Fidel Castor, the totalitarian dictator of Cuba, has stepped down. The secret police and other apparatus of his oppressive police state are still in place. There is still no freedom of the press and people are still afraid to publicly criticise their glorious government.
I was in Cuba a few years ago and underneath the smiles and the sunshine there was an undercurrent of real fear. It was next to impossible to engage people in conversation about their past and their concerns for the future. The few people who did speak did so in hushed tones in quite corners.
So why is it that this morning on RTE, and I am sure it's the same in the rest of the left wing media, Castro was referred to as the Cuban President and the Cuban head of state? Why was he not referred to as one of the last Marxist dictators? Why was nothing said about his oppressive regime? I know that RTE in particular and the Irish media in general are very anti-American but there is no excuse for the way in which they hero worship this violent and oppressive man.
yup...Bertie's next
So why is it that this morning on RTE, and I am sure it's the same in the rest of the left wing media, Castro was referred to as the Cuban President and the Cuban head of state? Why was he not referred to as one of the last Marxist dictators? Why was nothing said about his oppressive regime?
I know that RTE in particular and the Irish media in general are very anti-American but there is no excuse for the way in which they hero worship this violent and oppressive man
I am no expert on Cuba. However, their statistics for literacy, medical care, life expectancy and infant mortality are impressive .
the oppression and censorship do, I suppose, need to be viewed in the context of this being a country which has, in essence, been on a war footing for more than 40 years.
I rather hope that the significant achievements in education will, in and of themselves, ultimately be the biggest factor in moving Cuba toward and open and participatory democracy.
I think Cuba is right to mistrust the US. I think that increased US cultural, political and economic influence is one of the biggest hazards which Cuban society faces in the years ahead.
If I had to live in a country a big powerful neighbour, I would still pick the US over the other two.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MOB http://www.askaboutmoney.com/showthread.php?p=580653#post580653
I am no expert on Cuba. However, their statistics for literacy, medical care, life expectancy and infant mortality are impressive .
I wouldn't exactly trust statistics provided by a Communist regime - they haven't been known for accuracy in their statistical reporting in other places around the world...
Do you trust information provided by a capitalist regime?I wouldn't exactly trust statistics provided by a Communist regime - they haven't been known for accuracy in their statistical reporting in other places around the world...
It's not about Communist or capitalist, it's communist or free. There are no free communist countries and there never have been. Communism is a totalitarian doctrine, capitalism is an economic system.Do you trust information provided by a capitalist regime?
True freedom is anarchy.It's not about Communist or capitalist, it's communist or free.
True freedom is anarchy.
Tell all the wage slaves that they are free (and they'll probably believe you).
That's a childish argument. The "wage slaves" are free to choose how they live their life.
OK but in a liberal democracy with small government is the model that offers the maximum freedom.In a free society, people are free to live their lives however they like. Unfortunately, other people will always interfere and want more than their fair share. This results in some people impinging on the rights of others.
My point is that there is no true free society, capitalist, or communist.
No, they are still free. The only limit they have is their own ability (or lack of).The 'wage slaves' in my example above might like (for example) to run their own company, but they mightn't be clever enough, or know the 'right' people, or have enough money etc. In other words, they are far from free.
Society has many mechanisms to promote the illusion of freedom.
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