Stealing Back

in what seems to be a theme of late, let's revisit the issue of theft in Cuba.

theft is a problem in Cuba because the government owns everything of value (including people's livelihoods). to survive, people have to steal from the government.

here's a typical scenario:

The beautician at the government-run salon put the finishing touches on her client -- manicure, eyebrow shaping, facial, massage and masque -- then leaned in close, dropping her voice to a whisper.

'"Your discretion here is going to be vital,"' she told her pampered client. "Everything you got costs $32. But I will charge you $15. When you pay me, you have to act like it's a tip.'"

She rang up a $5 manicure and pocketed the $15 "'tip"' -- making in one hour what she'd normally earn in a month from her state employers.

From the cafeteria worker who forgoes the cash register to the cigar factory worker who slips a 25-count box into his backpack and the taxi driver who disconnects his odometer, Cuban employees have long been scamming government enterprises to make up for their absurdly low salaries.

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key to understanding the above story is that the beauty salon customer was a foreigner (of course) with hard currency ... in this case dollars. there'de'd be little point in scamming Cuban pesos. they're worthless.

people who don't have access to hard currency steal goods: food, gasoline, clothes, anything they can use or barter.

the result is a government hemorrhaginging from so much theft.

it's a serious enough issue that Prince Regent Raul broached it even as he tries to smooth his transition to power.

which goes to show you that when a government is a thief, it makes a thief of all its subjects.

that's the real tragedy here.