Yes, we have no bananas

A very interesting editorial today by columnist Peter Foster in Canada's National Post.

Cuban President Raul Castro's recently revealed economic "reforms" brought to mind two quite unrelated characters: Lewis Carroll's White Queen, and an old Cuban exile acquaintance of mine named Ignacio.

President Raul, the sprightly 76-year-old who was "elected" to the presidency of Cuba on February 24, thus replacing his ailing octogenarian brother, Fidel, is reportedly planning to grant his enslaved nation access to more consumer goods. Citing "the improved availability of electricity," the new Maximum Leader will offer for sale computers, DVD players, pressure cookers and microwave ovens. However, air conditioners are not to be made available until next year, and electric toasters - those ultimate consumer luxuries -- not until 2010. That's what prompted my thoughts of the White Queen, who famously said to Alice "The rule is, jam tomorrow and jam yesterday -- but never jam today." In Cuba, yesterday is 1959.

But what about those computers and DVD players that are suggested to be imminently on sale? Well, it's not quite come-on-down time. They will be available to the average Cuban pretty much to the same degree as a Lamborghini is available to yours truly. It's a matter of "affordability," and part of the price of living under a Communist dictatorship has always been that you are paid with largely worthless paper (whereas I am lacking the wherewithal to purchase a Lamborghini entirely due to my career choices and culpable lack of effort). To buy consumer goods in Cuba, you need to shop at special state stores that take only "convertible pesos." These are linked to the U.S. dollar and trade at the rate of around one to 24, with the pesos paid to the average Cuban, who earns less than the equivalent of a dollar a day.

Read the rest of Peter Foster's editorial, "Toasting [r]aul, the next Gorbachev."

Posted by Alberto de la Cruz at March 22, 2008 03:44 PM

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Posted by: Dr.Shalit at March 22, 2008 07:33 PM

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