Cuba: Private enterprise to save socialism?
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HAVANA, CUBA – Cuba has held one of its largest military parades in decades to mark the 50th anniversary of the failed CIA-led invasion at the Bay of Pigs. Hundreds of thousands of Cubans marched in Havana to celebrate the occasion, seen as a triumph over the US.
After the triumphal parade, President Raul Castro spoke at the start of the first congress of Cuba’s ruling Communist Party in 14 years.
He said the party leadership was in need of renewal and should subject itself to severe self-criticism. The proposal is unprecedented under Cuban communism.
President Raul Castro said Cuba must shrink the state and encourage private enterprise to save socialism.
“The confidence and the united majority of Cubans have been tested, with regard to the party and the revolution,” Raul Castro said, opening the gathering.
“It is a unity that is not without differences of opinion.”
Free education and healthcare would still be guaranteed, but mass subsidies of basic goods would be removed and social spending would be “rationalized”.
Mr Castro said 200,000 people had already registered as self-employed since changes were announced last October, doubling the number of Cubans working for themselves.
But he insisted the socialist character of Cuba would be “irreversible” and accumulation of property would not be allowed.
Raul Castro took over from his brother Fidel in 2008 and between them they have ruled Cuba for 52 years.
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I think the entire concept that a country cannot exist with a bit of communism, socialism, and capitalism side by side is ridiculous. It is in the best interest of the survival of the human species that they exist. Humans, like the other great apes are social creatures by nature and wither without others to care for and depend on,
I agree Bill. No doubt, however, the Tea Bagger crazies would brand you as a communist for such a statement.
If that is the worst I get called Mike, I am not doing a very good job.
Both and happy Big H….You really have no idea do you?…Try Googling Planet Earth mate…I love America but, sadly, America doesn’t count anymore…
No offence…I’ll buy you a beer anyday….
I don’t know what your game is asshole but don’t you come over here and disparage my country. I don’t talk shit about yours so you leave ours alone because you don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m with Big Harry on this one. You are both a fool and an ignoramus.
Ah, 4D. LOL. You definitely have a knack for ruffling feathers. BH and RL, this is just 4D being 4D. No one is better at it than he.
Very true Collin, very true.
Best thing that ever happened to Cuba was the Missile Crisis…Taught America that you aren’t the business…you’re just one of the many.
You’re not the be all and end all America.
Live with it.
You a fool or an ignoramus, probably both.
The State Department has never forgiven Cuba for allowing Russian missiles to point at the mainland. It’s time to stop the embargo and move on.
Can you believe Castro is still alive? Can you believe communism is still alive? Can you believe that more than one-third of their population traveled the Florida Straits just to get to America?
I have always seen socialism and capitalism as two things that should be balanced in the service of each other, not mortal enemies. We’ll see how it works for Cuba–it’s definitely the direction they are going. Now, if we would just lift that non-sensical embargo.
The embargo has no sense in this day and age, imagine how Cuba would boom if Cuban-American tourist money could be allowed to have an impact.