On Cuba and economy

[paxmao]

On one side, you have an authoritarian regime in Cuba, which also replaced a previously authoritarian dictatorship (Batista). The economy of the country is struggling, their people lack the fundamental freedoms and the regime can only claim that they all have a home, a job and the right to study. In the old days, medicine was also top class but that finished when US strengthened the embargo.

Some people would be surprised to know that Cuba developed their own vaccine for COVID. On the other side, you got the US embargo - lasting decades and varying on intensity - a can of worms that no president of USA dares to kick for the electoral backslash.

Are Cuba protests due to the embargo or due to the government?

An on crypto, would bitcoin play actually in favour of the government, by allowing purchases anonymously or to possible insurgents?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_embargo_against_Cuba

[Cnut237]

Are Cuba protests due to the embargo or due to the government?

I'd say (and have said) both. We can't really separate them.

History has shown us again and again that communism in theory leads to authoritarianism in practice. The worst system of government is one that silences opposition and refuses to be challenged. Democracy may be flawed and imperfect, but it is our best weapon as ordinary people for holding governments to account. A government that does not allow protest has no legitimacy.

Reporters sans Frontières has listed Diaz-Canel in its 2021 list of the worst heads of state for preventing press freedom. Details of his approach and activities can be found here. Cuba currently ranks a lowly 171 out of 180 nations for press freedom. Perhaps that will fall still further.

If US is not intervening in Cuba they could have progressed massively, why do they still have the Blockage even when there is no threat from Cuba, they are no hostile, there is no weapon they hide.

You do have a valid point that the current woes suffered by the Cuban population are due in part to the 60 year US embargo - which for the first 40 years even prohibited humanitarian relief. The UN criticises the US for this very frequently, but as usual with the UN, to zero effect. We are a long way from the missile crisis, a long way from the mighty Soviet regime representing an existential threat to US freedom... Obama did take steps to ease relations, but for every step forward he took, Trump then took a step back. It remains to be seen what Biden will do, although he's said he will "reverse the failed Trump policies".

But regardless of the embargo, the Cuban government also has to take some of the blame for the misery of the population, and any government that suppresses freedom of expression is not a legitimate representative of its people.

---

In the old days, medicine was also top class

Yeah, I remember when Michael Moore took 9/11 first responders to Cuba for free healthcare.

[Sterbens]

Some people would be surprised to know that Cuba developed their own vaccine for COVID. On the other side, you got the US embargo - lasting decades and varying on intensity - a can of worms that no president of USA dares to kick for the electoral backslash.

Are Cuba protests due to the embargo or due to the government?

2021 Cuba's economic index is ranked 31st, which is 32 countries in the US. and we need to revisit where in 1995 when Cuba was still an oppressed country. Then continued with the Covid 19 pandemic at the end of 2020, Cuba experienced a slump (this is none other than a country in the US being a country that is concerned.

let's take a look at some of the movements of the Cuban economy over time


Image I cut from here

let's compare how the level of regulation of the economy of Cuba and Venezuela is the right country for us to use as a reference from 1995 to now

Color Symbol:
Cuba          : Purple
Venezuelan : Gray



while the population between Cuba and Venezuela is still dominated by Venezuela, so for now Cuba is only natural that they will develop their own vaccine, they will be very easy to control in terms of spending.


Image I cut from here

[paxmao]

...

let's compare how the level of regulation of the economy of Cuba and Venezuela is the right country for us to use as a reference from 1995 to now

Color Symbol:
Cuba          : Purple
Venezuelan : Gray
...

I think that comparing Cuba and Venezuela is already a bad idea. The story behind these is quite different. Venezuela was in fact one of the richest and most prosperous countries in Latin America, but it could not absorb the inevitable result of the purely capitalist models - people left outside the system - and eventually bred an authoritarian regime, which is not the main issue really but rather that they are also mostly illiterate, inept and unable to run a school patio, nonetheless a country as rich and marvellous as Venezuela could have been.

[just_Alice]

Are Cuba protests due to the embargo or due to the government?
An on crypto, would bitcoin play actually in favour of the government, by allowing purchases anonymously or to possible insurgents?

I think it's both. People are just done with living in terrible conditions while the rest of the world is improving. People go out and protest to get to the government. I think most of the protestors realize that only two options there right now are either war with the US or reaching a compromise.

