I really won't have time today to oversee this thread, but I found it interesting that no one had commented on these observations by Fidel Castro. http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/fidel-castro-cuban-model-doesnt-work The first ball IMO should be tossed out by glynch, who, though diametrically opposed to everything I believe, always provides interesting commentary. I know this will re-open the Hugo Chavez debate, but I hope the thread will focus on Cuba and the possible restoration of warm relations with that island nation.
When one considers the effect that each country has had on the other for over a century, and the impact of Castro's Cuba on the hemisphere and the world since the revolution, this is really huge. I'm pretty astonished that this hasn't gotten huge play in the news, but then again, the news ain't what it used to be. Heck, his comment about Jews and Ahmadinejad's anti-Semitism is a big deal, further isolating the mad regime of the mullahs. From thumbs' link: Fidel Castro: Cuban model doesn’t work By Liz Goodwin Wed Sep 8, 6:13 pm ET Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro told American journalist Jeffrey Goldberg at the Atlantic that the Cuban communist economic system no longer works. "The Cuban model doesn't even work for us anymore," Castro said in a rare interview. Goldberg wrote: "This struck me as the mother of all Emily Litella moments. Did the leader of the Revolution just say, in essence, 'Never mind'?" A scholar traveling with Goldberg said his criticism of the system may be an attempt to help his brother Raul enact reforms to cut the nation's lumbering state bureaucracy. Raul has already begun loosening the government's control over the economy. In the interview, Castro also warned Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to avoid anti-Semitism. "I don't think anyone has been slandered more than the Jews," Castro said. "I would say much more than the Muslims. They have been slandered much more than the Muslims because they are blamed and slandered for everything. No one blames the Muslims for anything." http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/fidel-castro-cuban-model-doesnt-work Nice thread, thumbs.
Thanks for posting OP. My mother and her family fled Cuba in 1959 due to the communist takeover. They lost almost everything, including the hospital that my grandfather owned and operated with his brother and father. I've grown up around a bunch of Cuban immigrants that lived here that long and am very proud of my heritage. Not to sound too sentimental or sappy, but I've dreamed my whole life of one day going there and helping the country rebuild after the Castro/communist regime fell. While these words are a revelation coming from Fidel, I'm hoping they're the first domino in a long line to fall. Outside of sentimental reasons... imagine this revolution never happened. That island was the hottest place to go back in the 40's and 50's. Can you imagine how many American tourist dollars would have been spent over there during the last half century?
A lawyer friend of mine went there and had a lot of warm relations. He is currently on his third wife so he doesn't go there any more.
In other words, what Castro meant to say was: " I'm getting too old for this *****" Politicians, especially those who claim to live by the motto "God and Family", should hold rallies asking to end the embargo. So much starvation and families that have gone decades without speaking. Whatever happened to turning the other cheek? Granted, Cuba can't bail out the automobile industry like China, but still.. the embargo is so 1960. A little tourism with flights departing from florida and hobby airport can't hurt anyone..
wrt to the Cuban model not working too well. Along with the ex-Soviet model I think that it has been shown that it didn't work too well in many aspects. Now you don't go nutty and conclude that one should not be in favor of taxes to pay for fire protection or tax billionaires etc. NOr should you start calling Obama or American liberals "socialists" like libertarians and Tea Partiers do. Many of the ideas of the socialist movement which split from communism shortly after the Russian Revolution have been very successful and have led to great societies for the vast majority in Scandinavia and Western Europe. These are societies that keep the few benefits of say the Cuban model, education and health care for all yet retain all of the benefits of US style capitlism for all but the upper 1/2%. Wrt to Venezuela, Chavez is aware of the limits of the Cuban model and despite being smeared has not insituted much of the government ownership etc. Has he gone too far? Time will tell. Certainly it is good that he has provided much health for the majority. Although it is threatening for the old elite it is good that he has brought about illiteracy and got the majority engaged in the political process.
Nope but angering a group of Cuban Americans that happens to live in the premiere swing state of America will hurt someone's election chances, which is pretty freaking sad.
Rather than the blog commentary, the full article from The Atlantic is here: http://www.theatlantic.com/internat...-model-doesnt-even-work-for-us-anymore/62602/ Even more interesting tidbits. and here is part I: http://www.theatlantic.com/internat...o-ahmadinejad-stop-slandering-the-jews/62566/
I get what you're saying, but African-Americans from Louisiana that voted for David Duke probably outnumber Cuban-Americans that voted for Obama. I'd venture a guess if Andy Garcia and Gloria Estefan won the democratic nomination for president, the Cuban-American vote would still go to whoever the republican candidates were... That's a solid, straight-ticket republican electorate.
Agree on each thought. However, I believe the observation that has the greatest implication for the United States is this: ... his criticism of the system may be an attempt to help his brother Raul enact reforms to cut the nation's lumbering state bureaucracy. Raul has already begun loosening the government's control over the economy. We have encumbered our federal government with so many bureaucratic layers it cannot move to resolve problems and generates so much waste it frustrates fiscal conservatives like me, even when the goals are legitimate and needed. I don't know how we could ever untangle this Gordian Knot, but we must find a way to streamline our bureaucracy. For example, I was debating the current Texas school system with a spokesman for the Texas State Teachers Association. My contention is that we need to eliminate all the school districts and roll them into the current Regional System governed by the state. Doing so would get rid of millions of dollars in wasted administrator salaries and budgets so those funds could be diverted to teachers' salaries and upgraded student equipment (computers and books, for example). In addition to administrator salaries, the budgets to support them would be eliminated and every Texas student would be alloted equal shares of money from the State of Texas, rather than having some very rich school districts and very poor ones. Some parents would cry about loss of control, but I'll bet there is not one in 100 parents who can name more than one school board member. That example pales in comparison to the layers of federal bureaucracy we need to shave off so that public services are increased and improved. As an example, we have a wide range of federal investigative agencies stretching from the NSA, FBI, DEA, ATF, etc. etc. The HPD has robbery, homicide, traffic, narcotics, juvenile, etc. divisions all under one roof -- why not the feds?
I agree that we need to cut and merge certain functions of government but I think the Department of Homeland Security is an example where continually merging different functions into one agency can become a complete disaster. That said, ending local control of education and moving it to the state is an interesting though.
Actually Obama won Fla partly because younger Cuban Americans are starting to vote increasingly Democratic.
Fidel Castro: I know, I know, I know... but we all knew from day one this mumbo jumbo wouldn't fly! I'll call Washington and tell them they won. Castro's Aide #1: But presidente, America tried to kill you! Fidel Castro: Ah, they're not so bad. They even named a street after me in San Francisco!
I agree. Homeland Security was a feel good mess. Putting immigration and other agencies, FEMA etc into one agency was stupid, but gave the illusion of doing something about 9/11.
