Well, all of the good tings that have been achieved in Cuba (good health service, education etc) were also achieved by Nazi Germany in the late 1930s, but that doesn't make it any less loathsome as a regime. The problem with Cuba in 1959 is that there was great economic inequality; now there is equality, but only at the lowest common denominator. This is the problem with 'pure' socialism - to achieve economic equality you have to use the lowest common economic denominator. It cannot be any other way, because wealth is created by individual entrepreneurs, not governments. Governments can guide, direct and set regulations, but they cannot create wealth.
Economics is driven by greed; it's as simple as that. In many ways, the characted 'Gordon Gekko' played by Michael Douglas in the movie 'Wall Street' was entirely correct: greed is good. Because without it you have no way of motivating people to be more productive in their lives. Communism (or Socialism as a milder form) seeks to remove greed from economics and replace it with planning from the government. This cannot work because unless employees are under the threat of being fired for underperformance, they will not perform. If I am paid for doing nothing, why should I do any work? Sure, some people will still work hard, but a minority. Capitalism offers rewards for being successful in your chosen career, while communism offers a flase utopia. Economics all about a darwinian struggle between individuals, a war in which there are winners and losers. It can be no other way - the only other choice is to return to a feudal economy, such as which had existed in many parts of the world until the 19th century. A feudal economy is based on effective slavery, where the 'losers' of the world are forced to work for the 'winners', in return for little or nothing. At least capitalism offers a way out of poverty, feudalism was a life sentence.
As for the Cuban people, I like them - certainly a lot more than other hispanic peoples of the region like the Mexicans.
Economics is driven by greed; it's as simple as that. In many ways, the characted 'Gordon Gekko' played by Michael Douglas in the movie 'Wall Street' was entirely correct: greed is good. Because without it you have no way of motivating people to be more productive in their lives. Communism (or Socialism as a milder form) seeks to remove greed from economics and replace it with planning from the government. This cannot work because unless employees are under the threat of being fired for underperformance, they will not perform. If I am paid for doing nothing, why should I do any work? Sure, some people will still work hard, but a minority. Capitalism offers rewards for being successful in your chosen career, while communism offers a flase utopia. Economics all about a darwinian struggle between individuals, a war in which there are winners and losers. It can be no other way - the only other choice is to return to a feudal economy, such as which had existed in many parts of the world until the 19th century. A feudal economy is based on effective slavery, where the 'losers' of the world are forced to work for the 'winners', in return for little or nothing. At least capitalism offers a way out of poverty, feudalism was a life sentence.
As for the Cuban people, I like them - certainly a lot more than other hispanic peoples of the region like the Mexicans.
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