08-19-2005, 09:47 PM
Ninjadruid,Aug 19 2005, 12:57 PM Wrote:Cuba.
Everyone is educated, all are employed, there is almost no poverty, children have access to afterschool programs, medical care is free and open to all. I've spent a lot of time down there recently, and as it's not very big, I've got to see it all, not just the tourist resorts. The people in Cuba a genuinely happy for the most part. There are of course extemists who oppose the government and are persecuted for it, but that happens in America too, hello Guatanamo Bay.
You are confusing corrupt goverment in general with communism. Anywhere where government puts its needs ahead of its peoples will have problems similar to those in the old Soviet Union, China, et al. Communism isn't perfect, especially with the high rate of corruption seen in communist governments. Corruption happens in all levels of government regardless of the governing system however. Do not blame communism for the evils of abuse of power and corruption. It is possible to have communist government that is not corrupt and looks out more for its people that itself.
In most cases this doesn't happen. The greed that rules a capitalistic nation, such as America, corrupts those with good intentions unless there is democratic control over who is in power. In cases like that, you get places like Sweden. Socialistic paridises. The people elect the government who is bound by laws. There are VERY high taxes, but everyone is extremely well educated, employed and cared for.
If a G8 nation embraced communism do you really think that it would suffer the same fate as an impovershed nation that does? Do you abhor all socialist movements, or just communism? Do you think that because someone has more money than someone else they are more deserving of care and education?
The spirit of communism is not many dominated by few, it is community - the many for the many, with goverment used as a tool to help with the distribution of resources. That ideal may falter due to human nature, but I don't see how as an ideal it is evil.
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Damn, reading this has almost made me nostalgic. It's like reading a textbook from 5th grade on the wonders of communism and the evils of capitalism. Thanks, that almost made me cry for my lost youth.
>>>>Everyone is educated - yes, they can read the communist manifesto and talk about the evils of capitalism.
>>>>All are employed - yet they make barely enough to eat. They also invent nothing, and do not strive to better themselves because there is no incentive.
>>>>there is almost no poverty - you're right. When everyone around you is poor, then no one is poor. Of course, Fidel and his buddies can afford a car or 2, but hey, they're the leaders, they're allowed.
>>>>children have access to afterschool programs - where if they happen to utter something that they've heard from their parents about their dislike of the government, they have a good chance to come home one day as orphans.
>>>>medical care is free and open to all - sure it's free. Unfortunately, to get any real medical care, people have to give bribes to doctors and nurses, usually bribes that cost more than a month's salary and bribes that do not guarantee any *real* care, just some care. For real care, they have to give larger bribes AND know the right people. But hey, they can sit at the hospital and wait for free and no bills come in the mail.
>>>>The people in Cuba a genuinely happy for the most part. There are of course extemists who oppose the government and are persecuted for it, but that happens in America too, hello Guatanamo Bay.<<<<
A, so those who oppose the regime are "extremists"? LOL, this is priceless. Whoever you are.... there are only 2 possibilities here. 1) Either you are actually this naive. In this case, there is really no point in arguing with you. 2) You are a communist, if not officially then unofficially. In that case, I have nothing to say to you.
Oh almost forgot. It could also be 3) You are trying to provoke me. In that case, see either of the above.
Personally, I think it is 4) All of the above.
Have a nice day.
-A