Holy crispy crap, Val. I don't think I've ever read anything so utterly gormless and clueless in my life. It's like the guy was trying to channel Walter Duranty or something.

"Go to Cuba: there's sufficient food."

"After seventeen years in education institutions" This quote that starts his bio says it all. He's ya know.......an asshole.

Being offered swigs of cheap rum by cubanos everywhere at any time of day

Did the writer not find that strange? Why do people need to drink rum all day long? Don't they have something else to do?

Some people are really clueless. You are right, no need to deconstruct that article, it falls apart on its own. I suppose the writer was drinking too much Cuban rum....

This is also the view of many Americans. The main reason some Americans want Cuba "free" is so that they can get "free" goodies. Cuba to others is a great resort with cheap rum, prostitutes, and a great place to hang out cheap. We need to be sure not to sell our souls when Cuba does become free. We Cubans are more than bartenders, bellhops, guides, etc. We must protect the future free Cuba from becoming an island hop and restoring its rich heritage!Yes many Cubans will take advantage of a free Cuba to profit on tourism, but Cuba is co much more than toruism. Cuba should belong to the Cuban people not to US corporations.

pototo,

I agree, but perhaps its better said that "Cuba should belong to the Cuban people, and not foreign corporations." n'est pas?

I just can't get past the line "Fidel is not a dictator, he is elected via an upward flow of voting" - I'm laughing too hard.

If you read Nick's companion's website, you'll see he has a more realistic view of how communism has destroyed Cuba.

Juan I'm glad your laughing because I swear I almost Puked. I know I should take your angle, pero cono man ya esta jente me tienen....

Anyway I doubt anything that we right will sink in to these types of fools.
Mojo

I couldn't resist some light frisking, but there's way too much for any sane person to try to tackle in one day.

My favorite line was Nick riding a bus for 8 hours with "chickens, mangoes, and cubanos". That's the pecking order in Cuba alright.

Val,
Punto well taken. I agree foreign investors is what I meant. I just at times slip with the broad brush as the liberal left does not represent all of America. I love America for taking us in although we have made our contributions while here. Its just that I love Cuba more.
Thanks

"We arrived this afternoon safe-ish and sound-ish from Socialist (not Communist by a long shot) Cuba."

What a glorious first sentence! With it the writer immediately identifies himself as an imbecile, a useful idiot, and a leftist -- all at once! Just read the rest as though you were reading a play by Samuel Beckett (Waiting for fidel) or a short story by Kafka. Every little absurd thing he writes about will fall into place.

That is what seventeen years in "education institutions" will do to your brain.

George,
It's pretty obvious that this australopithecus jerkus maximus is little more than a
"~name con corbata."
A *total* ignoramus.
Hey Val, is that a cubanism? Maybe you should add it to your collection!
Julio

Ah, the mostly happy athletic Cubans, living off their 12-24 dollars a month. Lots of mangoes, and rum. Who needs human rights, or even a chicken dinner if you have paradise. What an arrogant leftist snob, hanging out with the oppressed workers in good old quaint Cuba. It's sickening

That guy has got to be out of his mind! He traveled there with sight and still chose not to SEE the reality that surrounded him. Can he be that ignorant? Or is he just talking shit in order to make his blog controversial or more interesting? It's people like him that make Americans think that the Cuban-American community makes shit up when it comes to the reality of Fidel Castro. Che Guevar a hero??? This guy has got to be on some serious drugs.

Simplemente otro Maricón Academico. Of the species "pseudocogitatus-sinister totuscagado." The kind even the olive commies mock after the plane departs Jose Marti airport.

the best example of his myopia is that he does acknowledges the police repression, the lack of food and the fact that he didn't trust anybody because they were out to get his money, yet he's still praising the advantages of the "socialist" society. I'd like to see him surviving on $12 a month.

the only "useful" part of an useful idiot is when they go to cuba and are fleeced by cubans. i love that. at least they are good for something.

Gansibele, ditto on your comment.

This guy is not a useful idiot, he is a useless hijo de puta!

Here's the last comment I will leave on this idiot's blog:

Nick, I fervently hope that the day will come when the crimes of the castro regime are exposed for all -- including leftist apologists like you -- to see. Idiots like you go for a vacation in Cuba and come back thinking you've been enlightened. Well, I have news for you. There are a lot of folks here in Miami -- orphans and widows and people who risked their lives in the Florida straits -- who would beg to differ with your Pollyannaish view of Cuba. If you truly believe that the Cubans on the island would tell a complete stranger what they really felt, then you really are a fool. It's actually funny how easy you folks are duped!

