Communism, oh i mean Fidel, Falling!

Funny Fidel

I find this site, funny. =P

Communism in Cuba. Sad but true.

A travellers log of her trip to Cuba.

What you hear about the greatness of communism in Cuba is not really entirely true. A friend once told me, Cuba is ideal, because the people there is content. The thing is, theres a very fine line between content and hopelessness. Content, when you want no more than what you have, and Hopelessness when you just give up and accept what it is that you have, is confussing, specially when youre not seeing things from every peoples perspective.

If youre not from Cuba, how can you say the People there is content with their life? Would you know what is in their minds, or youre just putting words into their mouths? Just think about that for a sec.


Funny how there are lots of dissidents from Cuba and none from the Philippines. And you tell me Cuba is ideal? Yea right. Live there, the consulate aint stoppin you. and dont cry when you wanna go back to Manila, and they aint lettin you. =P

Communism: Failing its People

Here, you'll read how Communism failed its people in Cuba miserably... Communism, is NOT IDEAL, because it never counted into consideration the inate will of people to want to improve their lives compared to others. It was a failure in theory, and it will be a failure in practice.

the Sad Lessons for Cuba...

A friend of mine mentioned that the kind of communism he wanted for the Philippines is the one that prevails in Cuba, and not China. Then i started to research about communism in Cuba. Is it so different from China? is it better? is Communism good for the Phillippines at all?

The following is a text lifted from CSMonitor.com

Lessons for Cuba after communism

By Anders Åslund and John Hewko

WASHINGTON – Regardless of when the US eases its embargo on Cuba, the country's communist days are numbered. With an economy in shambles, support from the Soviet Union gone, and contacts with the capitalist world increasing daily, it is only a matter of time before this failed system crumbles and opens its doors to political and economic reform. Anticipating the fall, hordes of foreign investors and Cuban émigrés are poised to make the rush to Havana.

In preparing for the stampede, investors and émigrés would be well advised to consider the experience of Central and Eastern Europe after the collapse of communism. There, the clash between the naive idealism of returning émigrés and the harsh reality of those who stayed behind was pronounced and painful.

The effects of communism on the mentality of the population at large were immense. Decades of stifling bureaucracy, incessant propaganda, and an extreme nanny state destroyed people's will to work. Entitlements became a way of life. No one expected to get fired, and the government was viewed as the solution to all problems. As a result, most people over the age of 40 were lost, and it will be left to the youth to forge a future.

Life under communism was simple. Most things – even the lines, the shortages, and the inefficiencies – were predictable. Everyone but the communist elite was equally poor. Nobody worried about investments, college tuition, and mortgage payments. For the simple worker, peasant, or civil servant, loath to worry or think, the system had considerable attractions. The arrival of capitalism with its plethora of choices and risks upset that predictability and proved unnerving to most of the working class and older generation.

Communism was a system of patent lies. Corruption, bribery, and cronyism were deeply embedded in the system. For most in the West, it was difficult to imagine the importance of contacts, friends in high places, and well-placed relatives. Once the lid of repression was off, these forces of privilege emerged with an uncontrollable vengeance, so that freedom initially aggravated corruption and crime. As the communist system collapsed, an oligarchy of former communist managers thrived on the transitional chaos to amass enormous wealth. The easiest fortunes were made on privileged trading between low state-controlled prices and high free-market prices. The cost was borne by the older generation and pensioners, too old to adapt to the rough and tumble of the market.

Yet, even as communism lay in ruins, politics and people were real. Émigrés and foreign advisers arriving with a can-do swagger and the confidence that they "know it all" often failed to understand how society functioned. Under communism people may have forgotten how to work and never learned to use a credit card, but they were bright and had pride. The combination of local pride and émigré arrogance excluded all but a handful of émigrés from prominent government positions. Without genuine humility, returning émigrés are not likely to succeed.

An awareness of these problems helps to harness them. Cubans must be mobilized and empowered. It is not enough to preach the principles of capitalism. Early democratic party elections to a new parliament are vital to put into place a functioning legislature that can adopt the hundreds of new laws a market economy requires. A popularly elected president cannot do it alone, as President Boris Yeltsin experienced in Russia.

Early and thorough privatization is an economic necessity, but it is also a good means of giving many a share in the new market economy. Restitution has worked well for housing and family farms, though it has not been politically acceptable for large enterprises, even in eastern Germany.

The first moment of economic reform is vital. Focus on the fundamental principles: maximum liberalization and financial stabilization. When prices and markets are deregulated, inflation is bound to skyrocket, requiring a firm fiscal and monetary policy. If the rulers hesitate, the social costs of transition will only rise. Either you get onto the right track or you do not. In the midst of transition, many statistics become nearly meaningless and are best ignored.

Surely, the US can and should help. New policymakers need relevant advice. A new class of entrepreneurs and civil servants will have to be trained. A cause of Cuba's collapse is likely to be its excessive external debt, and the US should give a postcommunist government ample financial support so that it can contain inflation, manage its debt and attain sufficient reserves. Business investment, however, is best left to the private sector.

Many mistakes were made after the fall of the Berlin Wall. We can only hope that they will not be repeated when the Castro regime collapses.

• Anders Åslund and John Hewko are with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. They have advised several postcommunist governments over the past decade.