Now the first one is obviously not an option, and everyone knows that, so people come out and protest in order to call for an ending to the communist regime, which they hope would make the US lift embargo and create better economic conditions.

[Sterbens]

I think that comparing Cuba and Venezuela is already a bad idea. The story behind these is quite different. Venezuela was in fact one of the richest and most prosperous countries in Latin America, but it could not absorb the inevitable result of the purely capitalist models - people left outside the system - and eventually bred an authoritarian regime, which is not the main issue really but rather that they are also mostly illiterate, inept and unable to run a school patio, nonetheless a country as rich and marvellous as Venezuela could have been.

If the comparison is deemed inappropriate, then I am very open if you provide a list of countries that you think are good for further study, in order to find a bright spot on how the match between Cuba and the country you suggest is.
your input is very much appreciated..

[maju69]

That's because everything is state owned and privatisation is a problem there because if you don't abide to the communist regime, your business would be dismantled or worse taken over by the state, I think that the lack of investor foreign and local is what's causing the bad economy of Cuba. Hopefully they can get out of this dictatorship because these people deserve freedom.

Foreign investors are necessary, but may not control more than the specified target, such as the policy of each country that opens space for foreign investors to enter and keep a certain amount of wealth in the amount of about 5-10%. This is done to attract foreign bilateral contributions and compete. but it should be noted, all have different regulations, including in Cuba.

[Hydrogen]

I think the latest revolt is fueled by food shortages and lack of medical support to treat COVID infection.

Many cubans could be dying from starvation or COVID. If they're already suffering dying, I guess they don't have a whole lot to lose at this point?

One interesting point here is americans were willing to travel to the other side of the planet to "liberate" iraq from an authoritarian dictator. While seeming unable to muster any enthusiasm to criticize cuban autocrats in their own backyard. I've only seen a few random florida mayors suggest lending aid to cubans and opposing the oppression there should be actual things.

Coalition Of South Florida Mayors Urge Biden Administration To Step Up To Help Cuba, Haiti

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A coalition of South Florida mayors held a meeting Saturday morning to discuss the current situations in Haiti and Cuba.

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez stood on the podium shortly after 10:30 a.m., joined by 9 other mayors from the League of Cities, including Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.

“We are here united as one voice and as one group and we are going to be focusing on things that we want from the US government,” said Suarez.

“The second thing that we agreed was that the Cuban military and that is specifically individual members of the Cuban military, that carry out the orders of the Cuban government and repress the Cuban people and beat the Cuban people and harm the Cuban people that the United States of America do everything in its power to ensure that they will be met that those actions will be met with serious and severe consequences, whether they be prosecutions, whatever stream of consequences the United States in its broad array of powers can bring to bear on on these actors who are systematically beating their own people,” said Suarez.

Mayor Levine Cava said she had written a letter to President Biden asking him to take measures to help the people of Cuba and Haiti.

“Yesterday, I sent a letter to President Biden, and I called upon him to listen to the voices of our community, our community is uniquely positioned as the closest to those islands as the one that has benefited from the Diaspora from those two nations as the one that stands in solidarity, fighting for the well being of the people and the freedom for those people,” she said.

“We say to you, Mr. President, we need you to step up. We need you to do what other administrations have not done. We need you to listen to our voices and take concrete actions to protect our neighbors to protect our shores to protect the human Cuban and Haitian communities here in Miami Dade, and everyone who stands united.”

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/coalition-of-south-florida-mayors-urge-biden-administration-to-step-up-to-help-cuba-haiti/ar-AAMgpkS

[jaysabi]

One interesting point here is americans were willing to travel to the other side of the planet to "liberate" iraq from an authoritarian dictator. While seeming unable to muster any enthusiasm to criticize cuban autocrats in their own backyard. I've only seen a few random florida mayors suggest lending aid to cubans and opposing the oppression there should be actual things.

Comments like that show how unfamiliar you are with American history. America has been attempting to undermine the autocrats in power in Cuba since the 1960s certainly, and possibly before. The embargo is part of that effort (as misplaced as it is) and the interventions have included more active means like training resistance fighters or even invading the island (Bay of Pigs). Cuba always has the backing of Russia though, so you couldn’t just go in and “liberate” the people from the government. But as far as criticizing the autocrats? Do a google search man!

