Castro a millionaire?

[Abood]

In 2005, American business and financial magazine Forbes listed Castro among the world's richest people, with an estimated net worth of $550 million. As a result of Forbes' comments, Castro is considering filing a lawsuit against the magazine, claiming the accusations are false and the article was meant to defame him.

Fidel Castro - Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.com)

[silentprotest]

This is an 'American Business and Financial' magazine, do you honestly think it is that it is true?

[ComradeRed]

From my understanding, they think a socialist nation run like Cuba should be treated like a "giant company" with Castro as its "CEO". That's why it is so high.

Idiotic capitalists can't grasp that for some reason.

[Abood]

This is an 'American Business and Financial' magazine, do you honestly think it is that it is true?
ofcourse not, but u cant just deny all magazines just cuz theyre american, you need to prove them wrong.

[YKTMX]

As ComradeRed suggested, it is based on the ridiculous assumption that Fidel Castro peronsally owns all Cuban state property.

It's more comical than anything, nothing to get excited about.

[Abood]

Well, does anyone have official figures about Castro's wealth?!

[cccpcommie]

of my understanding i'd consider him one of the "richest" men in the worold because he gets what ever he wants. hes not a true leader of the proletariat unlike che.

[YKTMX]

Originally posted by Socialist [email protected] 20 2006, 06:57 PM
Well, does anyone have official figures about Castro's wealth?!
Nope.

I'd doubt his personal wealth amounts to much at all. As the previous poster suggested, he gets everything he might need provided to him by his priveliged position in the Cuban bureaucracy.

He doesn't have personal enterprises that I'm aware of.

[silentprotest]

Originally posted by Socialist [email protected] 20 2006, 06:51 PM

This is an 'American Business and Financial' magazine, do you honestly think it is that it is true?
ofcourse not, but u cant just deny all magazines just cuz theyre american, you need to prove them wrong.
You have a point, but that is honestly my opinion, if you can show me proof of their methods of finding this information I will gladly retract my statement.

[Dreckt]

Hah, even if Castro is rich - he has a nation to run on those money. And compare that to Bill Gates - a one man in a damn company who has more wealth than an entire nation. Which is worse?

[Janus]

Fidel Castro actually sued Forbes because they placed him on that list. I have heard that he lives pretty modestly but I'm not sure if that claim is true or not.

[JKP]

Originally posted by [email protected] 20 2006, 10:50 AM
From my understanding, they think a socialist nation run like Cuba should be treated like a "giant company" with Castro as its "CEO". That's why it is so high.


Well, state capitalism IS like a giant corporation.

You have your CEO/great leader, your board of directors/Party, an army of managers and a hierarchy of subordinated workers.

That's why it's called state-monopoly capitalism.

Even Hayek admitted that all the so called socialist states were "like a giant monopoly"

[Reuben]

well if hayek said it, it must be true

What makes you so willing to beieve what the grandfatehr of the new wave of free market economics has to say about socially progressive countries.


rather than palaying word games why dont oyu look at the acutal way money generated by th cuban economy is used - ie massive social expenditure


twat

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

This comes up time and time again. Even Castro's enemies aknowledge that he (and other members of government) don't have much more than the average Cuban -- and certainly much less than other world leaders.

http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/fidel/castro-family.htm


Added exile author Norberto Fuentes: ``The most avaricious cabinet minister lives no better than the average Cuban in Miami. He has one car, not two. An air conditioner in the car? No air conditioner.''


``They [Castro's family] have privileged positions but they don't seem to have many luxuries ... certainly not like the `juniors' in Mexico,'' said Latell, referring to the Mexican slang for rich kids.


Fidel Castro and wife Dalia live in a two-house complex in western Havana. The living room of the main house is described by visitors as furnished with simple wood and leather sofas and chairs and Cuban handicrafts.

The only luxury visible to visitors, said Fuentes, is a big-screen television that Castro uses to satisfy his interest in foreign news reports and videos secretly recorded by Cuba's intelligence services.

[Amusing Scrotum]

Plus if Castro really had a "net worth" $550 million, you'd expect him to dress in a more "cool" way - Gucci suits and all. :lol:

[JKP]

Originally posted by [email protected] 20 2006, 03:45 PM
well if hayek said it, it must be true

What makes you so willing to beieve what the grandfatehr of the new wave of free market economics has to say about socially progressive countries.


rather than palaying word games why dont oyu look at the acutal way money generated by th cuban economy is used - ie massive social expenditure


twat
Because he was actually correct on that point; more than he realized in fact.

Also, you should consider using a spell checker.

[norwegian commie]

haha well, Castro lives in a somewhat modest house, his kids lives modestly. Links are already posted so i wont bother. this is nothing but another attempt to smear castro and cubas name and rep.


Plus if Castro really had a "net worth" $550 million, you'd expect him to dress in a more "cool" way - Gucci suits and all.

Yeah i know :lol: not army suits.



of my understanding i'd consider him one of the "richest" men in the worold because he gets what ever he wants. hes not a true leader of the proletariat unlike che.

