In Bernie’s defense – he has always cared about the little guy. Making Cubans literate is something nobody can object to, no matter how much you might hate Castro. Health care for all meant that even a poor woman could get proper pre/post natal care, while America still has a higher death rate for childbirth…because too many people can’t afford proper medical treatment. So Bernie’s support of Castro was certainly because of the good health care and literacy were doing. WHY did Castro have to go to extremes? Because those fighting his revolution were being egged on by the US which would have taken everyone back to the kind of corruption of Battista. And why did the Revolution fail economically? ONLY because the US closed down a trading market; If they had kept it open the way they did with China’s Communists – Cuba would be doing just fine!
Every American should travel to Cuba and actually talk to the locals, if you have to go thru Canada do it. Traveled there last year and it was definitely an eye opener. Very sad state of affairs in Havana, yes they have state supplied housing, healthcare, and education. But the healthcare is minimal, the housing is in a advanced state of decay, however good education. Their doctors and engineers are actually exported to bring in needed hard currency. The common person receives about $30/month to supply their needs and the taxation system is draconian 60% on anything you bring in other then the $30 the state provides. Many told us that the really is minimal incentive to earn any money.
Ramirez, did you miss the beginning of what Bernie said? Or did you choose to ignore it? IMO it is the latter.
Bernie started his statements to CBS with “we’re very opposed to the authoritarian nature of Cuba.”
Now, let’s talk about the relationship between Putin and Trump that BOTH have acknowledged and that is very detrimental to the U.S., our long-term allies.
Historical context seems to be largely missing from this conversation. Batista was a brutal dictator. Cuba was America’s “Las Vegas” before Las Vegas was. US companies controlled vast portions of the Cuban economy (see the birthday scene in one of the Godfather movies when “cake” Cuba is divided up between the mob and American corporations. When the revolution occurred many in the US and many in Cuba supported Castro because of how bad Batista was. He seemed to be a reformer. US support and middle class Cuban support soon evaporated when he started nationalizing land, businesses. THAT’S the cause of the embargo. Fidel was communist but maybe not to the extent of his brother Raoul or Che Guevera. It was 12 years into the Cold War, and that’s the lens that most (even today) looked at these events. He did institute reforms that helped many Cubans. He was a brutal dictator that purged friends, enemies, middle class, etc. BOTH need to be acknowledged.
The major difference between capitalism and communism is the former aligns itself with human nature and the latter is its diametrical opposite. Every human being looks after themselves and their loved ones and many of us are even willing to look after others as long as they are not career able bodied leaches. From each and to each sounds great until you realize it requires some anonymous bureaucrat somewhere within a totalitarian government that arbitrarily decides who it’s taken from and who it’s given to.
Bernie Sanders does not defend any authoritarian governments. Period. Conservatives, however, defend the dictatorship that CEOs have over many people’s lives.
He has praised certain programs which benefit all the people. The fact that Castro implemented some such programs does not make those programs bad. (And Castro’s government is hardly the only one which has implemented them, or something similar. Most democratic European countries have also done so.) Nor does it even suggest that other, oppressive programs are desirable, much less desired.
Ontman about 4 years ago
Bernie’s version of Trump’s ‘both sides’ defense.
Pogostiks Premium Member about 4 years ago
In Bernie’s defense – he has always cared about the little guy. Making Cubans literate is something nobody can object to, no matter how much you might hate Castro. Health care for all meant that even a poor woman could get proper pre/post natal care, while America still has a higher death rate for childbirth…because too many people can’t afford proper medical treatment. So Bernie’s support of Castro was certainly because of the good health care and literacy were doing. WHY did Castro have to go to extremes? Because those fighting his revolution were being egged on by the US which would have taken everyone back to the kind of corruption of Battista. And why did the Revolution fail economically? ONLY because the US closed down a trading market; If they had kept it open the way they did with China’s Communists – Cuba would be doing just fine!
suzalee about 4 years ago
Cuba has a very repressive government. Thanks a lot,but I prefer my freedom
thomaspryan about 4 years ago
People are wondering: Is Trump to blame for Bernie’s Fidel crush?
walfishj about 4 years ago
I luv the way Snr Ramirez lies. It’s so Cuban.
