Cuba is Still Living a Revolution
Elio Delgado Legon
HAVANA TIMES – After 150 years of struggle and great sacrifice, the Cuban Revolution has managed to make our heroes’ dreams come true as of January 1, 1959 and it continues to be present in the vast majority of Cubans’ minds because it is a people’s revolution for the people, which means we can confidently say that Cuba continues to be a country living in revolution.
Of course, some people, who didn’t see capitalism in Cuba and only know about it from history books, are dazzled by capitalist propaganda in developed nations, but they don’t see what Capitalism is in developing countries, which are far worse off today, 60 years later, than Cuba was before the Revolution.
Today, we watch bloodchilling scenes in relatively developed and wealthy countries, such as Brazil and Argentina. The first has over 50 million citizens living in poverty, 30 million living in extreme poverty, especially in rural areas and the favelas around large cities; the second, with thousands of families living out on the street because they can’t afford to pay rent, a phenomenon that we also find in large US cities.
The situation is even worse in other Latin American countries because poverty and a lack of work is combined with violence and drugs, which makes thousands and thousands of people (including entire families with small children) walk thousands of kilometers to reach the US border, with the hope of leading a better life.
The Cuban Revolution hasn’t been able to give its people all of the prosperity it set out to as it has had to navigate extremely tough obstacles that a powerful enemy has placed in its way, showing no mercy and doing whatever it can to make our revolutionary project fail so it can then say that Cuban socialism doesn’t work. However, none of the evils and disastrous situations that I’ve mentioned above have been present in Cuba after the Revolution triumphed. For example, unemployment doesn’t exist in Cuba, it’s the opposite in fact, there is a shortage of labor in many sectors.
When it comes to food, Cubans have been guaranteed a certain amount of food at subsidised rates so that even the poorest person won’t starve. And as well as this supply, which is practically handed out, we can buy how ever much we want on the market at a normal price.
Education is free at every level and there aren’t private schools, as this is considered to be the State’s obligation. It’s the same thing with medical care and medicines given at hospitals, while the medicines we buy at pharmacies are also subsidised by the State, regardless of how much imported medicines cost on the foreign market and how much nationally produced medicines are. Over 50% of the state budget is allocated to education and healthcare which doesn’t happen anywhere else in the world.
The Cuban people also have access to sports and culture, which complete the benefits (which I’ve mentioned above) that they enjoy and which they are willing to fight for against the efforts of those who want our revolutionary project to fail, both enemies abroad, as well as annexationists and counter-revolutionaries on the island, who prefer to go back to living under Imperialism’s yoke. This is why Cuba is and will continue to be a country living a revolution.
“Hard to believe there are people westerners in democracies who support blatant obvious tyrannies like in Cuba and Venezuela. Many people clearly are not too bright.”
Given the intellectuals and artists who became enamoured with Stalin and Mussolini it can baffle. My theory is that the ability to see fault in one place, especially if it’s the place you live in, probably blinds people to seeing the problems in other places. Some people probably just want to believe that somewhere there are people doing better. When they the problems of their society like poverty and racism not to mention the occasional rhetoric justifying these things they become inclined to embrace rhetoric opposing these things even if the rhetoric masks a facade.
The most accurate statement that Senior Lagon made that seems to have been dismissed by his critics is the state of capitalism in the world. It’s amazing that in a system that by its design is based on winners and losers that everyone thinks of themselves as a potential winner. It’s like buying a lottery ticket or pulling the lever on the machine at the casino. Everyone will win.
But in reality the latest Oxfam figures show that 8, not 800 or 8,000, but 8 families now control fully 1/2 of the worlds wealth. In the US, since 2008 while GDP has steadily increased, 85% of the increase in national income went to the top 1% of the population. I know that i am criticizing capitalism from within and from a position of relative comfort, But even the capitalists are now worried that the very nature of the system they created has taken on a deadly life of its own and is heading for its own internal collapse.
While capitalisms demise will more likely be a slow crumbling rather than an abrupt fall, both left and right in the US are looking for a new way. Or one might say, a way out. So far it is the right that has prevailed. But the troubles of the Trump administration may harbor a shift.
Cuba needs to find a way forward that will retain the undoubted gains of the revolution, and yet allow the entreprenural energies of the Cuban people to pull the nation upwards economically. Most fair-minded people acknowledge that there are such gains, but that the state of the Cuban economy is not one of them, and in fact undermines them in the long run. That the American blockade contributes to Cuba’s problems is not in doubt, but its main function is to serve as an excuse for economic stagnation.
