learn more from your critics than from those who cheer you and repressing it will not actually make anything better, but worse. And it saves you a lot of time and money that you can use on things that really matter.

In general I'd prefer a government to be open towards criticism and transparent in their actions. I know that governments like this are practically non existent but let me just dream for a second.

So if the GDR was more open towards criticism I'd take it back.