The Rise and Fall of Communism in Cuba

Rise of Communism in Cuba
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Cuba stood under strong influence from the United States: USA helped achieve Cuban independence from the Spanish in 1898. Independent but stability sometimes achieved with American troops. Claims that USA controlled Cuban economy: USA held controlling stake in all Cuban industries Owned: Half of the land 3/5 of the railway system The electricity production The telephone system USA was Cuba’s main market Þ Domination did not result in efficient country; therefore resentment in Cuba. Cuba’s economy: Prosperous Too dependent on sugar Wealth unevenly distributed Unemployment: 8% in the five month of sugar harvest 30% rest of year Trade unions inactive; dominated by all year employed Havana, rich and full of corrupt government officials was strong contrast to Þ High social tensions There was no reliable democratic system in Cuba. Fulgencio Batista seized power illegally in 1952 and ruled as dictator. Did not introduce reforms; his regime was corrupt and brutal. Batista had been at the forefront of politics since 1933 No peaceful revolution seemed possible: Middle-Class Fidel Castro, a trained lawyer, was leading exponent of this view. Before he came to power he was more of an liberal nationalist than a communist Wanted to end corruption and Batista regime Prepared to introduce limited land reforms for every peasant to receive land. Unsuccessful coup attempt in 1953 — ended with two years of prison Switch to guerrilla tactics: Campaign of guerrilla warfare and sabotage in the cities Popular with population due to the implementation of Castro’s land reforms. Þ Success: Rebels soon controlled mountain areas to the north and east. Brutal reaction of Batista: Played into Castro’s hands: Popularised the struggle Even the middle-class saw Castro as an alternative to brutal Batista. Morale of Batista’s army crumbled after an unsuccessful attempt made against Castro’s forces in the summer of 1958. The USA, embarrassed, withdrew all arms supplies. Che Guevara, an Argentinean supporter of Castro, gained control of the island’s main road. Prepared to move to Santa Clara Þ Fulgencio Batista fled from Cuba on January 1st, 1959; a new, liberal government was set up under Fidel Castro. Cuban relations with the USA: No quick deterioration of the American-Cuban relations. Castro was thought to be a social democrat, not a nationalist. He outraged the USA by nationalising American-owned estates and factories. President Eisenhower reacted by threatening to stop importing Cubas goods. Forced Cuba to sign a trade agreement with Russia. July 1960: USA stopped import of Cuban goods USSR promised to buy Cuban sugar Cuba confiscated all remaining American property Relations between USA and Cuba worsened, but USSR relations with Cuba improved. USA broke off diplomatic relations with the two countries. Russia, at that point in time, was already supplying economic aid to Cuba The USA, President J.F. Kennedy even approved a plan to invade Cuba: The ‘Bay of Pigs’ happened on April 1961 Proposed by Batista supporters. To be executed from American bases in Guatemala. The CIA was deeply involved. Badly planned and excecuted Þ Castro’s forces and its 2 planes therefore easily crushed it. Missile Crisis (1962): Brought the already torn world to the brink of nuclear war In the summer the USSR supplied arms to Cuba, who directed them at the USA. On October 22nd Kennedy announced that U-2 spy planes had detected Russian missile bases were being built in Cuba. He alerted the army & blockaded Cuba to stop further arms Demanded the missiles to be taken down again (ultimatum) Khrushchev agreed to removed offending missiles in return for Kennedy’s promise not to invade Cuba Cuba was expelled from the OAS (Organisation of American States) by suspicious Latin American states. This made the Cuba even more dependent on Russia. Þ The cold war relaxed but American-Cuban relations stayed cool. Castro’s greatest problem specific to Cuba How would the other American states react to a new socialist threat at their doorstep? Cuba’s economy was far too reliant on sugar and the price fluctuations of the world sugar market. The administration and the government was riddled with corruption There was serious unemployment and poverty Ernsto ‘Che’ Guevara: Ernsto ‘Che’ Guevara, who had played an important role in the revolution, took a position in Castro’s government. He wrote a book on the guerrilla warfare, which had big impact on Latin America. By 1965 he became frustrated with government. Left Cuba to organise revolutions. And was killed by Bolivian troops 1967. The new government however was enthusiastic and dedicated: During his first ten years Castro totally reformed Cuba: Collective farms were introduced. Factories and businesses were nationalised Attempts were made to modernise sugar production and increase output New industries were introduced to relieve heavy reliance on sugar. Social reforms Included attempts to improve: Education Housing Health Medical facilities Communication Achieved equality for Negro’s and more rights for women Opened touring cinemas, theatres, concerts and art expeditions Castro kept on touring the country, giving speeches urging for greater efforts. Governments success: Especially in sphere of social reforms: All children were getting some sort of education (only 50% before 1959) Sanitation and hygiene improved. Greater sense of equality and stability that ever before Þ After the first decade the government seemed to be popular with the vast majority of people. Governments failures: The inability to diversify the industries and the agricultural output was the most serious failure. This made Cuba more dependent: 1970’s the harvest fell, worsened by a fungus infections (1980’s) This plunged the country into a economic crisis: Unemployment rose Increased immigration to the USA Food was rationed Economy heavily subsidised by USSR Þ After a promising start the progress was faltering.

Note:
The entire text was lifted from Revision Notes. I do not claim ownership or intellectual rights over the text above. Text was used merely for discussion purposes and is not intended for commercial use.

Boo Communism! Boo!

Dont shoot me, but i think youre Dead Wrong...

I went to UP Diliman for school and i met lots of people with different political leanings. One group which i dont agree with is this Whine-y one who believes Communism should prevail in this country.

i dont think so.

why?

check these following discussions:

Falun Gong

Communism Sux

Rescue Charles

Bleh Communism

Communism (sux)

well i guess, theres really no perfect form of governance. well just have to make sure the people who runs the country, no matter which form of governance, are smart-asses and not corrupt at all. lol.


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