The country Cubans should study as a possible model for their next step is Singapore. A rather authoritarian party rules the island state, subject to elections and the annoyance of an Opposition, but is very popular with the voters, and thus has continued in power for about sixty years. It has taken Singapore ‘from Third World to First’, and is not in thrall to any particular ideological dogma. Cubans are not Chinese, so that should be taken into account — but Latin America doesn’t offer much in the way of acceptable models. The study of this country, like Cuba, once a colony which was fought over by rival imperialists, might be rewarding.
Hard to believe there are people westerners in democracies who support blatant obvious tyrannies like in Cuba and Venezuela.
Many people clearly are not too bright.
I would like Don Elio to tell us what was the “dream of our Heroes”, because if those who fought and died in combat or lived long after that, what they wanted was a ruined country, a communist dictatorship without inclusions for those of us who do not think as the ruling elite, a people with double standards, a people who are losing elementary values on a remarkable decline, a country with a population aged because in parts of the migrations of the last 60 years, a people without hope, cities in decline, etc., then, the “heroes” must go directly to the Hell if they are by mistake in Paradise.
Simply the capitalism of Cuba in the decade of the 1950 far exceeds the Cuba of the 2018. It should be noted, (in another reply I have already done), that Cuba’s indices were the envies of many countries even in Europe at that time, and if we were continue that way, today there is a possibility of being the “hearth” of the entire Caribbean region, not a country destroyed by a doctrine.
It is interesting to mention that Brazil, despite so many years of “left-wing” government, the percentage of citizens in poverty was not mentioned by Elio. Now that Brazil have changed from “sides” is “remarkable” by Don Elio, the hidden face of the moon (while the Socialists were in power he never wrote about it). The same with Argentina as the Kirchners filled their accounts of money, it was never mentioned by Don Elio, the fact that many could not afford to pay for a roof. That is what I consider, a typical fatality of the Communists: they are never the cause of any problem in their countries… always the others are responsible. And he could not fail to refer to “the decadence” of mega American cities. How suspicious could I be? I would accuse him of been one of the empire’s mercenary, (as he does with people who don’t think as him) if not!
What I do not understand is how the columnist in question let the fact escape in his article about migrants seeking better life in the brutal Empire of the north (north of Cuba means USA)… Why not create an aerial or maritime bridge like “Mariel”, “Camarioca” or “Operation Peter Pan” (going to, not escaping from Cuba, clarified), to make all those Latin Americans who seek asylum to live better go to the communist paradise of the Castro clan? How come the Haitians don’t want to go to Cuba? Wouldn’t it help the “altruistic image” of the government? Or is it that those Latin Americans are not fools to go to live in the “First Free Territory of America”?
The Cuban “re-involution” has not been able to give to the people prosperity because even when they sucked from the bones of the Communists States of Eastern Europe, they didn’t care to do it (the communist government is “parasite”, bleeds from whom allowed then and only reciprocate with poverty). What they did with that money and other subsidies was sponsorship guerrillas throughout Latin America and several African countries. They went to build communism around those continents by spending some of the money they received in exchange, deploying “cannon fodder” without creating infrastructures that would allow a reasonable development in Cuba. The Soviet empire fell and Cuba collapsed to levels never seen in its history. Now the blame is on the embargo… who told the communist ruling party that they can make the United States sell products if USA does not want to sell to Cuba? (by the way if you visit the TRD “Foreign Currency Collection Shops”, for foreigners who do not know the meaning), there are some American products.
There is no unemployment in Cuba because of the bloated staffs. The job that a worker, an office worker, a service clerk can do, is occupied by 3 workers, 3 clerks and three service employees, earning starveling wages and with little work content for the 3. To make sure what I say it’s true, its suitable to pass in front of the many state offices and you’ll see employees talking, not in their jobs or going out in the middle of their working hours to “solve” their affairs… who pays? Well, reformulating the question: Who pays poorly? Another example: How to employ the hundreds of thousands of doctors graduated without a plan just for the paranoiac desired of the dictator Fidel? The answer is recent: Slavering then as “pawns” in other countries!
Look Don Elio, you have to have little respect to write…! Does the basic basket, (food stamps) guarantee the 30 days of the month feeding? I will not insult you Don Elio… what do you consume during the month? Details please!
