Cuba! Of Disidents and Interventionists

So Fidel Castro has gone under the knife and constitutionally turned over power to his brother. The US is sending radio messages to the Cuban people saying they will support "democratic" change in the country. There are people in Washington planning on undermining the Cuban government as soon as Castro has taken his last breath. Well, actually they've been trying that for some time now but this time the US is really salivating at the prospect of not having to deal with Castro at all. This post however is not about the US plans as much as it is a reminder to the Cuba watchers, Dissidents and would be interventionists.

Let me ask a few questions of those persons in Cuba who cannot wait for the fall of Castro:

It is pretty clear that your country is not as wealthy as it could have been. clearly some of that blame can be placed at the feet of Castro himself, primarily for allowing himself to be used by the Soviet Union, however how many of you have considered that much of your economic problems stems from that country to your north that you idolize? Cuba may have a communist government, but the US deals with communists countries. The difference is that the ones they have dealt with are far larger than Cuba, far from the shores of the US and, oh yes, have Nuclear arms. Why is such a large country with such a vast military and a huge economy so scared of an island in the Caribbean that it needs to impose an economic blockade and seeks to punish countries and businesses that would work in Cuba? Think of it for a minute really. If Communism or whatever it is that is is practiced there is so inherently bad, why not let Cuba be and see if it sinks under it's own weight? Why not allow US citizens to travel freely to the country. No doubt if the political and economic philosophy of America is so strong and so correct, the logic would rub off on the people of Cuba who would rise up against Castro. Oh no doubt that uprising would cost some lives but "freedom" T'aint free no?

But enough about politics, what about the things that matter. While your country is poor you have one of the best medical systems in the world. Up here in the states, a far far far richer country than Cuba, millions of people do not have health care. People die here simply because they cannot afford a visit to the doctors office to treat medical conditions that if caught early would have prevented death. Oh and these aren't the homeless people. No these are in many cases so called "middle class" people who work hard and pay their taxes. Why is this the case? Well in large part because large corporations (and wanna be large corporations) basically run the system. Now I'm sure you have some shady people in your medical establishments as no one and no system is perfect, but you should be wondering what will happen to your medical system once the new "US friendly" government is installed "for you".

I understand that Cuba has an extremely high literacy rate. You do know that up here public education is being gutted in favor of "vouchers". Basically the idea is that a quality education will go to some and the rest, well, there's always jail. I would be pretty concerned about a country with such ideas offering to "help" with a new government.

I understand that even though you have not had a chance to vote for president, you do have elections for other offices. I would like to remind you of the election fiascos that have occurred here in the US during the last two presidential elections. While I can't determine as of yet, whether the fiascos rose to the level of illegality, they did stink to high hell. I think you may want to think closely about the motives of a government that would dicker with it's own citizens voting and would like to "help" you become more "democratic". I would be very concerned. Enjoy it while it lasts until big business owners are the only ones who can afford to run and they receive cash and "campaign advice" from US "think tanks" and "policy designers" and the "little man" can't win an election (see Mexico).

Lastly; I know that a great many people are eyeing Cuba for business purposes. I do recall that it was the exploitative nature of business in Cuba that informed Castro's revolution in the first place. I have nothing against business, but you ought to be concerned as business in "third world" countries is a very nasty enterprise. I would point you to Mexico, where after NAFTA and CAFTA, Mexicans find it better to risk death crossing deserts to get jobs in the US. WHole towns have been depopulated of men who leave for better pay. No doubt there are Mexicans that are benefiting from NAFTA, but they are outnumbered by those who find themselves at the short end of the stick. So I hope you are prepared for a situation of riches for some and exploitation for the many.


Well anyways. I'm not an expert on Cuba and I could be totally wrong about what's going on there, but I do know what the government here would like to do and believe me when that reality sinks in...you too will know.

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