[Hydrogen]

Comments like that show how unfamiliar you are with American history. America has been attempting to undermine the autocrats in power in Cuba since the 1960s certainly, and possibly before. The embargo is part of that effort (as misplaced as it is) and the interventions have included more active means like training resistance fighters or even invading the island (Bay of Pigs). Cuba always has the backing of Russia though, so you couldn’t just go in and “liberate” the people from the government. But as far as criticizing the autocrats? Do a google search man!

Cuba's present day military is far weaker than iraq's was. Amassing guns and weapons requires capital. iraq being an oil rich nation gives it money to burn. They can buy tanks, jets and scud missiles. What natural resources does cuba have to exchange for military hardware? Aside from a very small tourism industry.

Cuba relies on the charity of communist regimes around the world to give it free stuff. And the amount of free stuff they have is far less than the military power iraq had when the united states invaded them both times.

The united states could destroy cuba's military easily. Its hard to define a reason, why that hasn't happened. Politics definitely factor in to it. Sanctions by themselves usually do not topple rogue states. There are other motives, consequences and side effects of sanctions. Which are well documented and known. But I suspect, you do not know them.

[Darker45]

I guess Cuba has not waned in terms of medicine and healthcare. I'd like to believe that despite the country's ailing economy, it still is worthy of praises in terms of healthcare. It's still their strength until today. Cuba is still one of the healthiest countries in the world.

I remembered when Italy was the epicenter of COVID-19 in Europe and international aids were measly. If I'm not mistaken, Cuba was one of the first countries to extend help. The country sent a team of medical experts. It must have meant a lot.

I guess the present-day protests are not directly due to the embargo which has been going on for decades, although its effects must have been more felt now with the pandemic continuously raging on than in the previous years. The bottom-line will always be the government. It is always at the receiving end of people's frustration, anger, complaints, and so on. But there is no country today which has not economically suffered the effects of the pandemic. However, in an already weak economy like Cuba, the pandemic must have made everything worse for its people.

[Sithara007]

That's because everything is state owned and privatisation is a problem there because if you don't abide to the communist regime, your business would be dismantled or worse taken over by the state, I think that the lack of investor foreign and local is what's causing the bad economy of Cuba. Hopefully they can get out of this dictatorship because these people deserve freedom.

Cuba is the classic example of how socialism works. Fidel Castro came to power by promising wealth redistribution. And he kept his promise after getting power, by seizing all the privately owned businesses. The previously wealthy upper class suddenly found themselves on the street without any money and the only option left for them was to immigrate to Florida and some of the other US states. A few decades later, these refugees have become one of the wealthiest demographic groups in the US, while those who remained in Cuba to support the socialist policies are now some of the poorest people in the globe.

[Xinarae*]

Cuba is a one party communist state it is inspired by the ideas of marx engels and lenin and the economy is also state controlled but it is currently moving towards the concept of market economy. But because of their lack of governance everything is turning bad the cuban communist party overthrew the batista government and introduced one party communist rule in cuba. Since then the leader of the communist party has established himself as the head of state and the final decision maker of all policy decisions added to this are inflation power shortages and crises of food medicine and daily necessities.

[Poker Player]

It seems to me that most responses have bought the US Democrats and CNN talking points saying that people are demonstrating due to COVID and the embargo. They demonstrate shouting "libertad"! Which means freedom or liberty, so it doesn't seem to me that corresponds to what CNN says.

What does seem to me is that we are back to the same thing. In Cuba it is the embargo, in Venezuela, the USA also put sanctions but the fact is that it never works.

During the cold war, a lot of communist nations were under the umbrella of the USSR. And they all ended up the same. Authoritarian, psychopathic regimes that were so wonderful that they had to build walls and fences to keep people from escaping how wonderful they were. The people who didn't die of murder or starvation ended up very poor. They were pretty egalitarian societies, that's for sure. You had the billionaire ruling politicians and then the rest, the vast majority of the population equally poor, and getting poorer and poorer. It culminated in the hyperinflationary collapse of the USSR.

What do we see today in Cuba or Venezuela? It seems to me that they can be compared, because at the end of the day, to compare is to find similarities and differences.

Authoritarian regimes, massive and generalized (egalitarian) impoverishment of the population, apart from the multimillionaire ruling class, massive exodus of the population... By the end of 2020, 3.9 million Venezuelans were designated as being displaced abroad without formal refugee status.

