Cuba Reforms - First Open Criticism For 50 Yrs

The Cuba reforms are proceeding at a glacial pace, but even so there have been the first rumblings of criticism, with Cardinal Jaime Ortega, the head of the Catholic Church in Cuba saying it is in one of its worst crises in recent times, and that people are openly criticising the socialist system.

Personally if I was Cuba's rulers, I would think that economic reforms should predate any 'political' ones, or else risk a 'Russian' reform i.e. problems of corruption and oligarchs arising before any benefits hit the people.

In other words do a China and get working on introducing a private economy, with some adjustments to ensure countryside not left behind, and to ensure poverty gap doesn't get too big.

It's all very well for the US congress to make an issue of political reforms in Cuba before they will lift the sanctions but do they really want several million Cubans sailing to the US because the economy has collapsed in Cuba?

I doubt whether Pres. Obama could survive the backlash from a 'boat people' invasion ..... so let Cuba manage the change, accept that the political changes will come somewhat later than the economic ones (Cuba isn't China. It can't isolate the communist party from the influence of its neighbours,especially the US with its Cuban diaspora), and play the long game.

Cuba Denationalises

As discussed in earlier posts, Cuba is creeping away from a state run economy, and in the latest move has privatised 'hair dressers' ..... ah well, 'Rome wasn't built in a day'

Cuban Communism falters

I recently blogged on the likely decline of Communism in Cuba now that Fidel Castro has stood down ..... News this week confirmed my predictions, when it was announced that it has abandoned equal pay for all.

Vice-Minister for Labour Carlos Mateu said the current system - in place since the communist revolution in 1959 - was no longer "convenient". Now pay rates will vary according to worth.

Next the US dollar will become the official currency (or the pegged level in any event) to allow emigres to spend and send money 'officially' in Cuba.

You read it here first folks ...

Computers for Cuba

As the changes of style since the retirement of Castro takes place, and Cubans are rushing to join the 'consumer' culture as fast as poverty (average earnings are only US $20 pm) allows them, it begs the question "will they be happier?"

Capitalism Makes You Sing And
Dance For Your Supper .....

I ask because when the Berlin Wall came down in 1989, many East Europeans and East Germans, thought that wealth would pour through like a veritable Cornucopia, only to find that Capitalism was a harsh mistress (even in the 'welfare state' form that was in vogue in West Europe).