Zebrastripes about 4 years ago
By by Bernie…
dandye about 4 years ago
Cuba had an 80% literacy rate BEFORE communism.
Alberta Oil Premium Member about 4 years ago
Cuba gets a bad rap because a country “dared” stand up to America with “enough is enough”.. get out!
martens about 4 years ago
Putin? Xi? Kim? Erdogan? Duterte? And now Modi? Need I continue?
BeniHanna6 Premium Member about 4 years ago
Every American should travel to Cuba and actually talk to the locals, if you have to go thru Canada do it. Traveled there last year and it was definitely an eye opener. Very sad state of affairs in Havana, yes they have state supplied housing, healthcare, and education. But the healthcare is minimal, the housing is in a advanced state of decay, however good education. Their doctors and engineers are actually exported to bring in needed hard currency. The common person receives about $30/month to supply their needs and the taxation system is draconian 60% on anything you bring in other then the $30 the state provides. Many told us that the really is minimal incentive to earn any money.
Nantucket Premium Member about 4 years ago
Ramirez, did you miss the beginning of what Bernie said? Or did you choose to ignore it? IMO it is the latter.
Bernie started his statements to CBS with “we’re very opposed to the authoritarian nature of Cuba.”
Now, let’s talk about the relationship between Putin and Trump that BOTH have acknowledged and that is very detrimental to the U.S., our long-term allies.
Librarylady about 4 years ago
I will vote blue. The world, the earth, and the country could be damaged beyond repair if the present administration continues.
Another Take about 4 years ago
Two comics comparing Bernie to Castro today (see Gary Varvel). So why is this ok but comparing Trump to Hitler is not? Is it an order of magnitude?
Havel about 4 years ago
Historical context seems to be largely missing from this conversation. Batista was a brutal dictator. Cuba was America’s “Las Vegas” before Las Vegas was. US companies controlled vast portions of the Cuban economy (see the birthday scene in one of the Godfather movies when “cake” Cuba is divided up between the mob and American corporations. When the revolution occurred many in the US and many in Cuba supported Castro because of how bad Batista was. He seemed to be a reformer. US support and middle class Cuban support soon evaporated when he started nationalizing land, businesses. THAT’S the cause of the embargo. Fidel was communist but maybe not to the extent of his brother Raoul or Che Guevera. It was 12 years into the Cold War, and that’s the lens that most (even today) looked at these events. He did institute reforms that helped many Cubans. He was a brutal dictator that purged friends, enemies, middle class, etc. BOTH need to be acknowledged.
watashi73 about 4 years ago
The major difference between capitalism and communism is the former aligns itself with human nature and the latter is its diametrical opposite. Every human being looks after themselves and their loved ones and many of us are even willing to look after others as long as they are not career able bodied leaches. From each and to each sounds great until you realize it requires some anonymous bureaucrat somewhere within a totalitarian government that arbitrarily decides who it’s taken from and who it’s given to.
Radish the wordsmith about 4 years ago
Cuba has survived despite our repressive and ugly boycott of the little island nation.
Concretionist about 4 years ago
In Sanders’ defense, what he said was that even regimes that he condemns can do some things that needed to be done.
VadimUzdensky1 about 4 years ago
Bernie Sanders does not defend any authoritarian governments. Period. Conservatives, however, defend the dictatorship that CEOs have over many people’s lives.
gammaguy about 4 years ago
Bernie has not supported Castro’s oppression.
He has praised certain programs which benefit all the people. The fact that Castro implemented some such programs does not make those programs bad. (And Castro’s government is hardly the only one which has implemented them, or something similar. Most democratic European countries have also done so.) Nor does it even suggest that other, oppressive programs are desirable, much less desired.
FJB Premium Member about 4 years ago
What countries are socialist, and hows that working out for them?Top 5 Socialist CountriesChina.Cuba.Laos.Vietnam.Bangladesh.The defense rests.