Nick, you and all the rest of castro's apologists have blood on your hands; but then again, seeing as your political philosphy is pro-communist and anti-American, you probably don't care a whit anyway. You are not worth one more sentence.

Why do I feel an uncontrollable desire to beat the living shit out of that motherfucker.?
The balls on that miserable piece of shit. We are quaint and thieves all at the same time. Reading things like these make me understand why my wife won’t let me own a gun.

Victory.
That blog doesn't exist anymore.

how neat of the Leninist rats. Supressing dissenting opinions, just like Al Gore, John Kerry, Ted Kennedy and fidel cagastro!

I knew I'd hit that nerve... Tovarich, you will be tolerant of my opinion only!

We asked him to use his brain and think. Not an easy task for a mush minded liberal. Of course, were all crazy! I think we must be doing something right if we made him run and hide like that.

It's incredible how anyone can be so blind and/or stupid. But it's good for us to be reminded that they are out there.

To both Val and Pototo:

What do you have against foreign corporations? Or, to put it blunty, where do you expect the money to come to build the Cuban economy when the time comes?

Even more importantly: there are two ways of creating wealth: by working more hours, or--crucially--by increasing productivity. The best way to increase productivity is to allow foreign firms who are already productive to use their expertise to creative productive businesses in Cuba; say, allow Wal-Mart to open stores, and the stores will be productive. That way everybody benefits.

I truly don't understand the anti-foreign corporation stand both of you take.

Sorge,

I am not anti-corporations, I was just highlight to pototo's post that it wouldnt be just American corportaions that would be in the mix, whether good or bad.

Personally, I would rather work for a rich boss than a poor one.

Sorge,
The reason I am opposed to foreign corporation ownership of Cuban land is that the Cubans are quite capable of starting their own business and sweating it out and making it work. A prime example is that of South Florida. Some would like for Wal-Mart, Coca-Cola, etc. to come in and save the day. Well I personally have a problem with foreign ownership. As a natualized US citizen I don't believe the US should be for sale neither should Cuba. Cuba should not be viewed as a prime market for business only, but as a country that needs to be restored to her people. You and I both know that the owners of the businesses prosper much more than the workers and rightfully so as they made the investment of wealth.( I have started and sold businesses myself) Now if foreign investors want to lease land from Cuba at fair market value and do business thats one thing. But to start an "soonerish" type land grab is an entirely different situation. I guess I wasn't clear enough. Come and invest yes! Come and own, NO WAY!!!!!!

Congratulations to all you who blog here. I'll exclude meself, as "y'all" (I have a right to say "y'all," as I was born S of Key West...and actually LIKE grits) are so much better at hittin' the nail on the head - you've caused another lefty-loony to show his true candy-assed colors and made him run to his mommy. Y'all are gettin' to these folks big time, otherwise they would not be falling back on "avoidance behavior." They can't silence you and they can't stand it, because deep down in their subconscious mind they realize their beliefs are bullshit and totally unethical - and you remind them every day, in every way, of that painful truth.

Hey there;

Val; glad to know you are not anti-corporations. You had me worried there for a second.

Pototo; I agree a "land-grab" like the one that took place in Russia should not be allowed. But, to be clear, the Russian grab was led by former Communist bosses, not by foreign corporations. You simply give corporations the same property rights as everyone else, and let Cubans become productive by their own effort.

