Now check this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3J-YymBw_Pg"]YouTube - Hints of Dramatic Change Emerge from Fidel Castro
I hope you realize that Castro's revolution was to overthrow a dictator that we (U.S.) installed. At that time we could have been his friend, but we didn't, and the USSR did. Cuba is what it is today because of American policy, or more simply put, Cuba was Made in America. We may, again, have an opportunity to make nice with Cuba and form a beneficial relationship or, we can continue to make the situation worse. What happens in Cuba will, as usual, depend on American Policy regarding it. If you've ever been to Miami, you can see that what happens in Cuba does not stay in Cuba. And, he said it no longer works, not that it never worked. I don't see an admission of failure so much as some updated policy changes. .
What do you consider to have worked in communist Cuba? The question is did Cuban communist policies work well enough to make it a prosperous country? Basically no. Many will blame the embargo but didn't Cuba have to deal with many of the problems that most communist countries had experienced? Like shortages and rationing of various items related to price controls? Here's an example of how some Cuban economic policies worked and the results they brought.
Actually, a good deal of this is from an ethnocentric view. You cannot judge the success or failure of another country based on our criteria, and don't forget, America has done everything in it's power to keep Cuba from being prosperous. To be fair, Castro's government never was given the opportunity to be all that it could have been. In the end, though, if the people who live there consider it a success, is it really up to us to say it isn't; and, if they aren't satisfied, does much of the blame lie here as opposed to there. You can't tie a 20 lb. ball around the ankle of a runner and then say it's his fault for loosing the race. .
Is this about the embargo here? If so let's keep in mind that one big reason for the embargo is because Cuba has been an oppressive country under Castro. Cuba under Castro hasn't ranked too well as far as human rights. Censorship in Cuba:
^ Well lets acknowledge that all dictators are bad wether they were U.S backed or Soviet backed. Castro even backed some brutal regimes in Africa. Castro backed horrible dictators in Africa like Mengistu Haile Mariam of Ethiopia and Francisco Macias Nguema of Equatoral Guinea. Both of these Castro backed leaders were brutal tyrants. So it wasn't just the western powers who propped up tyrants. Nice photo of Fidel and Raul with the Ethiopian dictator: BBC News - Recording Ethiopia's Red Terror
Since Castro was the leader of a citizen revolt, who in the hell are we to decide for the Cuban people how they should live? Cubans have the right to any form of government they choose to have, and they chose this one. You're forgetting that we are the bully here. America is the nation that imposes unwanted forms of government around the world, and you seem to be one who supports this. As to human rights, America doesn't rank very well on that either, and a sizable number of our population wants even fewer human rights. .
i guess my point was that cuba is worse now for some people [most of whom moved to the us] and better now for others [most of whom are still in cuba]
Another interesting development. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IcSlv_lfu8"]YouTube - Tomas Bilbao discusses economic reforms in Cuba on BBC World News on September 13, 2010
Americans are giving themselves too much credit if they are claiming American responsibility for conditions on La Isla, good or bad. Give Fidel Castro the credit he deserves for his Island he has enjoyed the power of life or death over the entire Island for the last 50 years; one of the longest tenures in history. a modern day William The Conqueror who rules his Island as a feudal realm, unchecked by any balance of power. Give Fidel Castro the credit for self-introspection, his comments on La Isla's economic failures. He certainly has all the information at hand. Perhaps a new goverment in Cuba will allow freedom of the press and freedom of assembly, political dissent, internet access and other freedoms we all seem to take for granted. The Island has been compelled to renounce its freedoms for The Iron ricebowl of Mao. an under-examined bargian. It is unique, the partisans in The West which Fidel has held in his thrall over the years. As if by some magic.
I think Fidel being in power so long could be because of the special status Cubans have. If they reach U.S soil they will be treated differently than other immigrants. I think over the years Cubans have found it easier to just flee Cuba rather than going through the process of over throwing Castro. If U.S policy didn't give fleeing Cubans special treatment then I think Cubans would have over thrown Castro years ago.
It is the simple issue of commodity fetishism. Give me a good book and I can stand the day without having been logged in my computer. Fancy dresses with plunging necklines are an abomination against God. God saved Fidel Castro has no time for these things for his God-saved daughters and wife...So with God-saved Raul Castro...
