Cuba evolving...

laker1963

Cuba's communist leaders mapped out a brave new world of free enterprise on Friday, approving a laundry list of small businesses, allowing islanders to take on employees and even promising credit to burgeoning entrepreneurs. The reforms — laid out in a three-page spread in the Communist Party-daily Granma — seem sure to create a society of haves and have-nots in a land that has spent half a century striving for an egalitarian utopia. They follow last week's announcement that the government will lay off 500,000 workers by the end of March — or one-tenth of the country's workforce — the biggest change in Cuba's economic system since the early 1990s. For the first time, Cubans in 83 private activities will be allowed to employ people other than their relatives, and they will be able to sell their services to the state as private contractors. Accountants, currently only permitted to work for the state, can set out on their own, keeping the books for the new businesses. Cubans who want to rent their homes to travellers will no longer have to live on the premises and can hire staff. Even islanders authorized to live overseas — though apparently not exiles — can take part in the economic changes by renting out the cars and homes they leave behind. The Central Bank is studying ways to grant small-business loans that are crucial to any free-market system but which would have been unthinkable in Cuba just weeks ago. "The decision to loosen the rules on private employment is one of the steps the country has taken in the redesign of its economic policies to increase production levels and efficiency," Granma reported, citing Economy Minister Marino Murillo Jorge and a vice-minister of labour and social security, Admi Valhuerdi Cepero. Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/09/24/cuba-economic-reforms024.html#ixzz10UCiGvI6

Krieg

Funny how Cuba is moving towards more Capitalist reforms while the US is moving towards Communism. I would have to say that is ironic. I hope Cuba doesn't stop there and this eventually leads to the embargo being lifted.

laker1963

PuroFreak

Krieg:

Funny how Cuba is moving towards more Capitalist reforms while the US is moving towards Communism. I would have to say that is ironic. I hope Cuba doesn't stop there and this eventually leads to the embargo being lifted.

If things keep going the direction they are going now, Cuba may end up with an embargo on us! AHHHH!!!!! lol

fla-gypsy

Wasn't it last week Fidel was saying that Capitalism had failed?? Maybe it is not so bad after all. This so called relaxing of the rules is most likely so his family and loyal party members can own private property and businesses.

laker1963

fla-gypsy:

Wasn't it last week Fidel was saying that Capitalism had failed?? Maybe it is not so bad after all. This so called relaxing of the rules is most likely so his family and loyal party members can own private property and businesses.

Ummm Gypsy... remember the meltdown? That is not what I would call a success story would you? Neither system can be held up today as the only method with wich to run a country. Both systems are extremes and as most situations where extremes are applied... are doomed to fail eventually.

Lasabar

PuroFreak

laker1963

PuroFreak

cabinetmaker

fla-gypsy:

Wasn't it last week Fidel was saying that Communism had failed?? Maybe it is not so bad after all. This so called relaxing of the rules is most likely so his family and loyal party members can own private property and businesses.

Fixed it for ya.

laker1963

cabinetmaker:

fla-gypsy:

Wasn't it last week Fidel was saying that Communism had failed?? Maybe it is not so bad after all. This so called relaxing of the rules is most likely so his family and loyal party members can own private property and businesses.

Fixed it for ya.

Sort of like George W. and his Mission Accomplished statement Cabbie? All Political leaders say stupid things from time to time. Good thing we are all immune to that sort of thing

cabinetmaker

laker1963:

cabinetmaker:

fla-gypsy:

Wasn't it last week Fidel was saying that Communism had failed?? Maybe it is not so bad after all. This so called relaxing of the rules is most likely so his family and loyal party members can own private property and businesses.

Fixed it for ya.

Sort of like George W. and his Mission Accomplished statement Cabbie? All Political leaders say stupid things from time to time. Good thing we are all immune to that sort of thing

He never stated "mission accomplished". That banner was, in fact, a banner for the ship he was on and was about the ship's mission. The ship's mission was, in fact, accomplished. The liberal media made that banner into something that was never said by GWB.

laker1963

cabinetmaker

fla-gypsy

cabinetmaker:

fla-gypsy:

Wasn't it last week Fidel was saying that Communism had failed?? Maybe it is not so bad after all. This so called relaxing of the rules is most likely so his family and loyal party members can own private property and businesses.

Fixed it for ya.

No sir, Fidel came back after the interview and said, oops I meant Capitalism. You have to remember he is kind of old and his mind is failing him. To Laker: I just don't know what to say to you. Not wanting to be free to take care of myself and the liberty that goes with that is outside of my comprehension.

laker1963

laker1963

cabinetmaker

I listened to it too, but never heard that phrase. I saw the banner, but never heard him say it. I've seen and listened to recordings of that speech and never heard it then either. Not saying he didn't say it, but I never heard him say it. I guess I missed him turning to the troops on that ship and telling them thier mission was accomplished.

Vulchor

Cabby, you know damn well the Mission Accomplished banner was put there for that reason. Maybe it was for that ship, but it was a glowing spot on the news to make things look better than they were----the idea it was just the ship is revisionist history or convienent at best. The banner and Bushie with his nugget pouch squished getting out of the plane was meant to be his shining moment, lets be real here.

fla-gypsy

No need to waste any more brain cells on this

laker1963

fla-gypsy:

No need to waste any more brain cells on this

Too bad. I thought maybe you would waste a few more and actually answer my post. I guess flipant remarks are more brain cell friendly?

fla-gypsy

Just decided it is pointless to argue the obvious