Ha ha dont you think Che could have gotten watever he wanted`? the thing was that he rejected getting it, and cursed at the ones trying to give it to him! Have Castro done otherwise? Che put his Children without legacy in this world cause he knew the socialist Cuba would provide them with their needs. So did Castro, his kids are not wealthy, Castro has done what he can to keep them more or less out of the media light.

Castro may have the possibility of getting whatever he wants but he does not use it, that makes him as much a true leader of the proletariate as Che! Giving a man the possibility of getting a bone is not the same as him eating it.

[FidelCastro]

what, did you think that Castro is poor like the rest of the Cubans. His personal wealth may not be a lot but he obviously lives a much more privlagged life. The problem is that Cuban has changed a lot in the past 10 years. When the Soviet Union was around, Cuba wasen't that bad off but now it is in shit. If Castro was smart, he'd let someone with somewhat the same ideas take over in hopes of the US opening up its borders. Castro put forth good government for many years but his time has passed and Cuba needs to move on. I love Castro with all my heart but the Cuban people can't take it anymore which is understandable. I want to look back on Castro's carear and think that he did good for Cuba not that he made his people suffer in poverty and Castro did do much good for cuba. They have 99.9 percent literacy and universal healthcare and without a US embargo, that could really shine. Plus Castro freed Cuba of the Mob which had taken over in the 40's. Now it is time for the next generation.

[godfather of soul]

Don't hold your breath for some radical change when he is gone. His brother will take over until he (raul) dies. The chain of succession clearly favors someone who will run the country in a similar way. As for the embargo, the only way it will be lifted is through internal dissent in the US, which means that it more than likely will not happen, or if Castro's regime is toppled. Again, the chances of that happening either are slim to none. Cuba suffers from the embargo, but it is actually a good thing that it doesn't trade with the super-predatory capitalist corporatocracy of the US. Participating in the "free market" has proven to be extremely dangerous for left-leaning countries, and usually results in the undoing of all the hard-won social services that make left countries so great.

As for the topic at hand, it depends on the perspective one uses to look at Fidel. If Fidel wanted to, he could probably flee with most of Cuba's wealth. That is because he has the ability to access it. Do I agree with the figure? No, that is clearly propaganda used to justify hostility to the Castro regime. Since Fidel does believe in the economics of socialism, to a point, he won't steal and he is well aware of hypocrisies that befall other leaders and, IMO, has done a good job of avoiding them.

[Reuben]

Originally posted by JKP+Feb 21 2006, 03:59 AM--> (JKP @ Feb 21 2006, 03:59 AM)
[email protected] 20 2006, 03:45 PM
well if hayek said it, it must be true

What makes you so willing to beieve what the grandfatehr of the new wave of free market economics has to say about socially progressive countries.


rather than palaying word games why dont oyu look at the acutal way money generated by th cuban economy is used - ie massive social expenditure


twat
Because he was actually correct on that point; more than he realized in fact.

Also, you should consider using a spell checker. [/b]
the thing is that you have drawn analogies beteen the leader/ceo and directors/ party without actually substaniating them or ven exam ining the rolesplayed on each side of the analogy

[chebol]

Anyone who really thinks that reading or quoting Hayek or any of the neo-classicists will help them understand socialism needs their heads checked. Full stop.

On the issue of Fidel resigning. Why should he? He is elected by the cuban people and their representatives. He is still in good health, and quite capable of fulfilling the role that he is asked to do. Why should he refuse that duty? Nevertheless, the time will come when Fidel is either incapable of continuing in his role, or he dies (which is pretty much the same thing). My money is actually on Felipe Perez Roque to take over, if not immediately, then in the short-to-medium term. Leadership is not about "who's next in line?", but "who's best". On this count I agree on the need for generational change, as indeed do Fidel and the PCC, who have been concentrating for years on developing capable young leaders. As many as possible.

But don't fall under the illusion that the blockade is all about Fidel. It is not. It is about the threat that Cuba poses as an alternative. That threat won't end while there is a socialist revolution in Cuba.

[matiasm]

maybe they meant that Castro's is worth $550 million for whoever brings him down. In other words the US (forbes) maybe placed a $550 million for Fidels head :)

f..kin US capitalist bricks.

Viva Fidel!!!

[norwegian commie]

His brother will take over until he (raul) dies. The chain of succession clearly favors someone who will run the country in a similar way.

No he wont, cuba is not ruled by the Castro family but by the people. When Fidel dies a new revolutionary will be elected. The transistitory period between Castro and the New leader will officially be under Raul, since raul if almost as old as Fidel this is unlikely. (Ralul is not high up in the goverment because he is Fidels brother but he was active during the revolution and have spendt hes entire life on the communist idea and its spreading in Cuba.)

The cuban communist party have realised that the next generation must step forvard.

[godfather of soul]

I would be surprised if Raul is not the next leader. I did not say anything about him not being active during the revolution, but the way that elections have worked since Castro took power leads me to believe that it will be him or someone closely aligned to him. That is if he doesn't die first. I am talking in hypotheticals...but you cannot honestly say that elections have been "fair"...is Castro soooo great that no one had any platform that is better than his? Is he soooo great that no one dared challenge him because he had accomplished a level of prosperity that he was beyond reproach? I doubt it. Bottom line is that the new leader, after Raul, will be closely aligned with Castro...which doesn't mean that there will be huge change in Cuba.

