Posted on 07/28/2005 7:24:27 PM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection
Cubans yesterday ended a three-day holiday marking the rebellion that culminated in the 1959 revolution with hardly any of the public fanfare or mass celebrations of previous years. The subdued atmosphere reflected a widespread malaise in the Communist nation, fed by rising prices and 12-hour power blackouts during a steamy summer.
The few pro-democracy dissidents willing to demonstrate were harassed by government supporters and detained by authorities last week.
In the face of food shortages, low wages, dilapidated housing, and persistent power cuts, exasperation with penurious living conditions is at its highest levels since Cuba suffered an economic shock from the loss of Soviet subsidies in the early 1990s, according to residents.
But critics, from nervous average citizens to outspoken activists, cautioned that pervasive discontent does not mean Cubans have any plans to rise up against the government of Castro. That is not just for fear of harsh punishment, but also because a good many Cubans still believe Castro means well yet is hampered by ideological enemies abroad and incompetent lackeys at home.
The irony, say many who are as annoyed with the U.S. as they are with their own government, is that average Cubans are suffering the effects of further restrictions of the US trade embargo imposed by President Bush a year ago, while the intended target, Castro retains an unchallenged grip on power.
Clad in his trademark olive fatigues, the 78-year-old leader addressed Communist Party faithful Tuesday night for nearly four hours, blaming his country's hardships on the US blockade imposed in 1962. Yet he asserted that the economy has grown 7.3% in the first half of the year. The World Bank calculated economic growth at 1.1% in 2002, the latest year for which it provides data.
Castro delivered his annual state-of-the-union-style address in a low-key gathering inside....
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
Have a little faith? This is what he says after 46 years of failed policies?
Come on Cubans, Castro will get things straightened out in ten more years. Be patient...
< /Castro's pathetic looser ploy >
I have a better idea. Open the gates of freedom and democracy. Let the sunshine of freedom, democracy and capitalism in and see how the economy and culture improve overnight.
Oh, and Castro and his thugs should take a long hike off a short pier too.
Castro should bring Fonda in her vegetable oil bus to Cuba to help lay more blame.
"The irony, say many who are as annoyed with the U.S. as they are with their own government, is that average Cubans are suffering the effects of further restrictions of the US trade embargo imposed by President Bush a year ago, while the intended target, Castro retains an unchallenged grip on power."
First Law of Journalism: Somewhere in every article, find somebody or some way to blame President George W. Bush.
The man is Walking Dead at this point, has no influence in global politics.
Who will replace him when he dies? Is the US going to intervene in some scenerio?
A 4 hour harangue blaming all ills on the US. I think he is slipping. I seem to recall reading 6 hour harangues were the norm for him once.
Let me be the first to say, it's Bush's fault!
Where are Castro's pals, Venezuela and China? Can't they help? It's not like the U.S Navy is patroling the coast of Cuba, firing on supply ships from other countries!
I have faith that things will improve in Cuba after Castro's dead.
Perhaps Miss Fonda could get Teddy Kennedy to drive the bus for the prtion of the trip over the causeway to Key West.
Who could listen to ANYONE for 4 to 6 hours especially some insane demigog fruitcake like Castro?
Coming soon to Venezuela...
Isn't that against the rules? To have "a little faith?" Oh! OK have faith in a system that has failed the world over until China mixed it with a bit of capitalism and ended up with facism.
This is what communism/socialism is, failed policies, failed ideas, ideas built on sand and illusion, delusions and the physical enforcement of totalitarian baloney.
I never could understand the blame directed at the US embargo. It's an embargo not a blockade. Cuba can trade with any other country that they choose.
If they have good products or services to sell it shouldn't matter that the US market is closed to them. The rest of the world should certainly be able to consume all of the output from a country with a population smaller than Ohio's.
LOL!
Exactly what popped into my head the second I read the headline.
Hey Fidel, Time to dust off another one of those 5 year plans.
Or, why do we trade with China but not Cuba?
If trading with countries brings freedom, why the blockade? Also, Cuba is a state supporter of terrorism? When do we invade them?
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