50 years later, Cubans earn $20/month

[CTBengalsFan]

[url="http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/12/31/cuba.anniversary/index.html"]http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/12/...sary/index.html[/url]

[quote]HAVANA, Cuba (CNN) -- Thursday marks the 50th anniversary of the Cuban revolution, when Fidel Castro and a group of guerrillas toppled a longstanding U.S.-backed dictator.

But January 1, 1959, was a long time ago. In Cuba today, when people refer to "the revolution," they often mean the country's aging, established government.

After so many years, people's hopes for the revolution's future are hardly revolutionary.

"I hope that it continues to move forward, because this country needs development. We're really behind," said a student who did not give his name.

"More opportunities in the economy and in transportation," another man said.

But there was a time when the goals were much loftier.

In the first days of 1959, when Castro and his bearded rebels rolled into Havana on tanks and other captured vehicles, they talked of sweeping changes -- an end to corruption, justice for the poor and independence from foreign domination. VideoWatch what some Cubans think of the 50-year revolution »

A half-century later, their achievements are a mixed bag.

The government often points to free health care as a measure of its success.

"Cuba is a global medical power," said Joaquín García Salabarría, the vice minister of public health. "Nobody can doubt that."

Also touted by the government: education. Literacy rates are among the world's highest, and access to higher education is widespread.

But students question why they can't travel freely, and why their access to the Internet is so limited.

Most Cubans can barely make ends meet, and while the government blames a U.S. trade embargo imposed in 1962, critics say it's just bad management. They say the gains of the revolution have come at too heavy a cost.

Dissident groups say Cuba holds more than 200 political prisoners, an accusation the government denies.

Television, radio and newspapers are all controlled by the state.

Cuba marks the 50th anniversary of the revolution with a new president, Raul Castro, who officially took the reins in February because of the prolonged illness of his brother, Fidel Castro.

But this year, Raul Castro faced three devastating hurricanes, rising prices for food imports and plummeting prices for nickel, one of Cuba's most important exports.

In a speech this week, the president warned Cubans -- who on average earn the equivalent of less than $20 a month -- to prepare for belt-tightening.

"The accounts don't square up," Raul Castro told the National Assembly. "You have to act with realism and adjust the dreams to the true possibilities."

That pragmatic approach is a far cry from the idealism in the early days of the revolution led by his brother.

"I think that celebrations of the 50th anniversary are also marked by a real sense that sustaining this experiment and institutionalizing it is going to require major, major lifting in a very short term by the people running the country today," said Julia Sweig of the Council on Foreign Relations.

That, in turn, could mean making changes to deal with a new environment. But, ironically, change is about the last thing people here expect from the revolution.[/quote]

[jza10304]

[img]http://farm1.static.flickr.com/145/366366276_2857e2581a.jpg?v=0[/img]

translation: "We're doing well"

[|Bunghole|]

[quote name='jza10304' post='737065' date='Jan 1 2009, 08:17 PM'][img]http://farm1.static.flickr.com/145/366366276_2857e2581a.jpg?v=0[/img]

translation: "We're doing well"[/quote]
Do you really think so? I bet the average Cuban aged 20-30 years would rather cast their lot in Miami than remain in Cuba.

Also, this whole "Cuban Embargo" thing has got to stop. I hope Obama lifts it. Cuba presents exactly ZERO threat to our national security, and both the USA and Cuba would gain a fortune in tourism dollars alone, not to mention what a friendly nation versus nation relationship could foster.

Fidel and Raul and their regime need to die out, but the USA's policy towards Cuba needs to die with them.

[Go Tory Go!]

[quote name='Bunghole' post='737084' date='Jan 1 2009, 10:42 PM']Do you really think so? I bet the average Cuban aged 20-30 years would rather cast their lot in Miami than remain in Cuba.

Also, this whole "Cuban Embargo" thing has got to stop. I hope Obama lifts it. Cuba presents exactly ZERO threat to our national security, and both the USA and Cuba would gain a fortune in tourism dollars alone, not to mention what a friendly nation versus nation relationship could foster.

Fidel and Raul and their regime need to die out, but the USA's policy towards Cuba needs to die with them.[/quote]

I presumed his post to be heavily sarcastic, especially considering how a certain large population in South Florida (los gusanos) feels about Cuba's regime.

I wouldn't expect the embargo to end anytime soon, or at least while Fidel is breathing. With Cuba, it's personal; we've been doing business with the PRC for years (although Cuba isn't the international commerce giant that China is, of course).

It should be noted, however, that no matter how far Fidel's regime may have run amok, I am eternally grateful to them for initially incurring the US's wrath, since without this, a certain delicious pressed pork sandwich wouldn't have been exported to the US en masse.

[CincyInDC]

Speaking of unhealthy Cuban exports...Havana Club is one of the more common rums I see around Munich. No embargo here--too bad I don't smoke.

[jza10304]

[quote name='Bunghole' post='737084' date='Jan 1 2009, 10:42 PM']Do you really think so? I bet the average Cuban aged 20-30 years would rather cast their lot in Miami than remain in Cuba.

Also, this whole "Cuban Embargo" thing has got to stop. I hope Obama lifts it. Cuba presents exactly ZERO threat to our national security, and both the USA and Cuba would gain a fortune in tourism dollars alone, not to mention what a friendly nation versus nation relationship could foster.

Fidel and Raul and their regime need to die out, but the USA's policy towards Cuba needs to die with them.[/quote]
As another poster noted, it was sarcastic. Consider myself and my family one of those gusanos.

As far as the embargo, it was placed there originally in reaction to the Cuban government's seizure of U.S. owned businesses and nationalization. As to whether it should be in place, I don't think so. The only thing it has accomplished is separated families, caused hardship to the Cuban people, and helped fuel Castro 40 something years of political rhetoric. It obviously hasn't worked so another approach needs to be taken.

[|Bunghole|]

[quote name='jza10304' post='737141' date='Jan 2 2009, 09:37 AM']As another poster noted, it was sarcastic. Consider myself and my family one of those gusanos.

As far as the embargo, it was placed there originally in reaction to the Cuban government's seizure of U.S. owned businesses and nationalization. As to whether it should be in place, I don't think so. The only thing it has accomplished is separated families, caused hardship to the Cuban people, and helped fuel Castro 40 something years of political rhetoric. It obviously hasn't worked so another approach needs to be taken.[/quote]
Thanks [b]jza[/b]. Apparently the sarcasm flew right over my head. I agree that the time has come to end the embargo. There is no Cold War anymore, Fidel is old, Cuba is a neighbor, etc.