Why do we think that "FOREIGN CORPORATIONS" explicitly means USA corporations?
Let's be realistic about this ( realistic is one of those things that if we fail to be after Kasstro is gone, is going to screw us up to no end!)
There's is not a god damn thing left in Cuba that can make the Cuban people on their own go back to a thriving economy. NOTHING , zilch , nada !
Yeah a few Cubans with enough money will fly down and open this little hotel and that little shoe store. but THAT does NOT an economy make.
I am always reminded of Hong-Kong when I think of Cuba lot's of similarities as far as potential economy are concerned. Cuba has the advantage that it is a NATURAL tourism enclave, while Hong Kong was just a HUGE ROCK.
Now, why did Hong Kong become so prosperous, with absolutely no natural resources?
FOREIGN CAPITAL! , and the willingness of the government NOT to interfere with FOREIGN CAPITAL. (As long as the business was legal, did not break Hong-Kong law , provide for a certain amount of employment and did not fuck up the environment)
In Hong-Kong you can land at 8:00AM and by 9:00PM be in full operation ( Saw a documentary about this a few years ago )
Taxation is EXTREMELY low, the government preferring the money to go directly to employees (what a concept uh?) so salaries are very high.
The ease of doing business means that the competition on the business sector is fierce. Unemployment is non-existent in Hong-Kong because there are actually more jobs that people to fulfill them so, an employer MUST give incredible salaries and benefits to get the best employees.
Because EVERY inch of Hong-Kong is filled with some kind of business, semi successful business doesn’t last long. You just can not afford the rent and employee salaries, so you'll shut down rather quick.
Now what is ACTUALLY being sold in Hong -Kong?
Pretty much they make MONEY by being very lax about MONEY. Hong-Kong is a gateway to Asia and a duty-free port. Hong-Kong banks hold pretty much 40% of ALL the capital in Asia. It is safe, no questions asked piggy bank.
Most of Asia's business trades through the Hong-Kong Market so all the money is made by money exchanging hands.
The upsurge of the China recovery is a direct result of China being forced to adopt the Hong-Kong model.
When China takes over Hong-Kong one of the provisos was that they would NOT fuck around with the economic model (in fact the Chinese owned the BIGGEST bank in Hong Kong, so THAT was something they were NOT going to do)
So after the take over Hong-Kong had the perfect climate for business and now with China providing SPACE this thing would become a MONSTER.
The Hong-Kong model grew into a portion of China that in fact became an extension of Hong-Kong (the new territories) INMEDIATELY corporations that needed TONS of space to set up factories and industries landed there, same setup very little questions, very little taxes. I hear that the border between the "New Territories” and Mainland China needed to be moved back every 6 months. Now Hong Kong and the new territories are bringing more money to the WHOLE of China that they had see in their lives and ALL
FOREIGN INVESTMENT - NEC, SONY, MOTOROLA etc.
Soon the Chinese began their own HIGH quality production lines and the phantom border was just ignored. The tiny little jewel that was Hong-Kong just took over Mainland.
Now, look at Cuba
If a new government in a free Cuba turns to the Hong-Kong model, Cuba can be the gateway to the Americas. Just by adopting a similar economic model of VERY little taxation, duty free import/exports with a LOT of freedom to the private sector. Have a banking system similar to that of Hong-Kong and Switzerland. Becoming a secure DATA HUB (massive relay stations for data transfer) to the rest of the Americas, Cuba CAN in a few years become the center of commerce of Latin America Business, but alas this is NOT going to come without foreign money. From wherever it comes if the investors agree to
Obey Cuban Law
Do not do anything that may be considered internationally illegal
Obey strict environment laws.
I think that Cuba will be alright . It will take a LONG time before we can beging exporting the staples that we have before KaSStro , perhaps we will never go back to the typical Sugar, Coffee , Tobacco dependency because so much of the land has been depleted to shit.
But our geographical position makes us as valuable as it did during colonial times and THAT is something noone can take from us.

Forgive us, oh Lord, for not taking idiots like this out back and whacking them with a shovel. Whenever I see one of these morons I just want to strangle him. I know what the dipshit is thinking while doing his Banana Republic Poverty Tour, he's thinking that he's glad that he's not one of these "little brown people", and that it's okay for them to live in misery, as long as he blames his country for it. I would love to be standing over him when he wakes up and tries to scream through the duct tape...

It's amazing how somebody could visit Cuba and still remain absolutely ignorant about Cuba. I guess it was a case of can't see the forest for the trees.

Or maybe he's just a complete idiot.

As for foreign corporations, say the revolution happened tomorrow, they write a constitution and establish free enterprise as their underlying system. Then if they like they can spend a year or two letting Cubans do their free market thing and see how things develop.

Then they can pick and choose what foreign corporations to let in. Sure they'd be there to exploit cheap labor but they'd admit that ahead of time - it's not like they're going to be ripping off the gold mines or oil fields of Cuba, we're just talking about factories.

I'd suggest the Cubans be careful of what corporations they say yes to - and I think they would be much better off picking US corps over for example french corps (unless Cubans really want to end up like the Ivory Coast or some other french exploitation hellhole).

I'd also suggest they be wary of dealing with wealthy individuals. A corporation would be more upfront and say "yeah, we're there for the cheap labor" and stick to that but an individual is more likely to give a load of "for the people" crap so you don't notice the clever loopholes he has in the contract.

Thanks for the link. I am always amazed at how well to do westerners are so often clueles about how tyrannies work. That he justifies his claim of Cuban 'democracy' by quoting Cuban propaganda is evidence that as is true with most lefties, Nick will never meet a leftist dictator he can't rationalize his affection for.