Re: Cuban leaders in ideological struggle with youth


"PL" <pl.nospam@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:44EEB8A9.4030806@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Posted on Thu, Aug. 24, 2006

Cuban leaders in ideological struggle with youth

By Frances Robles

McClatchy Newspapers

(MCT)

MIAMI - As a 24-year-old Havana potato vendor who makes $10 a month -
double if he finds side jobs - Ricardo doesn't have anything against
communism or Fidel Castro.

He would just like some extra money to replace his shabby tennis shoes or
even buy a car. A diabetic who appreciates Cuba's free health care, he
says that even with the boost from his $6-a-month wage last year, his
income just isn't enough.

"The only bad thing here is the salary system. ... With capitalism, we'd
have to work harder to pay for everything. I'd have to pay for my
medicine," he said before adding, "I'd like the same system, but I just
want to earn more."

[snip]

Not exactly a ringing endorsement of capitalism. And as even the UN Human
Rights Comission was forced to concede in more than one report crtical of
Cuba, "It is also impossible to ignore the disastrous and lasting economic
and social effects of the embargo imposed on the Cuban population over 40
years ago." (SCC archives) So, it's simple -- no embargo, no problem!

Dan
Visit my CUBA: Issues & Answers website at
http://www.netcom.ca/~dchris/CubaFAQ.html


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