[Marxism] Cuba flirts with economic reforms (St. Petersburg Times)

["Walter Lippmann" <walterlx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

If there is one single impression I have learned after my years visiting
Cuba, beyond the importance of normalizing US-Cuban relations, or in other
words the need to end the blockade, it is this:

The idea that society, or "the state", should be responsible for finding,
organizing, making or providing every single commodity or service which a
society wants or needs is absurd. This is particularly true in a blockaded
Third World country like Cuba. The worst internal thing which I observe as
I spend time in Cuba is that since the salaries and pensions which Cubans
receive is insufficient to meet the cost of living, and virtually further
those things which most people have to do to make ends meet aren't legal
today in Cuba, a broad sense of cynicism toward the law is the outcome.

Exactly what Cuba must do, beyond de-criminalizing the simple economic
activities of individuals, I've no recipe, but of this one thing, I am
absolutely certain. I'm pleased to see so much public recognition of the
island's long-term problems appearing in the Cuban media today. There are
a number of small factual errors in this story (talking about foreign
currency stores, which don't exist in Cuba, where all legal transactions
must be conducted in CUC, to cite one example), but the broad themes we
see discussed in this article are definitely on the agenda for change in
Cuba today. There is no simple solution to these problems, and this like
so many other articles makes no mention of Washington's blockade, which
is the context under which all of these problems, and possible solutions,
must be considered and conducted.

It is very much my sense, as I follow these developments through a mix
of the Cuban and foreign media, as well as in the speeches and writings
of Raul, and the writings of Fidel, that the Cuban leadership is working
hard to bring about necessary changes to satisfy long unmet needs within
the island's population. Their efforts at solving long-standing problems
deserve the support of everyone everywhere who thinks that a better world
is possible, and a world free of violence and exploitation is necessary.


Walter Lippmann
Los Angeles, California
=========================================================================

ST. PETERSBURG TIMES (FL)
Cuba flirts with economic reforms
Raul Castro may relax the barriers for small-scale entrepreneurs.
By David Adams, Times Latin America Correspondent
Published March 8, 2008

http://www.sptimes.com/2008/03/08/news_pf/Worldandnation/Cuba_flirts_with_ec
on.shtml 

--------------------------------------------------
Cuba's new president, Raul Castro, 76, is expected to introduce the
first reforms in the coming weeks, from new micro-business licenses
to redistribution of idle state land to small farmers. Despite
surrounding himself with old guard hard-liners, Castro used his
inaugural speech last month to reiterate a commitment to improving
the standard of living of Cuba's 11-million citizens.

Attention to such practical matters is why many Cubans find
themselves reassessing the younger Castro, once considered little
more than a ruthless enforcer for his brother.

"Raul has shown he is different," said Rafael Diaz, a state taxi
driver. "He calls things the way they are and wants to make them
better."

Even so, Castro says he needs time to come up with the right
policies.

"A mistake brought about by improvisation, superficiality or haste
could have substantial negative consequences," he said in his speech,
a seeming reference to the political and economic chaos in the former
Soviet Union a decade ago.

Cuban officials continue to reject the Chinese or Vietnam model 
of broad economic liberalization under one-party rule. 


========================================
WALTER LIPPMANN, CubaNews
Los Angeles, California
http://www.walterlippmann.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CubaNews/
"Cuba - Un Paraiso bajo el bloqueo"
======================================== 




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