Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I like how some pictures of dilapidated houses means that Cuba as a country is a total failure and socialism doesn't work. Considering that Cuba was first under the authoritarian influence of the USSR, followed by brutal American sanctions, we should really be talking about how unbelievable it is that they have accomplished so much. Cuba's infant mortality rate is lower than America's, Cuba's life expectancy is less than a year below America's, Cuba has more hospital beds and more doctors per 1000 people than America, Cuba has 86% less carbon dioxide emissions per person than America, Cuba has a lower adult HIV prevalence than America, Cuba children stay in school longer on average than American children, Cuba has nearly 100% adult literacy, and all Cubans receive free education (which is on par with the developed world, including America) and free healthcare (also on par with the developed world). Just because a country is not materially rich does not mean that it is poor. I for one would much rather trade material possessions for guaranteed free education and healthcare, and a sense of community, instead of a country full of individualistic, selfish consumers. Is Cuba perfect? Of course not. But considering the United States has spent roughly $500 million over the past 60 years to destabilize the government and economy of this small island nation, is it really any surprise the country is in the shape it's in? Could any country have a strong economy if the most powerful country on Earth spent the past half-century working to ruin it?
I think that Cuba and the USA are strange bed love partners behind the scenes. And Cuba needs the USA more than the USA needs Cuba
That's a summary of Cuba. The US doesn't need Cuba, Cuba needs the US - it's a big carrot on a stick to dangle in front of Cuba to get rid of that old dictator with a beard practicing it's obsolete brand of oppressive government rule that died out in the last century. Cuba is no threat, but why give up the carrot? No reason to. A Cuba without Castro and his government system is better for the US, better for the people of Cuba, better for the world.
Tourism is a farce there, enjoy the closed off resorts open only to tourists and party member. Yeah it's popular with Europeans and Canadians, mostly men - guess why (underage sex tourism anyone?). Someone mentioned all the great vital statistics of Cuba - excellent health care and free education, etc. The myth that always gets repeated is you can thank Castro for that. NO! Cuba was at that status before Castro, being one of the most advanced nations in Latin America. Low infant mortality and life expectancy exist in spite of the Castro regime, not because of it.
Meanwhile sanctions are easing up, and even Castro is mellowing out. But let the Cult of Personality that is Castro die with him and his brother, a new leader will emerge, and things will finally open up. I expect that will happen within the next few years.
Tourism is a farce there, enjoy the closed off resorts open only to tourists and party member. Yeah it's popular with Europeans and Canadians, mostly men - guess why (underage sex tourism anyone?).
Spoken like someone who has never been.
Cuba is popular because it's cheap and safe. It's no more closed off than any other area with large all-inclusive resorts. Jamaica, Myan Riviera, Dominican Republic, etc. etc.
I won't argue the politics, because I don't really disagree, but to paint visitors as sex tourists, it's just wildly inaccurate.
Cuba is popular because it's cheap and safe. It's no more closed off than any other area with large all-inclusive resorts. Jamaica, Myan Riviera, Dominican Republic, etc. etc.
I won't argue the politics, because I don't really disagree, but to paint visitors as sex tourists, it's just wildly inaccurate.
I won't argue travel as well or discuss in a public forum where I have potentially violated embargo laws (my travel experiences are otherwise well documented in the travel forum) except to say that I wouldn't call all-inclusive resorts "travel" at all. These isolated and walled resorts keep you from the real countries culture, keep the people out, keep the customers in a safe environment where all needs are cared for, exposed not to the "offending" smells, sights, and sounds of the country (and thus to the true spirit of the country). It's "pretend" travel for a mass-market first world customer base. Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba, etc. They are interchangeable cookie cutter...they could just as well be your backyard in the summer. Just my opinion however and further discussion on that subject ended by myself.
I like how some pictures of dilapidated houses means that Cuba as a country is a total failure and socialism doesn't work. Considering that Cuba was first under the authoritarian influence of the USSR, followed by brutal American sanctions, we should really be talking about how unbelievable it is that they have accomplished so much. Cuba's infant mortality rate is lower than America's, Cuba's life expectancy is less than a year below America's, Cuba has more hospital beds and more doctors per 1000 people than America, Cuba has 86% less carbon dioxide emissions per person than America, Cuba has a lower adult HIV prevalence than America, Cuba children stay in school longer on average than American children, Cuba has nearly 100% adult literacy, and all Cubans receive free education (which is on par with the developed world, including America) and free healthcare (also on par with the developed world). Just because a country is not materially rich does not mean that it is poor. I for one would much rather trade material possessions for guaranteed free education and healthcare, and a sense of community, instead of a country full of individualistic, selfish consumers. Is Cuba perfect? Of course not. But considering the United States has spent roughly $500 million over the past 60 years to destabilize the government and economy of this small island nation, is it really any surprise the country is in the shape it's in? Could any country have a strong economy if the most powerful country on Earth spent the past half-century working to ruin it?
And I bet that if you had to live like an ordinary Cuban you would be looking for the first car tyre to float away from Cuba. Material possessions do matter if the alternate is near destitution.
Cuba has every one else in the world to trade with and has the second largest tourism industry in the Caribbean.
It is a mess and the Castro fascits regime is to blame.
Just last week the Castro regime was arresting dissidents because they didnt want to be embarrassed at teh huge conference which is going on now.
Meanwhile sanctions are easing up, and even Castro is mellowing out. But let the Cult of Personality that is Castro die with him and his brother, a new leader will emerge, and things will finally open up. I expect that will happen within the next few years.
The trend that Cuba is on will continue, regardless as to who is in charge. The cult of personality is by and large over. Vested interested who wish to engage in crony capitalism will do what they feel that they must to stay in charge. It appears as if they plan to evolve into a Caribbean China.
The trend that Cuba is on will continue, regardless as to who is in charge. The cult of personality is by and large over. Vested interested who wish to engage in crony capitalism will do what they feel that they must to stay in charge. It appears as if they plan to evolve into a Caribbean China.
I agree. Even Castro has stated in an interview that communism has failed Cuba (in so many words). And it's hard for him to argue otherwise - only two countries exist today in the world with government planned economies - North Korea and Cuba, both curiously ruled by Cult of Personality type authoritative regimes (although Fidel is half dead at this point, leaving day to day management to his brother, and thankfully has no apparent heirs).
China is not a free country by any means, but they have certainly outgrown that obsolete 20th century planned economy system and embracing capitalism.
Cuba's image as a paradise for sex tourists, and that most tourists there are sexual perverts, is mostly due to what the Castro government did to initiate the tourism industry. Castro even went as far as to say that Cuba has the healthiest prostitutes in the world. Cuba's tourism industry is now not so much focused on sexual tourism, but its own 'humanistic' government is at fault for that image.
The US is the only country with an embargo against Cuba. I always wonder why can't Cuba import the doors, paint, nails, etc from the rest of the world. They managed to become one of the top 4 tourist destinations in the Caribbean, despite the US embargo, with modern and luxurious resorts. If they can do that with the embargo, then I think the actual embargo explains little of the decay in Havana and other Cuban cities. I guess many people don't want to accept that Cuba's misery is much more the product of its economic/political system than the embargo from one country.
I agree. In fact, the embargo is the #1 excuse for the Cuban government to explain officially all the difficulties in the island. The lack of food, medicine, everything is because of the embargo. The US is making the dictators in Cuba a big favor, after all, Castro brothers do not suffer the consequences of the embargo, only Cuban people do.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
