Are you dissapointed with Cuba?

[Don't Change Your Name]

I want to know what you all think of Cuba. Do you think it's going the right way?
Or Fidel is just a socialist dictator?
Has anyone been to Cuba enough time as to give a good explanation of what's going on there?

Fidel talks a lot about health and education and many talk about "democracy" and "elections" there, but my point is that as it happened in the USSR and China, the workers oppinion is never taken into account on the economy and politics.

I believe the biggest problem with such socialist regimes is that the centralized power cant fix certain problems the people have that affects their daily life, so they arent flexible enough and they use repression against the ones who wants to help in that aspect. Not letting people propose changes and ways to improve society will lead to a failure of all leftists ideologies.

What do you think?

BTW, I dont know if this should be in Politics or Opposing Ideologies forums.

[chamo]

I think Cuba is possibly the greatest country ever. I am not at all disappointed with the revolution and Fidel has the support of the people. There is a very good democratic system in place there, despite the US lies.


Fidel talks a lot about health and education and many talk about "democracy" and "elections" there, but my point is that as it happened in the USSR and China, the workers opinion is never taken into account on the economy and politics.

I think Fidel firmly has his convictions based on the workers opinion, albeit there is no official system of referendums (I think). Economics are far too complicated for ordinary people to understand let alone be responsible for making decisions on, but there is no reason why a Command economy doesn't need to cohere to the needs and demand of their people.

[Collective]

As an example of Cuban workers democracy, in the early 1990's when the economic crisis began 80,000 workers parliaments were formed to come up with a solution. Its a misconception amongst both Cuba's friends and enemies that Fidel guides everything.

[Fidelbrand]

Every part of Cuba has community leaders to get opinions and air them to the gov't, to provide aid, etc. The communities take care of themselves.

Cuba's socialist characteristic would be the former example for the world to come, when capitalism destroys the world to a great extent... that is why Fidel says, "History will absolve me~~"

In regards to econ. situation, Cuba isn't doing well enough, the reason is simple -----> embargoes and boycotts of other regimes.. Like the E.U. , they curbed much trade in Cuba just to ass-kiss U.S.

Cuba is one of the remaining "rational conscience" of the world.... as Fidel said, selfishness, hgemonies and wastes caused by capitalism will fuck up the world.

I support this country with full heart. Its struggles, the unity of the people, and the leader's benevolent conviction are the forces that will help them , in one day, show the world that it is the one who has waken up earlier than all other countries.

;)

[UnionofSovietSocialistRepublics]

Cuba is gr8, i'm going there in a few months. I think Fidel and the people of cuba deserve real praise for keeping the revolution alive, especially with evil embargoes and boycotts in place-not to mention the fall of the Union.

[Don't Change Your Name]

Ok, thanks for posting your views

[YKTMX]

I would defend Cuba against imperialism and the embargo, but I think it's far from perfect.

[RevolucioN NoW]

Castro's Cuba is not a very good example of socialism in practice, most cubans do not support castro, but support the socialist system (public ownership of factories, free everything).

He should allow greater freedoms of the press and for rival political groupings to operate, most of these are left wing in the first place.

I want to go to cuba, but im too poor :( it costs like $4000 + from Australia (from my calculations)

[Comrade Ceausescu]

most cubans do not support castro

this is not true.

[Urban Rubble]

Ya, that's what I was going to say. If you think you most Cubans don't support Castro, you have been greatly misinformed. Perhaps the "Cubans" in Miami don't support him, but the ones on the island do. You know, the ones that care about food and shelter more than casinos and BMW's.

[chamo]

"most cubans do not support castro"Everybody over the age of 16 can vote in Cuba. When voting they can do three things with their ballot card, which is kept secret. The first is to leave all the blocks, for each national candidate, blank or deface the card, the second is to fill out some of blocks, and the third is to fill all the blocks to show that you have full support for the revolution, socialism and Castro. In the most recent elections 7 percent either left the blocks blank of defaced the card, another 7 percent ticked either one of less than all of the blocks, while 85 percent voted for the entire list. The voter turn-out was 99%.

[Saint-Just]

Originally posted by RevolucioN [email protected] 14 2003, 11:29 PM
He should allow greater freedoms of the press and for rival political groupings to operate, most of these are left wing in the first place.
Castro is a Leninist. Leninists do not believe in 'rival political groupings'. If the power of one single communist party is compromised the power of the working-class is compromised. The working-class have one single interest and ideal; there is no need for heterogeniality.

No one who does not support the Castro line and the line of the party in Cuba does not deserve 'greater freedoms of the press'. Those who say what is correct and true in the press have all the freedom they want.

[commie kg]

I'm not too hot on Cuba, because I'm not a Leninist.

I believe we'll see capitalist restoration there, within the next decade.

[YKTMX]

The fact that Cuba will once again become wholly Capitalist is not in doubt in my mind. It's just a question of when.

[Collective]

...'though cowards flinch and traitors sneer we'll keep the red flag flying here...'

[Iepilei]

Castro has managed to turn Cuba into one of the best nations in Latin America. High literacy rates, good medical system, and a slowly improving economy - despite American attempts to hinder growth.

I believe Cuba is proof, that socialism done correctly can work very efficiently. There are a few things I disagree with, don't get me wrong. But for an isolated system, they're doing very well.

[Jesus Christ]

i think that Fidel Castro has done an extraordinary job in his position and that Cuba is a great country
the people have freedom of speech, which i highly support, but i really think that they deserve greater political freedoms
and can anyone tell me why so many Cubans flee to Florida every year, i mean, is it because they think they can live the mythical american life?

[Comrade Ceausescu]

and can anyone tell me why so many Cubans flee to Florida every year, i mean, is it because they think they can live the mythical american life?

castro gives the chance for 20,000 cubans to leave each year.you have to apply and stuff but still.

[Jesus Christ]

ok gotcha

[RevolucioN NoW]

Please take note that I said Cubans support the socialist system but not the dictatorship of Fidel Castro.

Looking to the future the Cuban people seem to suport a more free system of government for the island however do not want to follow the path of capitalism that has practically destroyed Russia.

As Castro seems to see himself as invulnerable he has never deemed it neccesary to prepare a peaceful transition after his death. I have read several reports that suggest a tranistion to a democratic socialist regime which would allow for more political freedoms while maintaining the communistic nature of the revolution (subsidies, free food, etc).

Most cubans are also fed up with endemic corruption amongst the elite, especially those with access to U$ dollars. the black market is also thriving thanks to corruption at all levels of society. Things may have improved as the source i am using is almost 10 years old.

Do you have any links to more information relating the the cuban electoral process?

:ph34r:

[Red Flag]

IMO cuba is far from utopia, but is the best country currently exsisting in the world

[FistFullOfSteel]

Originally posted by [email protected] 14 2003, 07:44 PM
I would defend Cuba against imperialism and the embargo, but I think it's far from perfect.
I HELP U DEFEND CUBA COMRADE!

[Indysocialist]

Originally posted by Chairman Mao+Sep 16 2003, 05:10 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Chairman Mao @ Sep 16 2003, 05:10 PM)
RevolucioN [email protected] 14 2003, 11:29 PM
He should allow greater freedoms of the press and for rival political groupings to operate, most of these are left wing in the first place.
Castro is a Leninist. Leninists do not believe in &#39;rival political groupings&#39;. If the power of one single communist party is compromised the power of the working-class is compromised. The working-class have one single interest and ideal; there is no need for heterogeniality.

No one who does not support the Castro line and the line of the party in Cuba does not deserve &#39;greater freedoms of the press&#39;. Those who say what is correct and true in the press have all the freedom they want. [/b]
Chairman Mao, could you further elaborate on the "freedoms of the press" thing. From what I understand from your explanation is that those who do not agree with said leader in a Leninist system do not have equal freedoms? Or they just don&#39;t deserve it? This sounds like a bourgeoisie of political freedoms? Wouldn&#39;t that be considered Capitalistic?
Secondly, when you say "correct and true" do you mean they actually put the truth. So for example if said leader in the Leninist country royally fucked up with his/her agricultural reform, say there was starvation in the cities due to lack of food being produced would the paper read "General Secretary X fails in agricultural reform&#33;" or would the doctor something up?
Like I&#39;ve told you earlier, I really respect alot of what you write I just want a better understanding of this.

[Saint-Just]

Originally posted by Indysocialist+Sep 17 2003, 06:38 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Indysocialist @ Sep 17 2003, 06:38 AM)
Originally posted by Chairman [email protected] 16 2003, 05:10 PM

RevolucioN [email protected] 14 2003, 11:29 PM
He should allow greater freedoms of the press and for rival political groupings to operate, most of these are left wing in the first place.
Castro is a Leninist. Leninists do not believe in &#39;rival political groupings&#39;. If the power of one single communist party is compromised the power of the working-class is compromised. The working-class have one single interest and ideal; there is no need for heterogeniality.

No one who does not support the Castro line and the line of the party in Cuba does not deserve &#39;greater freedoms of the press&#39;. Those who say what is correct and true in the press have all the freedom they want.
Chairman Mao, could you further elaborate on the "freedoms of the press" thing. From what I understand from your explanation is that those who do not agree with said leader in a Leninist system do not have equal freedoms? Or they just don&#39;t deserve it? This sounds like a bourgeoisie of political freedoms? Wouldn&#39;t that be considered Capitalistic?
Secondly, when you say "correct and true" do you mean they actually put the truth. So for example if said leader in the Leninist country royally fucked up with his/her agricultural reform, say there was starvation in the cities due to lack of food being produced would the paper read "General Secretary X fails in agricultural reform&#33;" or would the doctor something up?
Like I&#39;ve told you earlier, I really respect alot of what you write I just want a better understanding of this. [/b]
I gave a rather short and brash answer to what was a very simplistic statement.

To explain what I said further: Those who do not agree with the line of the party and leader are accepted in disagreement in the proper forums of debate with what is only vocal disagreement. e.g. vocal or transcribed disagreement in a political forum of debate. Although criticism that stems beyond the debate i.e. after the policy has been popularly accepted or rejected is not accepted.

Those who try to usurp the power of the working-class party do not have any lesser freedoms per se. Rather they will be restricted from propogating any of their views of ideas. Bourgeois and reactionary ideas are outmoded in a socialist society. It is one task of a socialist society that these ideas must be removed from society since they are seen, for one reason, as suppressing the freedom of the masses of society and their interests.

If &#39;General X&#39; failed in agricultural reform it would be the case that a paper was released detailing that &#39;fuck up&#39; and the responsibility would be delegated to another person. Mao did such a thing himself, he was economically somewhat capable prior to the Great Leap, however that policy proved that he and many others in the party were not ideally capable in economic matters and the responsibility was handed elsewhere.

Leaders and the party are judged on what they do, covering failures up leads to more failure. A strong socialist society is not built on failure and no socialist should value the success of their image of that of material successes of socialism.

Its fairly easy for socialist to spot bourgeois lies and thus censor the bourgeoisie in the press.

I have not explained everything here since there is a lot to explain.

[Indysocialist]

I get it now, thanks.