To see how wonderful these regimes are you only have to look at how many people escape from Cuba to the US and how many escape from that racist, unequal and oppressive trash of a country that is the US to Cuba. Or how many escape from North Korea to South Korea and the other way around, etc.

Cuba is the classic example of how socialism works. Fidel Castro came to power by promising wealth redistribution. And he kept his promise after getting power, by seizing all the privately owned businesses. The previously wealthy upper class suddenly found themselves on the street without any money and the only option left for them was to immigrate to Florida and some of the other US states. A few decades later, these refugees have become one of the wealthiest demographic groups in the US, while those who remained in Cuba to support the socialist policies are now some of the poorest people in the globe.

This sums it all up.

[Kong Hey Pakboy]

I think the protests is because of the pandemic not being able to resolved or being under control by the current regime. Plus another reason is that people are probably sick and tired of the current regime because they haven't made the lives of their countrymen easier which proves that communism doesn't work in practice.

[Cnut237]

Cuba's present day military is far weaker than iraq's was. [...] The united states could destroy cuba's military easily. Its hard to define a reason, why that hasn't happened.

Actually, I think you probably have defined it:

iraq being an oil rich nation

If you invade Iraq, you can "liberate" lots of oil. If you invade Cuba, all you can liberate is poor people.
Obviously this is a bit of simplification, and ignores the history of Cuban links to the USSR... but oil reserves are a powerful motivator.

[Vishnu.Reang]

I think the protests is because of the pandemic not being able to resolved or being under control by the current regime. Plus another reason is that people are probably sick and tired of the current regime because they haven't made the lives of their countrymen easier which proves that communism doesn't work in practice.

Communism/Socialism sounds really nice in theory. But it can never be put in to practice. In case of Cuba, since it is a socialist country ideally there should be zero unemployment, and medical care/education available to everyone. But that is not the case. Medical care is free, but what is the point when there are not enough doctors? Since the government has run low on Forex, they have sent Cuban doctors to other Latin American countries, in order to earn forex revenue. And now coming to the jobs, in theory there is no unemployment. But the average average monthly salary is around $25 (as of 2016). 

[bittraffic]

Cuba's present day military is far weaker than iraq's was. [...] The united states could destroy cuba's military easily. Its hard to define a reason, why that hasn't happened.

Actually, I think you probably have defined it:

iraq being an oil rich nation

If you invade Iraq, you can "liberate" lots of oil. If you invade Cuba, all you can liberate is poor people.
Obviously this is a bit of simplification, and ignores the history of Cuban links to the USSR... but oil reserves are a powerful motivator.

The country relies on tourism which worked for them despite the embargo issue, all the more they could make their country better if it was lifted a long time ago. It really doesn't make sense why there is this blockade, keeping them among the poor country for a long time. Keeping them poor will make its people busy to meet ends while they can't improve their military. 

Cuba is geopolitically powerful, look at the location. The Chinese I guess are clever enough to have turned the tables, I guess they have the balls to fight back.

[Kittygalore]

The real solution here is to open Cuba to businesses and make those businesses hire people and have the regime removed of their reins in the country and be replaced by a democratically elected leader and it needs to be that the military has to go against the regime so no bloodshed happens while a transition happens.

[tomahawk9]

Are Cuba protests due to the embargo or due to the government?

it's 100% cos of the "government". The other day i saw a tweet, it was a clip showing a bunch of cuban protesters and one of them literally said that they're not on the streets because of embargos or sanctions, they simply got tired of the regime and want them to leave power asap

It really doesn't make sense why there is this blockade, keeping them among the poor country for a long time. Keeping them poor will make its people busy to meet ends while they can't improve their military.

i think Cuba reached a point where even without a blockade they will still remain as a poor country. Remember that dictators do not care about the people, they care about staying in power and having control over the people. You remove that blockade and the dictatorship will only grow stronger by making more allies and receiving more capital to sustain that which keeps the dictator & Co afloat (lobbying, the armed forces, paramilitary, etc)

The real solution here is to open Cuba to businesses [...] regime removed [...] replaced by a democratically elected leader [...]

probably the first time someone has mentioned this in a topic about Cuba's political/economic affairs. You're onto something my friend        /s