Opinion Archives - Page 449 of 495

Crummy Situations Don’t Last Forever

Recently I was at one of three ATM’s in my municipality. That day it was the only one in service. For some unknown reason the other two were out of money.

Cuba’s Old Junkers and the Privileged

With the new rules regarding the sale/purchase of vehicles, the government persists in its intention to monitor the processes of social mobility. Not like before, not in all the detail, but still managing the key variables and reserving a veto power.

Macintosh, Orwell and 1984

Thanks to these new technologies, the ability of elites to control information is much more difficult. Today an individual in the most remote location on the planet can communicate their ideas through the Internet to millions of people any other place on the earth.

A Glimpse of the Mondragon Cooperative Complex

My just-graduated-from-college son and I traveled to the Basque region of Spain recently for a one-week seminar and tour of the Mondragon Cooperative Complex (MCC), the famous worker-owned cooperatives. What I would like to do is provide a glimpse of a few aspects of Mondragon, and perhaps draw a few conclusions relevant to socialist Cuba. (58 photos)

Occupy Wall Street Focuses on the Roots

The western media is finally aware of Occupy Wall Street (OWS), and of course, it is confused. One the biggest problems with its coverage of anything inherently political is the need to frame all new phenomena within an identifiable context. (13 photos)

Serious US-Cuba Diplomacy Can Save Alan Gross

If the US State Department really cares whether its “contractor,” Alan Gross (62), ever sets foot on US soil again, depends on its willingness to engage in serious negotiations with Cuba.

Cuba’s Sports: for Medals or for Health?

A few days ago while walking through Old Havana, I saw the police trying to stop some neighborhood kids from playing soccer in a park. There were five simultaneous games underway that were almost completely preventing the activities of other people.

Philosophy’s Not for the Masses

I maintain that philosophy isn’t a subject for the masses, though I don’t mean to say that not everyone can philosophize. Like Socrates said, everyone has in themselves the beginnings of wisdom.

Cuba: Immigration, Love and Sex

The United States has committed deplorable acts against the Cuban nation, it’s true, but all of those together fail to justify even one of the arbitrary measures taken by the Cuban government (many of them still in force) against its emigrant population.

Cuba’s Constitution, Law and Rights

I ran into two friends who were euphoric. One of them can finally put the title of his Russian Lada car in his name. The other can now transfer his car ownership to his daughter “without having to die.”