celebrating Castro's illness?

[Shelby]

Without the U.S.S.R. propping it up, unless some other strongman rises up and is able to maintain the communist economic structure I figure Disney, Marriot, etc. will buy it up and turn it into a theme park vacationland.

And I'm gonna head on down there and bang some cute little brown Cuban honeys and drink some rum and smoke some stogies.
​

 

[steve2727]

Without the U.S.S.R. propping it up, unless some other strongman rises up and is able to maintain the communist economic structure I figure Disney, Marriot, etc. will buy it up and turn it into a theme park vacationland.​

Doubtful, ok not certain about Cuba specifically but the general trend in South America seems to be towards Anti American Socialist governments, not away.

Which is a pity, because despite being portrayed as bogeymen reponsible for all the 3rd world's social and economic ills, when multinational corporations move into a region and trade is globalised the net long term effect on local infrastructure and living standards is usually very positive, in reality it's probably the best thing that could happen to the country.

But like I say, doubt it will happen, the end of Castro probably won't mean the end of leftist authoritarian government in Cuba, and the economy will be supported the same way most failed/failing state's economies are, semi official black marketeering and corruption, which should keep the guys at the top happy, everyone else will just have to put up with being poor.

But at least they will still be resisting the Evil Empire!! Err yay?​

 

[dong20]

.... when multinational corporations move into a region and trade is globalised the net long term effect on local infrastructure and living standards is usually very positive, in reality it's probably the best thing that could happen to the country.

While an injection of foreign capital can have a positive impact it's generally those at the top who gain; at the expense of those lower down the food chain. Almost without exception Multinationals 'invest' in the Third World not from a sense of moral beneficence but simply because of lower wage costs, kickbacks and tax breaks, coupled with lax or non existent labour, legislsative and environmental protection it's hardly surprising they do so. Add to this the fact that profits are for the most part taken out of the country, seldom remaining to 'trickle down' it's not quite the rosy picture you paint.

 

[Gisella]

While an injection of foreign capital can have a positive impact it's generally those at the top who gain; at the expense of those lower down the food chain. Almost without exception Multinationals 'invest' in the Third World not from a sense of moral beneficence but simply because of lower wage costs, kickbacks and tax breaks, coupled with lax or non existent labour, legislsative and environmental protection it's hardly surprising they do so. Add to this the fact that profits are for the most part taken out of the country, seldom remaining to 'trickle down' it's not quite the rosy picture you paint.

Yeh.. for sure not a rosy picture at all..

And for sure there are lot of Anti-American sentiment not only in LA but globally ...opposition of US policies. There is something wrong when we see ourselves just good but not bad and ugly like everybody else does and are too...:tongue:

And the worse situation is that commun American people does not have a clue why many in this world feel this way about the USA....

I do agree that there are exagerations in extra blame the US in some circles but still the 'trauma' and the root of not trusting is real in South and Central Americas.

Well i at least had tried both worlds a bit...:wink: If have to choose really choose have to see more places and than decide where i want to retired...:biggrin1:

 

[steve2727]

While an injection of foreign capital can have a positive impact it's generally those at the top who gain; at the expense of those lower down the food chain. Almost without exception Multinationals 'invest' in the Third World not from a sense of moral beneficence but simply because of lower wage costs, kickbacks and tax breaks, coupled with lax or non existent labour, legislsative and environmental protection it's hardly surprising they do so. Add to this the fact that profits are for the most part taken out of the country, seldom remaining to 'trickle down' it's not quite the rosy picture you paint.

Actually, whilst treating third world workers worse than they could get away with treating workers in the developed world, multinational employers on the whole tend to pay better and provide better working conditions than their local counterparts. Local producers can also benefit from working with multinationals as they can be introduced to modernised production systems, management techniques etc which they would not otherwise be exposed to. Also, in order to attract sustained investment, countries need to stay politically stable and invest in local infrastructure - which obviously benefits the whole economy - in other words the local powermongers have economic incentives to behave better, starting a war means risking their slice of the pie.

Yes, this is all in the self interest of the multinationals - being the best employer in the locality allows them to cream off the best workers whilst still keeping labour costs relatively low, and having their local suppliers and partners operate more efficient and modern working practices is good news for them, it ensures suppliers are cheaper and more reliable. Whether the multinational cares or not isn't really the issue.

I'm talking about the long term, yes in the short term little or nothing changes for most people, multinational's tax revenues stay in the hands of those at the top, profits get taken out of the country, most worker's wages and conditions will still be poor - but the process of being integrated into the global economy tends to induce modernisation of local infrastructure and local enterprises in the longer term, we are talking supply side improvements over a period of decades.

I know, there are good arguments of both sides of this issue, but if I were a betting man I'd say Cuba's economy will be in far better shape (and it's people's living standards will be higher) 20 years down the line if it opened itself up to the global economy than if it didn't. Just look at South East Asia, some countries did open themselves up to foreign investment and international trade (e.g. South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan) and some did not (e.g. North Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia). Know where I'd rather be

 

[Mem]

The reason they are celebrating is because they have a lot of spirit. Castro is to Cubans what Hitler was to Jews.

White Americans and American culture in general is very reserved, a throw back to our puritan ways and English heritage of our fore-fathers. If Osama would be killed today Americans would be happy, but would not join in celebration.

I think the Miami Cuban's reaction is over the top and I wouldn't participate in it, but I understand it.

Since you do not know all the bad things that Castro has done I understand your ignorance concerning the matter.

 

[D_Humper E Bogart]

That sums up the failure of the revolution —
one of the most highly educated populaces, health care for all, yet doctors can't earn a living wage, and women with multiple university degrees wind up prostituting themselves to scummy tourists (btw I don't mean you.)

You misunderestinmated me. Cuba has a l33t standard PRECISELY as a consequence of the way they're run. It's harsh, cruel, but for a tiny island they sure have some decent medics and athletes, and a very high literacy standard.

 

[D_Humper E Bogart]

The reason they are celebrating is because they have a lot of spirit. Castro is to Cubans what Hitler was to Jews.

HOLY SHIT! CUBA'S THE MOST POWERFUL MILLITARY MIGHT IN THE WORLD AND IT'LL TAKE EVERY OTHER COUNTRY TO DESTROY IT BEFORE IT V2'S US ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!1111111111111111

*The drugs are not working today*

 

[ClaireTalon]

I have missed most of this, but is it now that we finally take another attempt to storm Cuba? Will I be able to get back into the cockpit to act as filling station attendant for some crazed jet jockeys again?

Fun aside. I think it's crazy to celebrate someone's illness, be it an enemy or not. Moreover, I don't think it will be easier to drive the commies out of their offices now, the powers that be are the same. The problem with Castro is that he had himself celebrated in an enormous personality cult that masked the underlying structures to a vast extent. And above all, don't forget that he is taken out only temporarily, and we are already planning like he's gone. That might be a mistake, though it might be difficult to evaluate how ill he really is. It must be something grave, so it forces him to transfer powers to his trustees, but however grave remains to be seen.

My hope is that after he is finally gone, more pragmatic and open-minded officials come into positions of power, and loosed the tight reigns. They can't keep stick to their policy anyways, as I've read that their gems, the education and public health system, are about to collapse due to a lack of funds. In the long run, they will be forced to open up to the west, or maybe copy the Chinese/Vietnamese way of conversing Communism.