Cuba--The Dictatorship of the Castro Brothers

Morning Coffee Videocast: Cuba--The Dictatorship of the Castro Brothers: MANY praise Cuba for having such a high level of social development for a country whose economy is in such sad shape. But back in 1957 Cuba was a developed, not an underdeveloped country--it ought today to look like Italy, Spain, Portugal, or Puerto Rico, and it doesn't. Thanks to the dictatorship of the Castro brothers.

Comments

[dave]

Shh! Don't mention the Embargo! You talk about "what the Castro Brothers have done to the country". What about the US contribution since 1960?

That nitpicking detail aside, I'd have to question the assertion that Cuba was "a developed country" in 1957. The Bank certainly didn't think so when it drew up its development recommendations. Nobody in 1957 would equate Cuba's capacity for prosperity with Italy's.

The data you cite certainly are suggestive of a country facing dire shortages. But you'd have been on surer ground questioning whether the regime's social achievements were really anything that new. Some probably are, others not.

And for that matter, US per capita growth wasn't that impressive compared to Britain's for a good half-century after 1776 either. But nobody cut off most of your trade, and the States never relied on overseas markets to anything like the same extent as its island neighbor. How well would that young Republic have fared in similar conditions? Should Americans have just stayed put within the Empire in such circumstances?

It would have been easy for the US to win a radical but friendly Cuba in 1959-60 rather than offering only the choice of subservience or enmity. It took two to make that particular tragedy. The headstrong Castro shares the blame, but much more lies with those across the water claiming seasoned liberal wisdom.

[assman]

@dave: Shh! Don't mention that Cuba received billions of dollars in subsidies from USSR or that it actively traded with Canada, Latin
America, etc. No instead pretend that the failure of Cuba was due to the trade embargo of a single country. And double Shh! don't mention that America was the first to recognize the Castro government and that Castro repaid the support by demonizing the US and nationalizing (actually stealing) US companies, colluding with the USSR, becoming increasingly radical and killing/imprisoning all of his moderate supporters and friends.

Ya Cuba in 1959 was a great friend. My best friends usually steal my stuff, make friends with my enemies, make enemies of my friends, and say shit about me in public.

BTW, in 1776 the US could have nationalized all British owned assets, refused to pay debts owed to the British etc. They would have had every reason to do so since they had just fought a war with Britain. THEY DIDN'T. That is because they were civilized and responsible. Unlike Castro.

[Maciej]

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The bill, however, prohibits using any of the information contained in the amnesty application (name, address, length of illegal presence that the alien admits to, etc) to initiate a removal proceeding or investigate or prosecute fraud in the application process. Thus, it will be extremely hard for DHS to remove aliens who they now know are illegally present in the U.S., because illegal aliens will be able to claim that the legal action is a product of the amnesty application, and DHS will have the nearly impossible task of proving a negative.

[Cristina]

Neal,Jackie Junti sent me one of your articles. I write for RheaForums.com. Would you care if I coiepd some of your articles, of course, I'll give you full credit.1963 Supreme Court decision given to the atheist O'Hare taking prayer, Bible Reading and The Ten Commandments have ruined the Public School System. This case needs REVERSED.Public schools are a LOCAL issue, 9th Amendment, State and FEDS have taken advantage of this with the nefarious Grant System (ie Federal Revenue Sharing Legislation of 1965, REPEAL). Local County School Boards are now rubber stamps for these nefarious grants and wicked rules, regulations and mandates that come with the money.Our Public School Systems were to teach the young people our Christian History and Heritage. What do we have in Public Schools today?????? No Civics classes, atheism, and promotion of the most horrible textbooks that aren't worth the paper they are written on.Look at the bunch at these Occupy rallies. No clue to our Christian Foundations and the wonderful quotes that you use in your writings. ThanksFor God & CountryRuth Ann Wilson

[Nadine]

Writing is only the expression of what is on my mind. I excisree my mind by reading, and just like any other muscle, it grows in ability to compile facts and organize thoughts. I have devoted most of my free time to reading the writings of our nation's founders. Some people tell my I probably have a better understanding of what the Constitution means that do those who hold office.