Fidel follows Dave - Cuba to cut one million public sector jobs

[Rob W 0]

Cuba to cut one million public sector jobs - Beeb

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-11291267

 

Cuba has announced radical plans to lay off huge numbers of state employees, to help revive the communist country's struggling economy.

 

The Cuban labour federation said more than a million workers would lose their jobs - half of them by March next year.

 

Those laid off will be encouraged to become self-employed or join new private enterprises, on which some of the current restrictions will be eased. Analysts say it is the biggest private sector shift since the 1959 revolution. Cuba's communist government currently controls almost all aspects of the country's economy and employs about 85% of the official workforce, which is put at 5.1 million people.

 

As many as one-in-five of all workers could lose their jobs.

 

"Our state cannot and should not continue maintaining companies, productive entities, services and budgeted sectors with bloated payrolls and losses that hurt the economy," the labour federation said in a statement. Job options will be increased and broadened with new forms of non-state employment, among them leasing land, co-operatives, and self-employment, absorbing hundreds of thousands of workers in the coming years," the statement added.

[ewerk 31596]

And they've cut their cigarette subsidies, the mosters.

[Rob W 0]

"mosters"

[Renton 22434]

It'll be a fully fledged capitalist country within a decade. Good thing?

[NJS 4446]

It'll be a fully fledged capitalist country within a decade. Good thing?

 

The rest of the Carribean countries aren't exactly thriving are they? - I suppose they'll have to go all out on tourism but I don't know if that will support the whole population - freedom of emmigration will probably be a problem for the US.

 

I remember being struck by how bad the American attitude to them was when Clinton who I thought was a decent bloke, early in his presidency stated that nothing was going to change and basically called them worse than shit. I know there are rights issues but the bullying by the US going back 45 years is fucking pathetic - not helped by the bitter bastards in Florida who you'd think would be happy they'd escaped.

[Renton 22434]

It'll be a fully fledged capitalist country within a decade. Good thing?

 

The rest of the Carribean countries aren't exactly thriving are they? - I suppose they'll have to go all out on tourism but I don't know if that will support the whole population - freedom of emmigration will probably be a problem for the US.

 

I remember being struck by how bad the American attitude to them was when Clinton who I thought was a decent bloke, early in his presidency stated that nothing was going to change and basically called them worse than shit. I know there are rights issues but the bullying by the US going back 45 years is fucking pathetic - not helped by the bitter bastards in Florida who you'd think would be happy they'd escaped.

 

Aye, I suppose you have to take into account the American mindset though. They look at Western Europe with suspicion because of our evil socialist ways, so to have a fully fledged communist country on their doorstep is an anathema.

 

I went to Cuba last year and had mixed feelings. On the one hand there was undeniably less extreme poverty than many other countries I have visited like Jamaica, and look at its neighbour Haiti. On the other hand, there was no doubt the people were oppressed and lacked basic freedoms such as the right to travel abroad. If Cuba opened fully for US tourism, the country would be transformed beyond recognition within a generation, as it is the perfect destination for Americans. There'd obviously be winners and losers during this transition, probably more in the latter category.

 

Is the average Russian better off now than 25 years ago I wonder?

[Park Life 71]

It'll be a fully fledged capitalist country within a decade. Good thing?

 

The rest of the Carribean countries aren't exactly thriving are they? - I suppose they'll have to go all out on tourism but I don't know if that will support the whole population - freedom of emmigration will probably be a problem for the US.

 

I remember being struck by how bad the American attitude to them was when Clinton who I thought was a decent bloke, early in his presidency stated that nothing was going to change and basically called them worse than shit. I know there are rights issues but the bullying by the US going back 45 years is fucking pathetic - not helped by the bitter bastards in Florida who you'd think would be happy they'd escaped.

 

Aye, I suppose you have to take into account the American mindset though. They look at Western Europe with suspicion because of our evil socialist ways, so to have a fully fledged communist country on their doorstep is an anathema.

 

I went to Cuba last year and had mixed feelings. On the one hand there was undeniably less extreme poverty than many other countries I have visited like Jamaica, and look at its neighbour Haiti. On the other hand, there was no doubt the people were oppressed and lacked basic freedoms such as the right to travel abroad. If Cuba opened fully for US tourism, the country would be transformed beyond recognition within a generation, as it is the perfect destination for Americans. There'd obviously be winners and losers during this transition, probably more in the latter category.

 

Is the average Russian better off now than 25 years ago I wonder?