Education IS NOT FREE. Don’t lie so irrationally. Public health IS NOT FREE. Do not try to deceive those who read your articles… what high price do Cubans pay for all that? Poorly wages, politicized teaching as all our kids must screen every day that they want to be as Che Guevara, doctrine, poorly reputable hospital services, staff willing to go to work as slave in others countries, marginalization, terrible urban and interurban transportation, food stamp for almost 6 decades, laziness, youth welling to go out of Cuba at any price, repression and so many other consequences! Don’t you think we pay too much for education and health care? I do!
If so much budget is devoted to these two areas… Why are Cuban universities not in the ranking of the 500 first in the world?
It is not a surprise to know that you called us “Contrarrevolucionarios and other epithets” because we don’t agree with yours “ideas”, it’s just the reflection of the intolerance, the disqualification, the inoculated poison, the resentment, the sectarianism, the constant repression that applies from the power “You and those as you using the same methods”. Revolution is evolution. What you’re referring to is far from being called that.
Listen the ruling class I won’t waste a lot of time with you. In talking about the countries which Cuba helped liberate Fidel himself said that “there isn’t one piece of property there belonging to Cuba”. As for your propaganda about Cuban DOCTORS, the world shows it’s gratitude by welcoming them and paying them. You just waste your time on building walls like the Christ and muslim hating jews have done. As you and your Omnipotent administrators have done- stolen someone else’s land and built such walls in order to keep other immigrants out, you too will ultimately feel the wrath of the people…………..
As I have said Mr MacD your comments contain a scattering of truths. But these sporadic truths are swamped by the numerous cliches and one sided, ideologicaly biased rhetoric.
As usual, your comments suggest that you will only ever see one side of the story.
Re: Churchill – As I have pointed out previously, he was part of a class of people in the UK who not only opposed socialism but also opposed the onset of democracy for the specific reason that the power of his class of people was inevitably becoming diluted.
Re: Cuba’s ‘interventions’ – With all due respect to you Mr MacD, I would take Nelson Mandela’s viewpoint on this over yours. He specifically stated that the apartheid system in his country would have continued longer if it were not for Cuba’s intervention.
Re: Communism solving certain problems as correctly stated by fchow – certain impoverished parts of Russia were rife with child malnutrition prior to 1917. This problem was solved over the ensuing decades. Now the communist era is long gone, impoverishment and child malnutrition in the very same parts of Russia are on the rise again.
Re: Immigrants living shorter lives and Cuba having none of them – Surely your own (seemingly ungrateful) residence in Cuba would refute that claim?
You are an immigrant to Cuba Mr MacD and I sincerely hope that you enjoy good health and a long and vigorous life for a great many years to come…….
STALIN, FIDEL and RAUL CASTRO, MADURO, ORTEGA, KIM JUNG UN and HO CHI MIN as communist dictators, would be proud of you ‘Raul “Curly” Estremera.
Your contribution contains several but not all of the trite communist slogans.
None of them change the fact that communism and all those listed above depend(ed) upon repression of the individual and creation of a proletariat ‘mass’. Humanity its talents and abilities have to be crushed to achieve that which you support.
Cuba charges capitalist rates for the doctors working under contract in other countries. It does not “share” them!
Remember Cuba’s imperialist endeavors in the 13 countries in which it intervened militarily. In addition, Cuba joined Syria in invading Israel in the Yum Kippur war which was yet another failure. So don’t preach about the sins of others!
Cuba has survived some of the horrendous attacks and planned invasions which the United Snakes has carried out against other nations, but through the Leadership of Fidel and led by it’s communist party, supported by it’s people, the Cuban revolution was forged and began it’s early struggles against imperialist aggressions as a revolution in motion. Constantly en guard against the conspiracies hatched out against Cuba by the u.s. financed GUSANO MAIAMI MAFIA, along with the payed stooges inside Cuba. Under the pressure of a murderous BLOQUEO, which has stolen billions from Cuba’s economy, this marvelous country still manages to carry out wonders in medicine, sciences, arts, and shares thousands of its doctors with the world. When the next u.s. president is elected and exits the business mongrel now occupying the position, Things will change for Cuba ,because the people of North Amerikkka will unite with the Cuban people, and then the world will witness the great wonderful human strides that a true REVOLUTION IN MOTION can produce for the world, without traitors and wealth stooges.
fchow, you are rattling on about life expectancy in Cuba exceeding that of the US. So what? If you examine the life expectancy of immigrants, you will find that it is well below that of peoples born in the receiving country. But then, Cuba doesn’t have any immigrants! Funny how it fails to attract those who support it in these pages and others of their ilk!
You say (perhaps if you are sensible with tongue-in cheek) that if Cuba had “a mere 20 billion” it could “certainly transform the world.” Well it does, because its current debt with China is approaching 30 billion! So how much has it changed the world?
