>Polls suggest there is a real yearning in some areas to go back to the days where the secret police and rationing of basic goods were real things. It's bizarre.

Not very bizarre. Other things were also "real things", like job security, food for everyone (even if little), a sense of belonging, etc. And a far better culture (including a vibrant counter-culture against the regime) than the BS that the media serve today.

If you visit some places full of dirt poor families, abandoned buildings and meth addicts, you'll get a nice glimpse why some might want it another way.