He must have been doing something right...
BBC NEWS | Americas | Castro: Profile of the great survivor
Does it take an oppressive communist dictatorship to have such superb educational and health systems? That doesn't make sense. They have a crappy economy (mostly due to the loss of Soviet support some 20 years ago), so how can they manage to put out some of the world's BEST doctors and have universal health and education? They're poor, they're oppressed, but damn are they healthy and smart.
Wierd!
So, is Castro's reluctance to implement these "democratic reforms" simply a case of "father knows best?" Is it because he hates the idea of anything that sounds American (or styled after America)? Or is it just because he's a stubborn old coot?
I think the two leading communist countries in the world must be Cuba and China. Cuba for its education and health systems, and China for ... well, its adaptability. You don't hear anything about China having 98% literacy or a world-renowned health-care system. To me, present-day China sounds an awful lot like late 19th century America...minus the political freedoms.
I've always been curious what makes certain countries work (or not work in many cases). Why should Cuba be known for education, health-care and cigars (as well as communist oppression)? Has Castro paid for all these luxuries (full health coverage and education, even in the United States, is a luxury--let's face it) using the moneys seized in the late 50's when he took power? Has improved trade with countries like Venezuela helped here?
And speaking of "oppression"...how many Cubans really DO hate Castro? I'm sure the vast majority of Cuban exiles hate him. What about Cubans left in Cuba? Do 20% of all Cubans in Cuba hate him? 40%? 80%? Can you have a populist revolution if it isn't popular? And, if it isn't popular anymore, why haven't there been a lot of reports of uprisings in Cuba as of late? You'd think with how rabidly the United States treats Cuba, our media would be all over populist uprisings in Cuba. I haven't heard of any (that's not saying there aren't any).
Whether Castro is a good guy or the devil incarnate is irrelevant...once he dies, that country will descend into chaos without such an icon to rally around.
Anyway, that's my random thought for the day.
President Castro has used US hostility as a reason to reject democratic reforms to his one-party state.
But Cuba under his rule has made impressive domestic strides.
Good medical care is freely available for all, there is 98% literacy, and Cuba's infant mortality rates compare favourably with western nations.
Does it take an oppressive communist dictatorship to have such superb educational and health systems? That doesn't make sense. They have a crappy economy (mostly due to the loss of Soviet support some 20 years ago), so how can they manage to put out some of the world's BEST doctors and have universal health and education? They're poor, they're oppressed, but damn are they healthy and smart.
Wierd!
So, is Castro's reluctance to implement these "democratic reforms" simply a case of "father knows best?" Is it because he hates the idea of anything that sounds American (or styled after America)? Or is it just because he's a stubborn old coot?
I think the two leading communist countries in the world must be Cuba and China. Cuba for its education and health systems, and China for ... well, its adaptability. You don't hear anything about China having 98% literacy or a world-renowned health-care system. To me, present-day China sounds an awful lot like late 19th century America...minus the political freedoms.
I've always been curious what makes certain countries work (or not work in many cases). Why should Cuba be known for education, health-care and cigars (as well as communist oppression)? Has Castro paid for all these luxuries (full health coverage and education, even in the United States, is a luxury--let's face it) using the moneys seized in the late 50's when he took power? Has improved trade with countries like Venezuela helped here?
And speaking of "oppression"...how many Cubans really DO hate Castro? I'm sure the vast majority of Cuban exiles hate him. What about Cubans left in Cuba? Do 20% of all Cubans in Cuba hate him? 40%? 80%? Can you have a populist revolution if it isn't popular? And, if it isn't popular anymore, why haven't there been a lot of reports of uprisings in Cuba as of late? You'd think with how rabidly the United States treats Cuba, our media would be all over populist uprisings in Cuba. I haven't heard of any (that's not saying there aren't any).
Whether Castro is a good guy or the devil incarnate is irrelevant...once he dies, that country will descend into chaos without such an icon to rally around.
Anyway, that's my random thought for the day.
posted by xanadian at 9:48 AM
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