Your definition of “anything meaningful” being done under the capitalist system obviously excludes standard of living. That reflects the total failure of the Cuban Castro regime to address the standard of living for the citizens of Cuba. When did the Poder Popular last address that fchow?
Hundreds of millions of people enjoy a good standard of living under capitalism. As far as “Socialismo” is concerned, Churchill summed it up perfectly:
“The inherent vice of socialism is the equal sharing of misery.”
As I spend the majority of my time at home in Cuba, I see that misery daily, not in imagination, but in reality! To suggest that “the communist system can solve social problems” is put frankly fchow, bunkum!
China and Vietnam both recognized that capitalism is essential for social progress! Cuba is stuck in the morass of 19th century Marxist rhetoric!
I am not concerned about the US which seems to dominate the thinking of communist supporters in these pages, my concern is for the people of Cuba and the prayer that they may yet enjoy the freedom of individual thought and action, which those who live in multi-party democratic capitalist countries enjoy.
I am reminded of something written by Henry CL Liu back in 2002, when the US GDP was approaching 10 trillion. Today it is approaching 20 trillion.
“There was a moment in the late 1960s, before the Vietnam War blew away all of America’s surpluses, that people with good incomes were beginning to take three-day weekends on a regular year-around basis and eight-week vacations. From Los Angeles to Dallas to Scarsdale, fathers were home by 5:30pm barbecuing for the whole family and mothers had time for their children, and the GDP was a mere $200 billion. Economists thought then that if the GDP reached $1 trillion, all economic problems would be solved. Instead, the GDP is now more than $10 trillion, and there is financial crisis everywhere – from health care to social security to education, even defense. There appears to be a problem with what growth really is.”
So you see gentlemen we have a paradox. The capitalist system can generate wealth, but it is incapable of solving the most basic social problems. Life expectancy in Cuba exceed that of the United States. And don’t get me going about racism, poverty, lack of education, drugs, and gun violence – let alone migrant children in cages. The US cannot solve a single social problem, despite a GDP approaching 20 trillion dollars.
If Cuba had a mere 20 billion, it could certainly transform the world, given what it has already done with far less.
And therein lies the paradox: the capitalist system can generate wealth, but cannot do anything meaningful with it. The communist system can solve social problems, but cannot generate wealth.
I admit there are a lot of stupid rules in Cuba. True. It is a work in progress. A German tourist I met there said “In a Capitalist country you are free to do anything, unless a law says you can’t. In a Communist country you are not free to do anything, unless a law says you can.” But we must not lose sight of the fact that life expectancy is higher in Cuba than the USA, a country with a GDP approaching 20 trillion dollars. What could Cuba do if it only had 20 billion, let alone 20 trillion dollars ? And there is the paradox. Capitalism can generate material wealth, but seems incapable of solving any important social problems. Communism can solve problems, but cannot generate wealth.
Henry CK Liu wrote this back in 2002 (today the US GDP is close to 20 trillion):
“There was a moment in the late 1960s, before the Vietnam War blew away all of America’s surpluses, that people with good incomes were beginning to take three-day weekends on a regular year-around basis and eight-week vacations. From Los Angeles to Dallas to Scarsdale, fathers were home by 5:30pm barbecuing for the whole family and mothers had time for their children, and the GDP was a mere $200 billion. Economists thought then that if the GDP reached $1 trillion, all economic problems would be solved. Instead, the GDP is now more than $10 trillion, and there is financial crisis everywhere – from health care to social security to education, even defense. There appears to be a problem with what growth really is.”
Did you see the vehicle break down during the four day tour, when the MININT goons had to get off and push it? Secondly, Did you observe the funerals of Winston Churchill, Diana Princess of Wales and George H.W. Bush. I ask because of your claim that “no ware (sic) on earth would this happen”, in referring not to the actual funeral, but the tour of Fidel Castro’s ashes in Eastern Cuba.
I had thought that the actual funeral of Fidel Castro was private, but it is interesting to know that you attended. I note with interest that both you and I are married to Cubans and I spend most of my time in Cuba, Do you also do so?
I also noted your comment that “you can buy butter, bread, soup whatever.” In our town there has not been any butter available since July, but yes if one waits for forty minutes at the Panderia, it is possible to buy 200gm loaves of bread, but I haven’t seen any soup for sale in Cuba – ever!
The world is not punishing Cuba, note the 189 – 2 vote in the UN. Your country of Canada was one of the 189.
