Cuba’s humane policy

[Billy Burnett]

Cuba’s humane policy
http://www.workers.org/2009/world/cuba_1231/

Where in the world today is unemployment only 1.8 percent, and every 2009 student graduate found a job? “In Cuba,” reported Raymundo Navarro of the International Department of the Confederation of Cuban Workers (Central Trabajadores de Cuba) at a labor conference in Tijuana, Mexico, on Dec. 5.

Yet Cuba’s socialist economy is not isolated from the effects of the global capitalist economic crisis. The price of Cuba’s main exports, sugar and nickel, plummeted disastrously while the price of food imports spiked.

Sugar production for export became so impractical when the international price of sugar dropped to two-tenths of a cent per pound that most of the sugar mills were closed, ending 150,000 jobs. A workers’ study program originally proposed by former president Fidel Castro continues to offer displaced workers 100 percent of their current pay rate while they train for another trade or even decide to enroll in the university, Navarro explained.

In 2009, 186,000 students graduated. Navarro commented, “We openly challenge the bootlickers and imperialists to find one of those students who didn’t get a job — not one could they find. The unemployment level in Cuba is 1.8 percent despite the economy.”

Moreover, not one of those Cuban graduates is weighed down with student loan debt either as all education in Cuba is free.

In a capitalist economy, the only investment worth making is the investment that will bring the highest profit. Investing in human development — especially in the era of a “jobless” capitalist economic recovery — is a liability for the corporations, not an asset.

In socialist Cuba where gains and losses are shared by all, the development of human potential benefits all of society and is valued as an asset no matter the cost. That’s how and why the Cubans do it.

[Peace Patriot]

1. Interesting to put actual facts up against the rightwing B.S. pouring out of all the orifices

of the U.S. corpo-fascist/war profiteer establishment about Cuba.

Thanks for the post!

[Judi Lynn]

2. I remember when the government geared down their sugar production.

That was the promise that was made from the first.

I just remembered something which seems very relative: When Cubans suffer damage to their homes after hurricanes, they are given assistance locating materials to repair houses, are given paid leave from their jobs to attend to putting their houses back in working order, even if it takes up to ONE YEAR to get the job accomplished.

Why doesn't our corporate press stampede to get these stories out, too? You'd think they have the time to pick up on this stuff, considering they are breathing down the necks of all leftist-led countries ALL THE TIME, looking for the next opportunity to attack the elected Presidents.

[Braulio]

6. It's a communist dictatorship, Judi

People are dirt poor, their thoughts and words are controlled, those who disagree with the government are beaten up and/or jailed, and they are ruled by a gerontocracy of old guys whose ideas are so stale and outdated, they don't merit much credit.

[Judi Lynn]

7. Grow up. George W Bush befriended REAL monster dictator Islam Karimov

who boils his political prisoners alive. THAT small detail was NEVER discussed in our own corporate media. No reason for US Americans to worry their pretty heads about things like that, apparently. Yet, our own hard-earned tax dollars have gone to this blood-feasting fool, Islam Karimov, handed over to him by the boatload.

There are DU'ers here who've been back and forth to Cuba many, MANY times, even worked there in various capacities, even married national Cubans, even taught in Cuban classrooms.

We also have had Canadian DU'ers who have become very fond of Cuba throughout many trips there.

We have been listening to Cuba travelers for around 10 years now. NONE of them, NOT ONE has ever, EVER approached any part of what you're trying to force down people's throats. NEVER. We know people personally who've gone t here who would laugh in your face.

Do NOT come here to lie to people.

[Goldstein1984]

3. There's more to Cuba than Americans are told to believe

I've only recently started researching Cuba myself, and we've been considering a trip to Cuba via Canada.

[Bacchus39]

4. where everyone gets $20 a month. how wonderful

slave wages.

[Mika]

5. Death panels too.

lol