Problems associated with Cuba....

[RadioRaheem84]

Does anyone have any info on the Cuban system before the fall of the former blocs?

It seems like most of the problems associated with Cuba seem to stem from the loss of it's major trading partners and the US economic blockade.

Now according to most stats, the US economic embargo has cost the Cuban people upwards to 70 Billion. If this is true, it seems like a small number to me but it may be a lot for the Cuban state to lose.

The loss of it's major trading partners caused a partial privatization in Cuba usually associated with the tourist industry, and this in turn brought with it a huge black market and intensified the disparities in the economy, with some Cubans living more lavish than the others.

The State is constantly seeking more ways to find revenue and the bureaucratic corruption has increased, leaving capitalist journalists to insist that bureaucrats are solely to blame and that they're living these lavish lives at the expense of the Cuban people.

During the Special Period the Cuban State decided not to succumb to private pressures and re-colonization by foreign interests. Yet, their decision to remain socialists, while good, was also built upon a rickety system that largely relied on who ever would be willing to business with Cuba; largely in the tourist trade.

Is a correct assessment of Cuba's social and economic ills?

However, does the Cuban government have any more of an excuse now? They now have a bloc of nations that are willing to help them like Venezuela and Bolivia. China and Russia too to some extent.

[Obs]

I think it's fair to remain skeptical of the direction Cuba has taken, but when it comes to countries from whom they might get support, I think we have to remember a couple of things. First, Venezuela has problems of its own, and Bolivia is not exactly an economic powerhouse. Second, China doesn't seem very willing to expand beyond Asia and Africa - and I would be very wary of Chinese businesses opening up in Cuba - and third, Russia is... well, dying, in almost every sense of the word. And also kind of a terrible country in all respects.

In other words, although their situation is brightening somewhat, Cuba still has immense obstacles ahead of it, and it does no-one any good to simply throw criticism at the Cuban government.

EDIT: Fuck me, I just made a post that wasn't a snide one-liner. I must be sober.

[RadioRaheem84]

Well I meant was the things I listed were problems the Cuban government faced, not necessarily criticizing the government.

Do you think that with the emergence of ALBA that Cuba has a chance that it did not have before, after the fall of the Bloc nations?

[The Vegan Marxist]

Does anyone have any info on the Cuban system before the fall of the former blocs?

It seems like most of the problems associated with Cuba seem to stem from the loss of it's major trading partners and the US economic blockade.

Now according to most stats, the US economic embargo has cost the Cuban people upwards to 70 Billion. If this is true, it seems like a small number to me but it may be a lot for the Cuban state to lose.

The loss of it's major trading partners caused a partial privatization in Cuba usually associated with the tourist industry, and this in turn brought with it a huge black market and intensified the disparities in the economy, with some Cubans living more lavish than the others.

The State is constantly seeking more ways to find revenue and the bureaucratic corruption has increased, leaving capitalist journalists to insist that bureaucrats are solely to blame and that they're living these lavish lives at the expense of the Cuban people.

During the Special Period the Cuban State decided not to succumb to private pressures and re-colonization by foreign interests. Yet, their decision to remain socialists, while good, was also built upon a rickety system that largely relied on who ever would be willing to business with Cuba; largely in the tourist trade.

Is a correct assessment of Cuba's social and economic ills?

However, does the Cuban government have any more of an excuse now? They now have a bloc of nations that are willing to help them like Venezuela and Bolivia. China and Russia too to some extent.

I wouldn't categorize China as the "to some extent". China has been one of Cuba's main bilateral relations trading partner for quite a while now. Now, I'll agree with the statements on Russia. Venezuela & China are great allies to Cuba, & Bolivia is making its way onto the same rank.

[RadioRaheem84]

What hope does Cuba have to strengthen the revolution without resorting to privatization?

[Queercommie Girl]

^

This cannot be done without spreading the revolution to other parts of the world.

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

I made a thread in politics recently about ALBA and its associated economic integration measures. Cuba could, and probably should, benefit from this organisation. Although geographically it's not quite in line with Venezuela, Bolivia etc., it probably makes sense for them to integrate as, admirable as their Socialist direction has been during the past two decades, it's really not led them to prosperity or to Socialist success, as there's simply nothing to share out amongst the population.

However, it seems Raul is succumbing to the younger generation of careerists; i'm so, so sceptical of the privatising moves that have recently been announced. My hope is that they are only temporary, though for me they probably will not be and Cuba will start to move away from Marxian Socialism, probably as soon as Fidel and the rest of the old guard die out.

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

^

This cannot be done without spreading the revolution to other parts of the world.

They need to put their own house in order first. They simply do not have the resources, economic or man-power wise, to spread revolution right now.

[Macera]

"Report on the political and economic situation in Cuba" is a great article by Gloria La Riva of the Party for Socialism and Liberation. It is an in-depth analysis of the recent problems Cuba is facing and I think you would all find it to be a great resource and a useful tool in defending the Cuban Revolution in the Belly of the Beast. You can find it on PSLweb.org

[Fulanito de Tal]

Does anyone have any info on the Cuban system before the fall of the former blocs?

It seems like most of the problems associated with Cuba seem to stem from the loss of it's major trading partners and the US economic blockade.

Now according to most stats, the US economic embargo has cost the Cuban people upwards to 70 Billion. If this is true, it seems like a small number to me but it may be a lot for the Cuban state to lose.