Cuba’s economic woes are a consequence of 60 years of communist repression and economic incompetence.
Hello nick, you have popped out. Yes, you are correct in saying that I am opposed to the Propaganda Department of the Communist Party of Cuba that Elio reflects so oddly but so accurately reflects. Perched as you are upon your “I have balanced views” fence, you may pontificate as if representing the world at large. But let readers recall, that you refuse to condemn dictatorship of the left, whereas i condemn dictatorship as evil, whether by the left or extreme right.
But in response to my comment above which you do not appear to have read, do you agree that it defines both the people of Cuba and the Communist regime?
Elio and Mr C. MacD write their articles/comments from opposite ideological perspectives.
Neither of them would concede one inch to the other’s point of view.
Elio seems convinced that all Cubans wish to continue along the same path forever and is in denial of The Revolution’s many failings.
Mr MacD seems convinced that all Cubans want to suddenly become capitalists overnight and is in total denial of the disturbing rise of far right nationalism throughout many parts of his beloved capitalist world.
I think that a wise reader would deduce that both Elio and Mr MacD tell some truths……
But also that they both refuse to concede that their respective ideologies are deeply flawed.
Perhaps in some ways they are mirror images of each other ?
Perhaps they should hang out together ??
Fchow you obviously are a somewhat mislead optimist. The most attractive things about Cuba are its people, its natural beauty and its music. NONE of these owe anything to communism and dictatorship. The Cubans are not the consequence of communist dictatorship, their history goes back five hundred years. The main factor in the social structure is “la familia”, I know, for I am a member of one such family and have sixty seven Cuban relatives all of whom I know. Music is the soul of Cuba, not the Communist Party of Cuba. Has it occurred to you, that the three factors I have mentioned have no associated costs? If they did, how could Cubans afford them on an average income of $21 US per month?
As for seeking “violent greedy, xenophobic, rascist, fearful and closed minded” people, look no further than the Communist Party of Cuba current leaders. If a Cuban criticizes them they can be jailed, if a couple of mixed races walks the streets of Havana, the MININT goons will stop them, they fear any form of opposing political view, and their minds are closed to any form of change.
You may have justifiable criticisms of other governments in other countries, but that does not eradicate the reality of Cuban communist repression of its citizens! I look forward to returning home to enjoy the Cuban people of whom you speak, but am unlike you, aware of the challenges they face under communist dictatorship for I observe them at close quarters daily.
Just think again Fchow!
Thank you for this report excellent. I was at Fidel Castros funeral. As i landed in holguin.all of cuba came down to the road to see a incredable person go with god.no ware on earth wood this happen if any one of our so called leaders pass .
My wife is cuban and they denying her to spend CHRISTMAS WITH ME ON A VISITERS Visa. We have property in cuba.and i love the peaple the island .only 80 miles away and you can buy butter bread.soup.what ever but the world is punishing a incredable peaple and a grate country. I am Canadian but I’m and allways in love with cuba and my wife.god bless
Materialism is like a drug, you always need more. There is never such thing as enough. Nor does it bring happiness. But when you have to cheat, lie, steal, and opress others – when you have to invade some of the poorest countries on earth and kill, because your wealth is not enough – when you have to put children in cages because there is no way you can afford to share any part of your mountain of material wealth – then I say something is very, very wrong. One almost wonders if such people are still human, or whether they have sold their humanity to the devil. Speaking hypothetically of course 🙂 We all know no people like that really exist on this earth.
The Cuban people are alive and a real pleasure to be with. This is how I judge a social system, by the type of people it makes, not by the goods they buy. Are they violent, greedy, xenophobic, racist, fearful and closed minded ? Good. Because we all know where we can find many of those.
Surely this highly intelligent old man doesn’t believe the official propaganda which he is likely being coerced to write. Cuba is such a disaster people risk their lives en masse crossing to ocean to escape the oppressive government. We are fortunate the situation is still better than North Korea or Venezuela. Only cubans with family abroad can live well through receiving remittances. The Cuban dictators have betrayed their own people for generations by disenfranchising them from the lucrative opportunities of the global economy.
Cuban tragedy the well todo ruling class and the suffering masses lack of anything freedom housing transportation food amenities progress but a lot of Prison Secret political polices and police informers about any critics of the abuses of the RULING CLASS OLIGARCAS
Keep Dreaming one day Cuba Libre will be here. As long their is a one Party operation. Cuban people will fight to live.
In Havana litttle seems to change except for that one word FREEDOM. Yes most part Cuban program works , but not all .