New Orleans looks to Cuba.

[A.R.Amistad]

Recently, the Mayor of New Orleans made a visit to the developing socialist republic of Cuba. During the Bush Administration and Hurricane Katrina, the Cuban government offered to mobilize its resources to help the Gulf Coast. Of course, Bush was not all that concerned with the Gulf Coast and didn't want to have anything to do with those pesky Cuban commies. This is sad, because Cuba has the best Hurricane evacuation and recovery system in the Americas. But now, the New Orleans Mayor has traveled to Cuba to learn about preventing another disaster like what happened in Katrina and how to ensure the safety of all citizens who might be in danger. Who knows, maybe for once a prominent American leader has been able to see the workings of a developing worker's state in action, and maybe relations with the US and Cuba will be normalized, the embargo lifted and socialist Cuba will be able to develop worker's democracy and economic development to its fullest.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h_WqILb5ZhdhiKfjlIgjBY0ypovQ

[chegitz guevara]

I highly doubt that relations with Cuba will be normalized because of this visit. When it happens, it will be because of capitalist pressure in order to make a profit from trade with the island. It's not gonna happen any sooner than the 2nd Obama term, though.

[Tifosi]

I wound't get my hope's up for much change in the near future:(

[A.R.Amistad]

Still, I think it's great that even some politicians whose politics as of now I don't agree with are looking to socialist Cuba for advice. Maybe they aren't going to lift the embargo tomorrow, but it looks like a worker's republic is being admired for some things. One small step for man.....or woman....

[NecroCommie]

Hah! At this moment I have a burning desire to hear all the anti-cuba slogans ever chanted in New-Orleans... but, 'gasp', where are they?! I wonder what they are saying now.

[Raúl Duke]

Hah! At this moment I have a burning desire to hear all the anti-cuba slogans ever chanted in New-Orleans... but, 'gasp', where are they?! I wonder what they are saying now.

I doubt there will be any...
In fact, they might like the whole idea (didn't Cuba offered some sort of help or something to New Orleans before...?)

Although surely there's a trade gimmick...I've heard of previous accounts of (limited I guess) trade between Louisiana and Cuba in a news article (but it's been quite some time ago)

Most anti-cuba fuss comes from Miami for the obvious reasons.

[A.R.Amistad]

I doubt there will be any...
In fact, they might like the whole idea (didn't Cuba offered some sort of help or something to New Orleans before...?)

Yes, Cuba offered to send aid to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast before and after Katrina hit. But of course, Bush wouldn't want any of "dem un-American commies" doing anything but starving. You have to laugh at it so as you don't cry, I say.


Although surely there's a trade gimmick...I've heard of previous accounts of (limited I guess) trade between Louisiana and Cuba in a news article (but it's been quite some time ago)

Right now Cuba needs all the help it can get, so any trade is good trade for Cuba. I trust that the our comrades in Cuba will keep capitalism and imperialism out of Cuba even in the face of a lifted embargo. I hate to say it, but they may have to adopt a sort of NEP policy for the time being if they conduct trade with the imperialist power. Either way, it would be beneficial to expanding worker's democracy and socialism in Cuba.

[blake 3:17]

Great! I think one great argument for socialism is Cuba's ability to deal with natural disaster. It's amazing and totally rational. So much of the death related to Katarina was sooooo stupid and senseless.

Good on Nagin for going there.

[Labor Shall Rule]

Great! I think one great argument for socialism is Cuba's ability to deal with natural disaster. It's amazing and totally rational. So much of the death related to Katarina was sooooo stupid and senseless.

Good on Nagin for going there.

I'd say "good" but not good enough.

It didn't seem like Nagin cared that much when Bush cut thirty million in flood control appropriations, or when he made a forty percent reduction in the budget for the New Orleans Corp of Engineers. He was the liberal politician that was fine with scrapping plans to fortify the levees and upgrading the water pumping system. Also, he is the man that presided over the diaspora of poor blacks from the city.

[Muzk]

If the world market opens for Cuba, aren't there chances it will become state-capitalist? :( Capitalists would make their workers work harder for just 1 thing you can easily produce, sell it on the world market, keep profit and give little to nothing to the workers.

Castro...

[RedSonRising]

If the world market opens for Cuba, aren't there chances it will become state-capitalist? :( Capitalists would make their workers work harder for just 1 thing you can easily produce, sell it on the world market, keep profit and give little to nothing to the workers.

Castro...

While some would already jump on you for not already considering Cuba State-Capitalist, I think that your concerns of the increasing State control of economic distribution from international revenue may lessen a bit in the fact that the future of Cuba's international relations will most likely develop more in solidarity with the emerging left-wing republics of Latin America. I am not uncritical of those governments, but I see the trend as positive for the progress of proletarian ideals in the region and beyond. The "World Market"'s affect on Cuba will depend on the nature of their trade relations with these countries in specifically that region. Raul is shifting the organization of the economy (such as agricultural planning) to more municipal levels, which may possibly indicate less bureaucratic control and more local integration of workers in the decision-making progress. All of these factors show that there is a possibility for Cuba to preserve the progressive aspects of their government while becoming gradually more civilly libertarian in the face of a re-introduction into the modern international community (something they've needed badly since the collapse of the USSR but have been unable and even unwilling to accomplish due to their ideological isolation.)

The fact that a lower-level politician from the United States is the actor initiating contact and not some agenda-pursuing crony from Washington makes me think that such interactions as these are a more of a positive thing for the Cuban/New Orleans people than a negative thing.

[pranabjyoti]

Actually I am interested how local control and technological development go together in Cuba. For technological development, you need central planning and huge funding from state. I am curious to know how new technologies have been introduced in those farms and how the workers learn to control them.

[Muzk]

I am curious to know how new technologies have been introduced in those farms and how the workers learn to control them.

do you think they are stupid?



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRz34Dee7XY

[pranabjyoti]

[QUOTE=Muzk;1578113]do you think they are stupid?
Certainly nobody thinks that the workers are stupid. But, whenever any technology is introduced, that means less workers are necessary. In my opinion, any socialist country or workers committee can control that matter by lessened working hours. In a capitalist society, introduction of new technology means job loss. But, what is happening in Cuba?

[Muzk]

no idea, any kind of interpretation would be stupid
would be awesome if they had some kind of international media... website of some sort.. where they put stuff happening in cuba..
ask raul

[Wanted Man]

no idea, any kind of interpretation would be stupid
would be awesome if they had some kind of international media... website of some sort.. where they put stuff happening in cuba..
ask raul

1: http://www.prensa-latina.cu/index.php?lang=EN
2: http://www.granma.cu/ingles/index.html

:)