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Cuba Archive

Tuesday

18

August 2009

0

COMMENTS

Saving Socialism By Ending It

Written by , Posted in Free Markets

An article on Cuba has the interesting headline, “Cuba’s leaders see private farmers as key to saving socialism.”

Had the author (or editor) thought this through a bit, he might have found the irony in declaring that capitalism was the key to saving socialism.  Certainly we agree that the best way to save socialism is to end it.

Some other gems from the article:

“There is too much control and bureaucracy that hinders everything,” Espinosa Chepe said. “It’s impregnated with a 50-year-old operating method that is built on taking orders and is not used to decentralization.

“There need to be more incentives,” he said.

“The more independent you are, the more you push yourself,” he said. “Why work harder if you don’t get any benefit?”

“If the worker is not content in his job and you don’t pay him for his results, you don’t achieve anything,” cooperative president Lázaro Hernández told the paper, saying he paid his 20 employees 780 pesos a month ($32.50), more than twice the average national wage. Their wages, and share of produce, increase if they exceed production targets.

“If the salary is fixed, the worker will just show up and do his day’s work, but he won’t be interested in getting the most out of it. If he has a percentage, it all changes,” he said.

Incentives? Motivation in ownership? By George, I think they’ve got it!

Hat-tip: John Stossel’s Take

Tuesday

14

April 2009

0

COMMENTS

Obama Eases Restrictions On Cuba

Written by , Posted in Foreign Affairs & Policy, Free Markets

President Obama announced, as inconspicuous as possible, that his administration is reversing several restrictive policies on Cuba, including restrictions on travel to visist family, limits on money and goods that can be sent to family, and prohibitions on high tech investment. I support these moves. Unfortunately, however, the move does not indicate a broad commitment to freedom by the Obama administration, which seeks to limit trade in most other ways.

Wednesday

8

April 2009

1

COMMENTS

A Pathetic, Slobbering Love Affair

Written by , Posted in Foreign Affairs & Policy

The Castro lovefest by the American left is disgusting.

Key members of the Congressional Black Caucus are calling for an end to U.S. prohibition on travel to Cuba, just hours after a meeting with former Cuban president Fidel Castro in Havana.

“The fifty-year embargo just hasn’t worked,” CBC Chairwoman Barbara Lee (D-Ca.) told reporters this evening at a Capitol press conference after returning from a congressional delegation visit to Cuba. “The bottom line is that we believe its time to open dialogue with Cuba.”

Lee and others heaped praise on Castro, calling him warm and receptive during their discussion. But the lawmakers disputed Castro’s later statement that members of the congressional delegation said American society is still racist.

“It was quite a moment to behold,” Lee said, recalling her moments with Castro.

It was almost like listening to an old friend,” said Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Il.), adding that he found Castro’s home to be modest and Castro’s wife to be particularly hospitable.

We should end the embargo, but not because Castro is a good guy who we can work with in any way, shape or form, but because a policy of free trade and cultural exchange is the most effective way to undermine the stranglehold his murderous regime has on Cuba.  The best way to free the oppressed people of Cuba is to show them the advantages of freedom.