[FidelCastro]

it isn't about what is best for the revolution but what is best for the people. Name 1 instance where poverty is good for the people and I will be quiet but saying it is a good thing that the cubans don't trade with the US because of their super-imperialism is not the best thing to say. These people are starving and the US while capitalist by nature has also shown a good side at times too. Look at the Tsunami or Pakistan with the Earth quake or the the money they are putting into Africa. I know they handled Katrina poorly but what is done is done. Whether some of us like it or not, Communism is nearly finished. That does not mean that leftist figures or even Socialist figures will get elected but the extremity of Communism is at an end.

[Abood]

A very important reason why the USA funds natural disasters victims is because they want people to believe that they are a good, giving nation. That doesn't mean that they don't wanna do it and actually do it for the media, but it means that if they don't have the media they would give much less! It's all about publicity.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

it isn't about what is best for the revolution but what is best for the people. Name 1 instance where poverty is good for the people and I will be quiet but saying it is a good thing that the cubans don't trade with the US because of their super-imperialism is not the best thing to say. These people are starving and the US while capitalist by nature has also shown a good side at times too. Look at the Tsunami or Pakistan with the Earth quake or the the money they are putting into Africa. I know they handled Katrina poorly but what is done is done. Whether some of us like it or not, Communism is nearly finished. That does not mean that leftist figures or even Socialist figures will get elected but the extremity of Communism is at an end.

I'm going to ignore the liberal, reformist bullshit here, but I wanted to counter this nonsense about poverty and people starving to death.

1. No one starves to death in Cuba, nor is anyone homeless.

2. According to the UN (http://www.freepeoplesmovement.org/cuba/poverty.html), Cuba has one of the lowest numbers on the Human Poverty Index in Latin America (and the world as a whole!)

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

I would be surprised if Raul is not the next leader. I did not say anything about him not being active during the revolution, but the way that elections have worked since Castro took power leads me to believe that it will be him or someone closely aligned to him. That is if he doesn't die first. I am talking in hypotheticals...but you cannot honestly say that elections have been "fair"...is Castro soooo great that no one had any platform that is better than his? Is he soooo great that no one dared challenge him because he had accomplished a level of prosperity that he was beyond reproach? I doubt it.

"The Cuban Constitution (discussed and created through numerous public meetings and adopted by secret ballot in a referendum in 1976) states, in the First Article of the Electoral System, Article 131, that: "All citizens with the legal capacity to do so, have the right to take part in the leadership of the State, directly or through their elected representatives to the bodies of People Power, and to participate for this purpose and as prescribed by law in the periodic elections and people's referendums through free, equal, and secret vote." In Cuba, you will find grass-roots democracy never seen anywhere else in the world, where the people themselves nominate their candidates for election. A candidate must get more than 50% of a secret ballot vote to get elected. Even Fidel Castro has to get 50% of a secret ballot vote to represent the electorate. Every candidate nominated faces the electorate on his/her own merit."

"The Communist Party is forbidden by law to play any role in the elections. The only publicity allowed candidates is a posted biography with a photograph of the candidate. They are not allowed to spend money on furthering their chances for selection. Neither are State organizations permitted to issue statements favoring any candidate."

"In order to join the Partido Comunista Cubano (PCC - Cuban Communist Party), Cubans must be chosen as model workers by their co-workers."

"Cuba's highest leadership body is the Council of State, of which Fidel Castro is the elected President. He was last elected on February 24th, 1998 (all 601 deputies of the National Assembly, by secret ballot vote, chose him to be the President)." - The Cuba Truth Project (http://www.cubatruth.info)



also see:

Let's talk about Cuban democracy (http://www.freepeoplesmovement.org/ry/rys5b.html)

The truth about Cuba (http://www.freepeoplesmovement.org/ry/rys5a.html)

and: "Cuba: dictatorship or democracy" by Marta Hernecker

[norwegian commie]

I would be surprised if Raul is not the next leader

when fidel dies you will be suprised. Cuba is more democratic than you might want to aknowlidge.¨


Communism is nearly finished. That does not mean that leftist figures or even Socialist figures will get elected but the extremity of Communism is at an end.

If so what are you doing on this page, communism is dead for ever. If so then this is a waste of time. What I am doing is doing my part to make sure a revolution wil happen. After a while there will be a little fighting, a small war and then you will have a little communism. That will grow to A worldwide revolution.



These people are starving and the US while capitalist by nature has also shown a good side at times too. Look at the Tsunami or Pakistan with the Earth quake or the the money they are putting into Africa.

USA wouldnt have given shit to the tsunami countries if it hadnt been for the media covering it. The eath quake in pakistan was almost not sopported at all at first, they just sendt school bags and clothes but no one to help the people.

When katrina was around he denyed help from almost 2000 well trained spesialist doctors from Cuba. USA made sure the black peole and not the whites where killed in the tsunami.

If you want to sit here and say: Oh hail the US they are so helping, then look at what they extract from the countries they "help" it is way beond their helping i assure you!