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[Nickbat]

Cuban President Raul Castro told unionists to accept layoffs and reforms that open the way for private enterprise as necessary for the survival of socialism.

“To defend and explain these measures, the working class must learn and be convinced of their importance for the survival of the revolution,” Castro said in an address to the Central de Trabajadores de Cuba, the only union recognized by the Communist Party. “Otherwise we will fall off the cliff.”

Castro’s speech was published in the party newspaper Granma as Cuba prepares to dismiss 500,000 state workers by March, affecting 10% of the workforce.

The dismissed workers are being encouraged to go into business for themselves, and Granma said the central bank may offer micro-credits to new entrepreneurs as the island faces its worst economic slump since the former Soviet Union ended support in the 1990s.

http://en.mercopress.com/2010/11/03/accept-reforms-or-we-will-fall-off-the-cliff-warns-raul-castro?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily

  

[05omegav6]

I suspect we'll all find out before the weekend.

[Banjax]

Cuba's been going down the plughole since the end of the Soviet Union (and all the tasty subsidies) and to be fair I think something like 90% of workers in Cuba were public sector  so really its an unworkable model - they desperatey need bring that down to something manageable, but it has to be done carefully I'd guess, opening up the country to outside investment will help - which I think Raul wants to do/is doing, they may be OK and future oil revenues will help - but not a place I'd like to live right now - tough times ahead 

[Dishevelled Den]

Cuba's been going down the plughole since the end of the Soviet Union (and all the tasty subsidies) and to be fair I think something like 90% of workers in Cuba were public sector  so really its an unworkable model - they desperatey need bring that down to something manageable, but it has to be done carefully I'd guess, opening up the country to outside investment will help - which I think Raul wants to do/is doing, they may be OK and future oil revenues will help - but not a place I'd like to live right now - tough times ahead 

I certainly agree with most of that BJ and it shows the stark difference between the application of a theoretical political dogma and the very real practical outcome if that dogma is adhered to at all costs.  It's a shame that his brother (Fidel) assisted in bringing the country down to this level, although it’s plain to see why so many tolerated the regime for so long.

On the point of her present economic/social state, Cuba may not necessarily be in such a bad place at the moment as her geographical position renders itself open to advantage in the rapidly changing South American political scene - presently being driven by Hugo Chavez of Venezuela – although that very same topography invites undue attention from the United States should things change too much.

[Banjax]

Cuba's been going down the plughole since the end of the Soviet Union (and all the tasty subsidies) and to be fair I think something like 90% of workers in Cuba were public sector  so really its an unworkable model - they desperatey need bring that down to something manageable, but it has to be done carefully I'd guess, opening up the country to outside investment will help - which I think Raul wants to do/is doing, they may be OK and future oil revenues will help - but not a place I'd like to live right now - tough times ahead 

I certainly agree with most of that BJ and it shows the stark difference between the application of a theoretical political dogma and the very real practical outcome if that dogma is adhered to at all costs.  It's a shame that his brother (Fidel) assisted in bringing the country down to this level, although it’s plain to see why so many tolerated the regime for so long.

On the point of her present economic/social state, Cuba may not necessarily be in such a bad place at the moment as her geographical position renders itself open to advantage in the rapidly changing South American political scene - presently being driven by Hugo Chavez of Venezuela – although that very same topography invites undue attention from the United States should things change too much.

they've got oil Zulu, the US may wish to reopen its arms soon 

[cem_devecioglu]

Cuban President Raul Castro told unionists to accept layoffs and reforms that open the way for private enterprise as necessary for the survival of socialism.

“To defend and explain these measures, the working class must learn and be convinced of their importance for the survival of the revolution,” Castro said in an address to the Central de Trabajadores de Cuba, the only union recognized by the Communist Party. “Otherwise we will fall off the cliff.”

Castro’s speech was published in the party newspaper Granma as Cuba prepares to dismiss 500,000 state workers by March, affecting 10% of the workforce.

The dismissed workers are being encouraged to go into business for themselves, and Granma said the central bank may offer micro-credits to new entrepreneurs as the island faces its worst economic slump since the former Soviet Union ended support in the 1990s.

http://en.mercopress.com/2010/11/03/accept-reforms-or-we-will-fall-off-the-cliff-warns-raul-castro?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily

  

for how many years Cuba is living under the usa pressure..

and still they keep up..

and did you know patients from my country go to Cuba for better service   (not europe or usa)

and did you know we buy many different type injection drugs from Cuba for 1/10 or 1/20 price of usa drug market..

and for the economy , a combined model would be better in those days but I'm sure even you dont think
capitalist system is better after all these mess

[cem_devecioglu]

please check this link
http://library.thinkquest.org/C002291/high/present/stats.htm

if a system closes the eyes for this tragedy and prefers to build weapons and stay on feet with external debit and depends on wars ,

this is not a "system" in my dictionary..