The loss of it's major trading partners caused a partial privatization in Cuba usually associated with the tourist industry, and this in turn brought with it a huge black market and intensified the disparities in the economy, with some Cubans living more lavish than the others.

The State is constantly seeking more ways to find revenue and the bureaucratic corruption has increased, leaving capitalist journalists to insist that bureaucrats are solely to blame and that they're living these lavish lives at the expense of the Cuban people.

During the Special Period the Cuban State decided not to succumb to private pressures and re-colonization by foreign interests. Yet, their decision to remain socialists, while good, was also built upon a rickety system that largely relied on who ever would be willing to business with Cuba; largely in the tourist trade.

Is a correct assessment of Cuba's social and economic ills?

However, does the Cuban government have any more of an excuse now? They now have a bloc of nations that are willing to help them like Venezuela and Bolivia. China and Russia too to some extent.

My dad was in Cuba until the early 90's when he came over to the U$. He hates it here so he goes back to Cuba a lot (a lot a lot). He's told me how before the fall of the Soviet Union, things were great compared to now. He says that that was real socialism and that know he doesn't know what to call the economy in Cuba.

Another difference he sees is foreign influence of the Cuban culture. Before the shift to the tourism industry, there weren't many tourists bringing in their "fancy" crap. So no one was into Dolce and Gabanna or whatever brands. Now, when I go, I see people walking around wearing those types of brands.

Ways the embargo hurts Cuba's economy

For the most part, Cuba cannot buy anything that has U$ parts. So if a medical machine that would save the lives of 100K Cubans a year has one screw made in the U$, they cannot buy it.

A more specific example is the plane situation. Cuba has to fix old planes or rent them from another country. Renting becomes expensive, especially when the company knows you have no other alternative.

Another issue is in communication. Since no U$ company can do business with Cuba, Cuba cannot receive payments for services provided to the U$. When someone makes a call from here to Cuba, the U$ company and Cuba provide services. The person billed is in the U$ and the money goes to the U$ company. The U$ company is supposed to give Cuba their share of the money, but can't. Hence, Cuba provides free telephone service to anyone calling from the U$.

Internet is also a problem. The US wont let Cuba connect to the internet through a land line to Florida. So, Cuba has to connect through a satellite connection which is really expensive.

Here's a link to a table showing the history of the UN's voting history against the U$'s embargo of Cuba: http://www.granma.cubaweb.cu/2010/10/26/cubamundo/artic06.html

Value of Dollars in Cuba

Also, 70 billion dollars in the U$ isn't a lot, but that's because we are extremely wasteful. We have to give tons of money to the rich, pay for marketing, insurance, lawyers, political campaigns, and tons of people that don't produce anything in the process of providing products and services. In Cuba, $70 billion would go a lot further because besides the tourism industry, mostly everything is produced for use-value. There is no waste on marketing, insurance, lawyers, campaigns, and many other wasteful aspects of U$ capitalism.

To get a good idea of this, watch Sicko by Michael Moore. There's a part in which a lady is broke because she cannot afford inhalers in the U$, goes to Cuba and starts crying because they are so cheap in Cuba -- like $0.05. For more on Cuban medicine, read my blog.

[Noinu]

To get a good idea of this, watch Sicko by Michael Moore. There's a part in which a lady is broke because she cannot afford inhalers in the U$, goes to Cuba and starts crying because they are so cheap in Cuba -- like $0.05. For more on Cuban medicine, read my blog.

On a complete off-note, the Cuban health care used to be one of the best in the world (it's still very good, just not right at the top...).
So it's not just cheap medicine, it's extremely good medical service otherwise as well, doctors who know what they're doing and do it to help people, not to get rich.

[I.O.T.M]

On the topic of Cuban healthcare, they have an excess of doctors which allows them to send aid out to countries in need. In 2007 Cuba had about 42,000 medical workers abroad, according to a report.

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

They mainly are forced to send them out, too, by economic conditions. There are doctors working as waiters in Cuba because firstly, the pay (in terms of tips) is better, and secondly, there are not enough government jobs for doctors because they simply don't have the equipment to provide the very best in terms of healthcare, which is a great shame as the entire world has Cuba to thank for a great many medicinal wonders, the Hepatitis vaccine being one such example.

[RadioRaheem84]

How come no one, not just here, ever mentions their emerging bio-tech industry which is already gaining strength and recognition around the world.

[Fulanito de Tal]

How come no one, not just here, ever mentions their emerging bio-tech industry which is already gaining strength and recognition around the world.

I have never heard anything about it. Thanks for the research topic!

I know someone in Cuba that went to doctor for a rash on his back. He was diagnosed with some fungus. The doctor prescribed him a cream. However, to save the patient money (1.25 pesos, lol), the doctor told him that if he boiled a certain tree leaf and applied the tea and leaf to the affected area, it would treat it just like the medicine. The patient did it and he was cured. Now, that's what I call bio-tech!

Benefits
free
environment friendly
practical
simple
everywhere


P.S. Generally, Cubans on the island are cheap. They will even show you how they are so cheap. It's something people brag about...their methods. The person that told me this story did so to brag about how he didn't have to pay for the medicine.

[Fulanito de Tal]

"Report on the political and economic situation in Cuba" is a great article by Gloria La Riva of the Party for Socialism and Liberation. It is an in-depth analysis of the recent problems Cuba is facing and I think you would all find it to be a great resource and a useful tool in defending the Cuban Revolution in the Belly of the Beast. You can find it on PSLweb.org

Reading that depresses me. :crying: