Cuba - Turning into the empire of Deng?

[Subversive Pessimist]

From BBC country profiles:


The disappearance of Soviet aid following the collapse of the USSR forced the government to introduce tight rationing of energy, food and consumer goods.

However, despite the US trade embargo a modest recovery has been made with the help of Canadian, European and Latin American investments, especially in tourism. Furthermore, some economic controls have been relaxed, with companies allowed to import and export without seeking permission and a number of free trade zones opening up.

But the legalisation of the US dollar since 1993 has created stark divisions between those with dollars and those without, while continuing hardships have led to an increase in prostitution, corruption, black marketeering and desperate efforts to escape in search of a better life.

The US leases the Guantanamo Naval Base on the eastern tip of the island.



Similar things happened under Deng. He created free-zones, and opened up for capitalism and western companies. Also, they rely on sugar to make "profit" (the main characteristic of capitalism), instead of basic things like food, which people need. That means in my opinion that the production in Cuba is based on the logic of capitalism, not socialism, and when we see US having territory in Cuba, free-zones opening, allowing the dollar, it looks to me that the socialist days are over.

[CubanFox]

Originally posted by [email protected] 20 2004, 08:50 PM
From BBC country profiles:



Similar things happened under Deng. He created free-zones, and opened up for capitalism and western companies. Also, they rely on sugar to make "profit" (the main characteristic of capitalism), instead of basic things like food, which people need. That means in my opinion that the production in Cuba is based on the logic of capitalism, not socialism, and when we see US having territory in Cuba, free-zones opening, allowing the dollar, it looks to me that the socialist days are over.
I would say that comparing post 1991 Cuba with Deng Xiaoping's China would be rash, to say the least. Fidel isn't doing any of this out of any capitalist feeling in his heart; it's either this or complete economic collapse.

The country is still socialist, for example, education and healthcare are free, practically all businesses and industry (excluding a few restaurants) are nationalised, among other things.

And as for the legalisation of the US dollar, be thankful that Cuba still has the peso alongside it. Many Latin American countries have decided to fully kowtow to US economic imperialism by simply scrapping their own currencies and adopting the US dollar for everything.

In the end, Cuba has a thousand daggers pointed straight at her heart. Deng's China did not.

[h&s]

I know Cuba needs tourism to survive, but what they actually do to help the tourists is wrong. Cuba has some really nice carribean beaches, just the type you see in holiday brochures, but these are reserved for tourists only. Normal Cubans aren't allowed on them, as the tourists don't want to associate with poor people. So much for everything for the people....

[Subversive Pessimist]

The country is still socialist, for example, education and healthcare are free, practically all businesses and industry (excluding a few restaurants) are nationalised, among other things.


Some questions:

Who owns the resturants? How many resturants are there? Who owns them?

[CubanFox]

Originally posted by [email protected] 20 2004, 09:21 PM

Some questions:

Who owns the resturants? How many resturants are there? Who owns them?
There are a few dozen family-owned restaurants in the bigger cities; Havana, Santiago, Camagüey. Not Western chains like McDonalds or anything.

[Commie Girl]

Originally posted by hammer&[email protected] 20 2004, 05:14 AM
I know Cuba needs tourism to survive, but what they actually do to help the tourists is wrong. Cuba has some really nice carribean beaches, just the type you see in holiday brochures, but these are reserved for tourists only. Normal Cubans aren't allowed on them, as the tourists don't want to associate with poor people. So much for everything for the people....
While in Cuba in June, 2004, we had a great time with several Cuban families, enoyed some fresh-caught fish cooked over a fire, and made friends with one family. We visited their home and they met us several times on the beach at our Resort....yes, they were sharing "our" beach!

Refer to our website for pics! (http://www.rdab.ca/cuba)

[gaf]

Originally posted by [email protected] 20 2004, 10:50 AM
That means in my opinion that the production in Cuba is based on the logic of capitalism, not socialism, and when we see US having territory in Cuba, free-zones opening, allowing the dollar, it looks to me that the socialist days are over.
well after 40 years of embargo seems that fidel don't have a lot of option left
but ithe fact isthat cuba does have one of the best health in the world(for everybody)
i think usa don' t have it europa neither (those 2 have million people in the street without care) and don' t say it's not true i was /am there.and working now in the health sector
just hope that those tourisme won' t get sick because without dollars they will only get the hypocrate serment and not the hypocrite one(read between words.here)

[h&s]

While in Cuba in June, 2004, we had a great time with several Cuban families, enoyed some fresh-caught fish cooked over a fire, and made friends with one family. We visited their home and they met us several times on the beach at our Resort....yes, they were sharing "our" beach!
I'm just repeating what I read......

[Severian]

It's not comparable to China. Private exploitation of wage-labor is still illegal in Cuba, which sets a limit on the extent of capitalism allowed. All private businesses are either:

1. Self-employed individuals and families, hiring no outside labor. Similar to the independent small farmers who were never forcibly collectivized in Cuba. (Actually farmers can hire extra help for the harvest etc...through the state.)

2. Joint ventures between foreign capitalists and the state. Here also labor is hired via the state.

U.S. imperialism's well aware of these facts, and its representatives, while justifying the embargo, frequently explain how Cuba is not comparable to China.

link to Powell press conference (http://www.usembassy.it/file2001_04/alia/a1042601.htm)


Powell responded that "In China, the Soviet Union, even Vietnam, even in North Korea, one could see an understanding (on the part of the leaders) that the world was changing." But in Cuba, "for 42 years, we've seen a leader who's trapped in a time warp....He hasn't changed his views in any way....I don't think Mr. Castro has ever really given us anything to work with," he said.

Edit: just noticed this "when we see US having territory in Cuba,"

Hello! Without Cuba's permission. Contrary to the BBC's statement that it's "leased" Guantanamo is occupied by force - has been since the Spanish-American War - and for the past 40 years the Cuban government has refused to cash Uncle Sam's token rent checks. This is hardly evidence that Cuba is going Deng's way.

[Fidelbrand]

In Hong Kong and in China, the media is celebrating the 100th birthday of Deng and tv programmes on how he made China "RICH" is broadcasted. =_=...... Songs singing, people crying, people rejoycing for his "SUCCESS" of "socialism with Chinese characteristics"....... =_=......

As for Cuba, I sympathise with the situation. Fidel once said that Che disliked the Soviet's way of using capitalist means to achieve socialism. If Che was alive, he will rock the burreaucracy. However, with rapid globalization of capitalism, it is very hard for this island to survive just below AmeriKa.

Instead of steadfastingly condemning Cuba for its present situation, we can discuss on the ALTERNATIVES that can be used to keep Cuba "Socialist" amidst the opposing ideological entices.