[Banjax]

capitilism quickly returns to blind, bullish complacency cem - crisis? what crisis? I'm alright Jack

[Lizzie_Zoom]

capitilism quickly returns to blind, bullish complacency cem - crisis? what crisis? I'm alright Jack

That is the strange fact surrounding capitalism though BJ.  Capitalism has the inherent strength to always recover from any reversals, with individuals getting hurt, but the system as a whole surviving and moving forward!

Other systems tested by mankind, Communism for instance, do not have that resilience, and brings about an entire collaspe of the country; USSR!  Cuba and North Korea to come

[Dishevelled Den]

please check this link
http://library.thinkquest.org/C002291/high/present/stats.htm

if a system closes the eyes for this tragedy and prefers to build weapons and stay on feet with external debit and depends on wars ,

this is not a "system" in my dictionary..

It matters little what 'system' is questioned cem.  Human nature will always dictate the outcome.

Up to the moment (for the greater part) it's in the nature of the majority of humans to look after the welfare of themselves and their families and worry little about others.

As the article you quoted seems to have been directed (in content) against the excesses of the 'West' however I would say that the communist model displays similar failings.

It is of course confusing that the incumbent regimes of so many of those 'under-privileged' nations that were mentioned seem to suffer much less than the citizenry they govern.

[Dishevelled Den]

capitilism quickly returns to blind, bullish complacency cem - crisis? what crisis? I'm alright Jack

That is the strange fact surrounding capitalism though BJ.  Capitalism has the inherent strength to always recover from any reversals, with individuals getting hurt, but the system as a whole surviving and moving forward!

Other systems tested by mankind, Communism for instance, do not have that resilience, and brings about an entire collaspe of the country; USSR!  Cuba and North Korea to come

Yes, I think that's a fair assessment Lizzie.

[Varche]

As an aside, I saw that they have very impressive co ops( through necessity) to grow their own veg and fruit and also keeping animals (chickens and pigs).

good to see, a bit like the revival in allotments in Britain.

[Dishevelled Den]

for how many years Cuba is living under the usa pressure..

and still they keep up..

and did you know patients from my country go to Cuba for better service   (not europe or usa)

and did you know we buy many different type injection drugs from Cuba for 1/10 or 1/20 price of usa drug market..

and for the economy , a combined model would be better in those days but I'm sure even you dont think
capitalist system is better after all these mess

for how many years Cuba is living under the usa pressure..

I agree and I think this has been a failing in US foreign policy.

and still they keep up..

Given the present state of that country - they haven't been too successful.

and did you know patients from my country go to Cuba for better service   (not europe or usa)

What does that say about the Turkish system cem and how much does the financial attraction figure in this?

but I'm sure even you dont think capitalist  system is better after all these mess

I will certainly agree that it's far from perfect and that it will continue to be exploited by those who desire money and influence above all else - however the same can be said for communism and that system has certainly brought the less appealing aspect of human behaviour to the fore on more than a few occasions.

I think it fair to say that the rigid adherence to the communist ideal displayed by Fidel Castro and his regime has resulted in the crisis alluded to by his brother Raul.

[Banjax]

capitilism quickly returns to blind, bullish complacency cem - crisis? what crisis? I'm alright Jack

That is the strange fact surrounding capitalism though BJ.  Capitalism has the inherent strength to always recover from any reversals, with individuals getting hurt, but the system as a whole surviving and moving forward!

Other systems tested by mankind, Communism for instance, do not have that resilience, and brings about an entire collaspe of the country; USSR!  Cuba and North Korea to come

capitilism suffered a near fatal heart attack 2 yrs ago Lizzie, and it looks like its back on the burgers and chips already 

[Dishevelled Den]

capitilism quickly returns to blind, bullish complacency cem - crisis? what crisis? I'm alright Jack

That is the strange fact surrounding capitalism though BJ.  Capitalism has the inherent strength to always recover from any reversals, with individuals getting hurt, but the system as a whole surviving and moving forward!

Other systems tested by mankind, Communism for instance, do not have that resilience, and brings about an entire collaspe of the country; USSR!  Cuba and North Korea to come

capitilism suffered a near fatal heart attack 2 yrs ago Lizzie, and it looks like its back on the burgers and chips already 

Yes I certainly agree that we haven't seen the last of the Coronary Care Unit.