Cuba: Worst of Both Worlds

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I very much enjoyed Lawrence O'Donnell's ditty tonight on Cuba (see video above). He pointed out an amusing parallel between the Island and the Empire. Something both countries have in common. Even as Cuba moves toward more and more capitalist measures, Raul Castro calls the latest economic market reforms steps that guarantee the "irreversibility of socialism." The word 'capitalism' dare not be spoken. Likewise, O'Donnell says, here in the U.S. what are clearly quasi-socialist programs like medicare, publicly subsidized universities and transportation, are NEVER referred to as such (except by right-wing nutballs).

It's an interesting point and a valid observation.

I also had a chuckle when he compared Raul Castro's proclamations on the recently approved 313 economic "reforms" as using language that Paul Ryan would approve of. You can see the quotes for yourself in the video. Basically, it's Raul pissing and moaning about the cost of unjustly maintaining a welfare state and about how it's time to start means testing for the ration book and other Cuban state subsidies.

Let me be use clearer language: it's all about the Cuban state ending the fiction of equality and not only recognizing but also codifying class differences. The only thing missing from Raul's statements was calling half the population "welfare queens."

So, look out, mis amigos.  Here come a batch of market reforms. Some of which have always been inevitable and that the Cuban dictatorship has merely postponed for a half century. And a whole lot more that are going to be savage capitalism in its worst form. Nothing like a market economy in the Third World to neatly shake out the rich from the poor.

On the positive side, Cubans will now be allowed to travel abroad. I think that's very white of the Castro boys, no?  Not sure what brought on this bout of excessive generosity and permissiveness given that Cubans have NOT been allowed to freely travel since the early 1960′s. I mean, there was always some B.S. reason why travel was prohibited. So, what's changed in the world that now makes it ok? (The best part of this, however, is how Cuban apologists abroad will now react, given that they have always contended that Cubans were free to travel! LMAO).

In reality, this new privilege will remain mostly abstract for the overwhelming majority of Cubans who earn about $25 a month and not only do not qualify for most tourist visas but couldn't even pay the cab fare to get to a foreign consulate.

Cubans will also now be allowed to sell their own houses and cars!  Wonders never cease, do they? Fact is, Cubans have been buying and selling such stuff for years, albeit "informally" — on the black market. The legalization of land sales grease the vast accumulation of wealth by elites who, until now, have had to remain somewhat covert. The inequality that, in fact, runs deep through Cuban society will now be quickly highlighted and increased as the desperate poor start to sell of their assets to the privileged and connected and corrupt.

There's also going to be a lot more poor people to prey upon as Cuba moves ahead with plans to cut one million workers from state payrolls (a veritable wet dream for Scott Walker!). They will now be allowed to legalize the already thriving black market in personal services and menial trades, though now without a ration book and with heavy taxation.

Ahh, perhaps this economic reform is entirely inevitable and we should go easy on the dinosaurs running the state.

What is not to be forgiven is the complete and total lack of even a whisper of political reform. It's half-assed perestroika with no glasnost.

The Stalinoid economic structure and its political companion have always been rationalized as a response to this or that threat.  OK. If the threat has dissipated enough to allow a liberalization in the economic sphere, what's the justification for maintaining a complete ban on democracy and civil liberties? What's the great fear? That if elections are held and right-wingers are elected, they will privatize the economy like Raul is doing?

Well, yes. that IS the rationalization.

The reality, of course, is quite different. This is golden parachute time for the octogenerian Cuban nomenklatura.  Thus is pinata time!

Before exiting the historical stage, the ruling elite is going to cash in its strategic chips, just as the Soviet leadership did 20 years ago. More and more officials with access to state property, funding and power will grab as much of the newly privatized economy as possible. If you were in that position, would you risk getting unelected out of power? I don't think so.

The Cuban people? Well, screw them. They will now get all the deficits of Western capitalist society with none of its benefits. More unemployment, more dog-eat-dog competition, fewer state services. They will not, however, get any freedom of speech, any right to assemble or petition their government for redress, no impartial (at least in name) justice system, and certainly no open and competitive elections.

It's the worst of both worlds.

Socialismo O Muerte!

P.S. Yes, I know O'Donnell is a centrist Democrat. Yes, I know the U.S. undermined and subverted Cuba for decades. Yes, I know the U.S. embargo on Cuba should be lifted. I know education  is free in Cuba (though there is no academic freedom). And its hospitals are also free (if you bring your own bedding and antibiotics). None of that changes one word offered above.