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An ideal society would be one in which all citizens possessed the greatest possible amounts of social and economic freedom. Equality of opportunity and equal rights are the only worthy forms of 'equality' that people can possess or attain.
There has ALWAYS been inequality in human societies. Were not feudal nations in Europe (during the Middle Ages) Was not the Roman Empire unequal?
So?
I'm sure he doesn't, it has never existed...
The excuse of those who support an unworkable system...
I'm sure that the Russians, Cubans and Chinese would disagree with you.
I certainly didn't hear this argument being put forward when the USSR was one of the "super"powers...
whether you think Cuba is Communist is up to you, but it's perhaps the closest thing in the world right now.
The people have a lot of hardships, material due to the US' blockade, but also restraints on their actions and publicly held beliefs, as Castro has made sure that he stays in power.
but despite this, the Cubans are the happiest people as a nation that I've ever met in my travels, they accept the hardships, and get on with life. they work hard to make ends meet, but they party like no-one else.
They have jobs and free education and healthcare. Everyone is pretty poor, but the limited wealth is distributed evenly among everyone.
there's certainly some degree of indoctrination - billboards by the roadside like 'We don't believe in ownership', ' Keep fighting for the Revolution' and of course 'Che lives!' - but the people mostly do have a love for Fidel.
I think that if, when Fidel pops his clogs, Cuba turns to a capitalist democracy, and basically a tourist island for the USA, and the state-guaranteed job, education and healthcare goes, the people as a whole will be less happy.
Just a thought. I'm not sure I'd want to live under communism and accept the lot given me by the state. But I've seen something like it in action, and it's not so bad.
That explains why so many of them have chanced the boat trip to the United States regardless of the risks. Because it's "not so bad". :rolleyes:
I'm not saying it's perfect, there is a lot of hardship due to the US' blockade, which has only hurt the people and kept Castro in power. a lot of people risk their lives every year for a conception of the USA as paradise where everyone is wealthy and happy.
but if this is a discussion of communism vs capitalism, then it's not fair to blame communism for the historical reasons behind the US' cruel blockade, condemned by everyone in the UN except those in the US' purse.
and yes, it's my Che poster
Blockade? You mean there are US Navy ships and planes stopping anyone from approaching or leaving Cuba? So, how did you get in?
It's a boycott, not a blockade. And the US did not force Castro to change the crop mix of Cuba. Nor did we force him to send troops to Angola. Nor does a boycott stop Cuba from participating in market trade with others in the world who wish to trade with them. Problem is that under Communism, they just don't seem to compete.
So, yes, it is a valid discussion of communism vs. capitalism.
three UN resolutions have been passed condemning the blockade
yesterday Steven Spielberg added his name to the list, including ex-president Jimmy Carter, of people who want an end to the embargo.
This is all in response to the revolution in 1959. The blockade has done nothing to get rid of Castro, and only hurt civilians.
The only reason it still exists is for the sake of the vote of the anti-Castro Cubans in Florida.
Seems Democracy ain't perfect either, it can turn into a political game of calculating exactly what actions and words are required to keep your party in power, not about what's right.
Winston Churchill once said 'Democracy is absolutely the worst form of government, apart from all the others'
damn, and I wasn't going to get into discussions on here
Now, as for viable trading partners, that is horseshit. Hawaii traded with islands thousands of miles from it before any western power had found it. But you are telling me that Cuba can't manage to trade with Brazil, Panama, Honduras, Mexico, Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Spain or England? Funny, they managed to trade with Spain over 300 years ago...but they can't do it today.
Like I said, seems Communism isn't actually able to compete. Hawaii still trades with places thousands of miles from it...and does it viably.
What that document means is that Cuba and Castro need an excuse and the embargo is that. And to eliminate that excuse would be a good thing that Jimmy Carter, etc. support (and so do I, but it's just an excuse we favor eliminating...not a real trade issue).
Some also said, I'm not sure if it was in this thread or the other one, that Communism was only an economic system... It also is a philosphical and a psycologycal current...
*consults Google*
'cuba blockade' = 37,800 pages
'cuba embargo' = 292,000 pages
a clear winner, fairy nuff.
glad you support it being dropped though, whatever you call it
If you want to have a government and leader that your huge neighbor doesn't agree with, that's fine. The huge neighbor is under no obligation to help you by trading with you.
Face it, the US is not going to benefit very much from trade with Cuba. Cuba is the one that is going to benefit...greatly. I don't think that we should reward shooting down unarmed Cessnas with MiG's....
And every citizen of every country has to accept that he or she may suffer because of the policies of his or her government. Decisions made by your government on your behalf may well hurt you badly. It's your responsiblity to look out for your own well being by effecting change.
Yes, because doing business in the US is a privlege, not a right. American businesses are forbidden to trade with Cuba. They undoubtedly suffer some because of this. Yet a foreign corporation can reap the benefits of doing business in the world's largest market and still have this advantage over a US corp?
The US government may restrain foreign corps as much as it wants if the MNC's want to do business in the US. If they don't want to follow the rules then they can set up shop in another country where they are not restricted.
While they do create jobs and buy from local suppliers, foreign multinationals can drain hard currency reserves, they help create the US trade deficit along with foreign imports.
Their object, don't forget, is to make a profit. Profits are sent out of the local country to the home of the multinational. This is money that doesn't stay in the US.
Thus if the home of the multinational is in youre cpountry you benfit thus it is a privelage to have them their......
Basicaly the capitalist system works, yes its unfair, its nasty, it exploits people, but it works, society keeps going and people do get food in their mouths.
Just look at Hong Kong, possibly the most capitalist place on earth, almost total free trade. They have a really low infant mortality rate and they live ages.
I would totaly aggree that capitalism is crap but its the best system there is at the moment, communism doesnt work because, sadly the majority of people only look out for themselves.
Free trade benifits everyone, whether you like it or not.
That really isn't true, studt shows that sice 'opening up' many countries real GDPs have declined. Free trade has clear benefits but only for the winners, if there is competition then therewill be losers that is the definition of the term.............