Re: [Marxism] Suggestion: let's create a FAQ!

["Gilles d'Aymery" <aymery@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Sayan Bhattacharyya wrote:

>>>I'm not sure  that this resolves the issue though. The immediate 
obvious counter-question (from the hypothetical person whom the 
socialist is talking to) would be: "Why does  not the Mexican 
emigrate with the whole family to Cuba? -- given that both the 
emigrant and the family would receive free  
healthcare and education in Cuba?"<<<

First, my apologies to Sayan and the List for the typos in my last 
message.

I don't know Cuba's immigration policies and suppose they are 
restrictive. The Mexicans I've met over the past 2 to 3 years in the 
valley where I live north of San Francisco all came from the same 
Mexican state, through a network of friends and relatives (as Marvin 
said). Though I cannot generalize, the migrants I've talked to or 
worked with (I speak Spanish) are unaware of Cuba's free healthcare 
and education. In any case, Cuba would be overwhelmed by the sheer 
multitudes.

However, I wish to reiterate what I said last evening. They do not 
care -- or better said, they cannot afford to care about healthcare 
and education. I am talking about the migrants, singles, males... 
It's really a matter of survival, of bringing food to the table. They 
talk about the magic three 400s: $400 a month for rent; $400 a month 
for food and living expenses (like the $5 phone card to call back 
home); and $400 to send home. In addition, they have an average of 
$3,000 in debt (the cost of the dangerous journey) owed to friends 
and relatives. (From November to April, there is no or little work in 
the fields.)

They do not talk of socialism or capitalism... They talk of *hunger* 
at home. I can only relate my own experience... Last year, I tried to 
help a family (parents + three kids) who lived down hill from us in a 
garage with concrete floor, makeshift kitchen, a sink for a bathroom. 
What comes to mind is Zola or Dickens... The kids wanted a computer. 
We gave them one and I went there twice a week to teach them. A month 
later, the computer was gone. The father had not had work for a 
week...

There is no political structure, organization -- no union... Last 
fall we hired a contractor to enlarge a shed. He paid one helper $15 
an hour (white, American) and another $8 (Mexican, non-legal). No 
insurance, no healthcare. Ironically, he told me he voted for the 
Peace & Freedom party!!!

You are talking millions of people. I don't see for all practical 
purposes how Cuba could cope with so much poverty.

Gilles


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