A Very Capitalist Birthday
well, it's Fidel's 80th birthday today, and just in time for the celebrations, his picture is released, post-operation, to show the world he is alive and (more or less) kicking.
of interest is that Fidel, Dictator-In-Chief of one of the handful of communist states still left in the world is wearing ... an Adidas shirt
is this a new clever campaign by Adidas to appeal to the hard-left, octogenarian sports-apparel buyer of taste?
what's next, a Nike campaign featuring the embalmed Lenin raising from his crypt to shoot hoops as we are told to "Just do it?"
on a serious note, Fidel's choice of apparel again highlights the great inequality that exists between the Cuban ruling elite and the Cuba people, most of whom have no access to the hard currency needed to buy such clothing in Cuba.
ah, Fidel ... in your Adidas shirt, air conditioned room, eating the best diet money can buy, while your people make do with old clothes, black-outs, and scraps of whatever they can get from day to day.
********************
the following excerpts are taken from an essay written by a Cuban writer, living in Cuba, and it reflects the terrible economic suffering that King Fidel has inflicted upon his people:
Economic Freedom and Transparency
by Raul Soroa
HAVANA, Cuba -- August, 2006 (www.cubanet.org) - The misery caused by the Special Period [the collapse of Soviet aid to Cuba] allowed Cubans to free themselves from the tyranny of the automobile and electricity. The lack of oil brought with it blackouts and horse-drawn carts. Families again gathered by candlelight or kerosene lamps, without refrigerators, returning to the simple, natural life of the centuries predating the industrial revolution.
The disaster was such, that bicycles . . . became the primary means of transport. Deserted streets, hunger, lack of everything were the results of the failure of the Cuban system, a failure made all the worse by the collapse of Socialism in Eastern Europe.
...
The crisis of the 90's could only be fought with radical economic and political changes . . . However, only a few cosmetic changes were allowed, which did slow down the collapse of the Cuban regime. For example, partnerships with foreign corporations were allowed for the first time. Tourism was fostered, including allowing foreign companies to manage hotels and other tourist enterprises. The dollar was legalized and became the basis of exchange, and the families abroad were able to remit hard currency to their relatives inside Cuba.
Many Cubans hoped that things would, at last, change. Private restaurants were allowed to open; private taxis re-appeared on the streets; plumbers, masons, and craftsmen began to operate small businesses. The much-needed farmer markets were legalized.
...
Cubans felt relief. At last, a small crack, a narrow opening, through which Cubans could squeeze out their imprisoned creativity and communal ability and wisdom. However, the respite was short-lived. As soon as the regime was able to ensure it survival, it began to close the breach.
...
Castro has had no problem ending all those measures that the initial collapse of the Soviet Union forced him to allow. Havana's regime is a mix of Stalinism, Maoism, and populism subjugated by Castro's ideals, and is fiercely opposed to economic or political freedoms: the existence of any sort of private property contradicts the essence of this system.
Today, the private restaurants are closing one after another. Private taxis are disappearing. Under the constant pressure of the regime, everything is returning to the way it was. Cuba is sunk in poverty, violence, and frustration. The few resources that the country has are wasted on illusory projects or subverting Latin America...
The sugar industry, another engine of the Cuban economy, idles among disassembled sugar mills, over-cultivated land, and abandoned small towns. Sugar production, which once commonly reached eight million tons of sugar per year, can no longer surpass one and a half millions...
In Cuba, a totalitarian regime rules. Freedom is a joke told by government officials. The country sinks ever further into wishful thinking. Cubans are not free, neither economically nor politically. The regime controls Cubans through absolute control of their means to survive. Their day-to-day struggle to survive is the fundamental weapon of the totalitarian regime.
of interest is that Fidel, Dictator-In-Chief of one of the handful of communist states still left in the world is wearing ... an Adidas shirt
is this a new clever campaign by Adidas to appeal to the hard-left, octogenarian sports-apparel buyer of taste?
what's next, a Nike campaign featuring the embalmed Lenin raising from his crypt to shoot hoops as we are told to "Just do it?"
on a serious note, Fidel's choice of apparel again highlights the great inequality that exists between the Cuban ruling elite and the Cuba people, most of whom have no access to the hard currency needed to buy such clothing in Cuba.
ah, Fidel ... in your Adidas shirt, air conditioned room, eating the best diet money can buy, while your people make do with old clothes, black-outs, and scraps of whatever they can get from day to day.
********************
the following excerpts are taken from an essay written by a Cuban writer, living in Cuba, and it reflects the terrible economic suffering that King Fidel has inflicted upon his people:
Economic Freedom and Transparency
by Raul Soroa
HAVANA, Cuba -- August, 2006 (www.cubanet.org) - The misery caused by the Special Period [the collapse of Soviet aid to Cuba] allowed Cubans to free themselves from the tyranny of the automobile and electricity. The lack of oil brought with it blackouts and horse-drawn carts. Families again gathered by candlelight or kerosene lamps, without refrigerators, returning to the simple, natural life of the centuries predating the industrial revolution.
The disaster was such, that bicycles . . . became the primary means of transport. Deserted streets, hunger, lack of everything were the results of the failure of the Cuban system, a failure made all the worse by the collapse of Socialism in Eastern Europe.
...
The crisis of the 90's could only be fought with radical economic and political changes . . . However, only a few cosmetic changes were allowed, which did slow down the collapse of the Cuban regime. For example, partnerships with foreign corporations were allowed for the first time. Tourism was fostered, including allowing foreign companies to manage hotels and other tourist enterprises. The dollar was legalized and became the basis of exchange, and the families abroad were able to remit hard currency to their relatives inside Cuba.
Many Cubans hoped that things would, at last, change. Private restaurants were allowed to open; private taxis re-appeared on the streets; plumbers, masons, and craftsmen began to operate small businesses. The much-needed farmer markets were legalized.
...
Cubans felt relief. At last, a small crack, a narrow opening, through which Cubans could squeeze out their imprisoned creativity and communal ability and wisdom. However, the respite was short-lived. As soon as the regime was able to ensure it survival, it began to close the breach.
...
Castro has had no problem ending all those measures that the initial collapse of the Soviet Union forced him to allow. Havana's regime is a mix of Stalinism, Maoism, and populism subjugated by Castro's ideals, and is fiercely opposed to economic or political freedoms: the existence of any sort of private property contradicts the essence of this system.
Today, the private restaurants are closing one after another. Private taxis are disappearing. Under the constant pressure of the regime, everything is returning to the way it was. Cuba is sunk in poverty, violence, and frustration. The few resources that the country has are wasted on illusory projects or subverting Latin America...
The sugar industry, another engine of the Cuban economy, idles among disassembled sugar mills, over-cultivated land, and abandoned small towns. Sugar production, which once commonly reached eight million tons of sugar per year, can no longer surpass one and a half millions...
In Cuba, a totalitarian regime rules. Freedom is a joke told by government officials. The country sinks ever further into wishful thinking. Cubans are not free, neither economically nor politically. The regime controls Cubans through absolute control of their means to survive. Their day-to-day struggle to survive is the fundamental weapon of the totalitarian regime.
posted by Yimboro | 6:57 PM
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