jgoins Report This Comment Date: November 26, 2016 11:37AM
Too bad Raul has been in charge for a few years now and nothing has changed for
Cubans. Hopefully Fidel's brother will follow soon.
John Winston Howard Report This Comment Date: November 26, 2016 01:09PM
Why? So Cuba can end end up with a totally fucked up health care system like
the US?
Oh pardon me, my mistake.....The US doesn't have a health care system any
more!
At present, Cuba's health and education systems cost the public NOTHING. It's
free and good quality.
So what's your fucking problem JG? There's a lot right with Cuba because of
Castro, compared to
some of the US laws and it's fucked up constitution. They may be a poor country,
but no one is starving.
They may live under martial law but less people, per square mile are murdered as
compared
per Sq m in the US. And most Cubans prefer to live in Cuba theses days rather
than the US
so what does that tell you huh?
jgoins Report This Comment Date: November 27, 2016 12:04PM
That is the problem with dictatorships, they destroy people's free will and
allow no one the ability to improve one's self and position in life. Our way of
life may not be perfect but we are allowed to do anything we want with our lives
as long as it doesn't harm others. Granted many have tried and failed at the
American dream but others have succeeded. That is what happens with freedom,
you have the right to try and fail as well as the right to try and succeed. We
have the ability to travel anywhere in the US we want without obtaining
permission from the government, Cuba doesn't. Health care is not the only thing
that makes a government good or bad, it is only a small part. Our health care
system does suck but it was Odamna's desire to move us toward to socialism which
brought about the deterioration of health care. We will just have to wait and
see what Trump comes up with to change it. At least we can still use any doctor
we want to can Cuba?
If you want to give up your freedom and allow one person to determine ever
aspect of your life then you can always move to Cuba. Just remember you will
not have the internet and you will not be allowed to to publicly complain about
everything you don't like.
woberto Report This Comment Date: November 28, 2016 08:30AM
I usually agree with you JG but Raul has been the best thing to happen to Cuba
in it's entire history thus far.
Since 2008, according to ggooggle.
One of the first measures in the first months of his administration was the
authorization of the sale of home appliances such as microwaves, computers, DVD
players and electric scooters. Despite the measure not being announced in the
official press, many Cubans flooded stores on April 1, 2008 to buy goods
previously available only on the black market.
Luxury hotels: On March 31, 2008 hotel managers were surprised at the lifting of
the ban that for more than a decade had prevented Cubans from staying in luxury
facilities. Since then, it has been common to see Cubans who can afford to stay
in tourist hotels at the Varadero beach resort.
Cellphones: The government authorized the sale of mobile phone service starting
April 14, 2008. Since then, the public has been able to buy prepaid mobile phone
cards. Access to Internet service, however, remains off limits to the vast
majority of Cubans.
“Self-employment”: In October 2010 the government expanded authorizations
for opening small businesses (in 178 different types of work) in the private
sector. Since then, the number of people working in what’s called the
“self-employment” sector has reached by almost 400,000, according to
official figures from December 2012. This measure led to an explosion of private
businesses in Havana, especially in the food service sector.
Transfers of land in usufruct: In July 2008, the mass transfer in usufruct of
idle land to individuals was ordered. This reform, aimed at stimulating
agricultural production on the island, has been expanded in recent years by
other measures such as the recent granting of building permits on land being
farmed in usufruct.
The buying and selling of houses and cars: In October 2011, the Raul Castro
government announced the liberalization of the auto sales market, allowing
Cubans to buy and sell used cars (restrictions remain in place for new cars). A
month later, he also liberalized the sale of real estate. Free market sales of
real estate have also caused the flourishing of informal realtor activities.
Bank loans: Cuban state-run banks begin making loans to individuals starting in
December 2011. Measures to encourage private initiative have also been applied
to farmers who work land in usufruct and people performing construction work on
their homes. On February 21, the government extended credit facilities to permit
the use of personal collateral (such as jewelry) to obtain loans.
Immigration reform: One of the measures most desired by Cubans was announced by
President Raul Castro in October 2012. He called for the elimination of exit
permit requirements (the “carte blanche”) and letters of invitation for
Cubans to be able to travel – restrictions that had been in place for decades.
After the measures were implemented on January 14, even the well-known dissident
blogger Yoani Sanchez was able to leave the island. In the new law, the
government can still require some restrictions on highly-trained professionals,
professional-level athletes, and for reasons of “national security”
(interpreted by some as being particularly applicable to people in the
opposition).
jgoins Report This Comment Date: November 28, 2016 01:29PM
I suspect most all that is just for show. With an average monthly salary of
around $20 to $50 per month (depending on which site you check) how can anyone
living there avail themselves of any of those luxuries? Raul may be better than
his brother but he is still a dictator and the Cuban people are not free.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 28/11/2016 01:31PM by jgoins.
pulse Report This Comment Date: November 29, 2016 08:30AM
Because luxuries such as eating out when also prepared by a chef who is paid
30-50 dollars a month are as a percentage of your wage about the same price as
you pay.
jgoins Report This Comment Date: November 29, 2016 12:35PM
Our form of government is not perfect by any means but it is better than other
governments which don't allow their people freedom. We don't need the
government to provide us with healthcare, food or money, we just need to freedom
to be able to provide those things for ourselves. If success is allowed and
some don't even try it is on them, the government can provide help for them but
it must come with a cost, you must attempt to work. Having a government take
everything from everyone a providing everything for everyone equally will stifle
individual growth. If everything is given then there is no need for one to
better themselves so why try.
Mint. Report This Comment Date: November 29, 2016 12:37PM
Castro saved Cuba from a worse fate when he took over government.
And he was extremely clever to get Russia's backing early in the piece because
the US were
going to screw him over big time. He couldn't trust anyone else at that time and
please remember
he was not a communist dictator. He ran his own show, yes, with somewhat an iron
fist but
put support systems in place for the people. He had to make do with what
resources he had.
It was far from perfect and the way of life a lot of us have known, but their
system has worked
for Cuba back then and it still works for Cuba today.
I say let them be.
"you can call me bitch, but wait till the wax has melted!"
jgoins Report This Comment Date: November 30, 2016 12:17PM
If it was so good then why has so many risked their lives in the waters between
Cuba and Florida to get here and away from Cuba? If Fidel was so great then why
did so many Cubans here celebrate his death?