 

Poverty has widened in Russian since a few of then nicked all the money and moved to Europe. Also many have fallen through the gap where the state used to be the last port of call for basic foodstuffs, living essentials and access to work and education.

[sniffer 0]

It'll be a fully fledged capitalist country within a decade. Good thing?

 

The rest of the Carribean countries aren't exactly thriving are they? - I suppose they'll have to go all out on tourism but I don't know if that will support the whole population - freedom of emmigration will probably be a problem for the US.

 

I remember being struck by how bad the American attitude to them was when Clinton who I thought was a decent bloke, early in his presidency stated that nothing was going to change and basically called them worse than shit. I know there are rights issues but the bullying by the US going back 45 years is fucking pathetic - not helped by the bitter bastards in Florida who you'd think would be happy they'd escaped.

 

Aye, I suppose you have to take into account the American mindset though. They look at Western Europe with suspicion because of our evil socialist ways, so to have a fully fledged communist country on their doorstep is an anathema.

 

I went to Cuba last year and had mixed feelings. On the one hand there was undeniably less extreme poverty than many other countries I have visited like Jamaica, and look at its neighbour Haiti. On the other hand, there was no doubt the people were oppressed and lacked basic freedoms such as the right to travel abroad. If Cuba opened fully for US tourism, the country would be transformed beyond recognition within a generation, as it is the perfect destination for Americans. There'd obviously be winners and losers during this transition, probably more in the latter category.

 

Is the average Russian better off now than 25 years ago I wonder?

 

You mean like it used to be before the communists took it over and made it such a success.

[NJS 4446]

It'll be a fully fledged capitalist country within a decade. Good thing?

 

The rest of the Carribean countries aren't exactly thriving are they? - I suppose they'll have to go all out on tourism but I don't know if that will support the whole population - freedom of emmigration will probably be a problem for the US.

 

I remember being struck by how bad the American attitude to them was when Clinton who I thought was a decent bloke, early in his presidency stated that nothing was going to change and basically called them worse than shit. I know there are rights issues but the bullying by the US going back 45 years is fucking pathetic - not helped by the bitter bastards in Florida who you'd think would be happy they'd escaped.

 

Aye, I suppose you have to take into account the American mindset though. They look at Western Europe with suspicion because of our evil socialist ways, so to have a fully fledged communist country on their doorstep is an anathema.

 

I went to Cuba last year and had mixed feelings. On the one hand there was undeniably less extreme poverty than many other countries I have visited like Jamaica, and look at its neighbour Haiti. On the other hand, there was no doubt the people were oppressed and lacked basic freedoms such as the right to travel abroad. If Cuba opened fully for US tourism, the country would be transformed beyond recognition within a generation, as it is the perfect destination for Americans. There'd obviously be winners and losers during this transition, probably more in the latter category.

 

Is the average Russian better off now than 25 years ago I wonder?

 

You mean like it used to be before the communists took it over and made it such a success.

 

Run by the mafia and Fascists?

[Renton 22434]

Revolutions don't usually happen when the population is happy like.

[sniffer 0]

And they are clearly very happy now.

 

Poster child for communism, Cuba. I want a piece of that pie.

[Renton 22434]

And they are clearly very happy now.

 

Poster child for communism, Cuba. I want a piece of that pie.

 

Better standard of living than a lot, if not most, of the carribean though. And this is despite a permanent embargo by the US.

[manc-mag 1]

Communism=looks better in the sun just like everything else does tbh.

[NJS 4446]

They piss on the US and most of the first world for child literacy and low infant moratility iirc.

[sniffer 0]

Really? Or is that just what they want you to believe? I have no idea what the truth is.

 

There is such a thing as communist propaganda. Or facts, I suppose, to the likes of you.

[Renton 22434]

Didn't know the World Health Organization was over run with communists like.

[sniffer 0]

I don't know if it is either.

[Renton 22434]

I don't know if it is either.

 

Most people would regard the WHO as a US-centric organization though. Are you seriously suggesting that the official international statistics that show that Cuba has better life expectancy and lower birth mortality than the US is 'communist propaganda'? How did the minnow state achieve such levels of infiltration?

[sniffer 0]

I've already said that I don't know what the truth is one way or another. As for international statistics I don't share your absolute certainty that they are 100% accurate.

 

Call me cynical, but I'm not convinced it wouldn't be beyond imagination that Cooba actually embellishes data. No, surely Castro wouldn't do that.

 

When you've watched all the wheels come off the wagon its difficult to keep rolling along but I suppose some people will still try to make an argument that its a great place to live. Providing they don't have to live in the dictatorship, of course. Gone are the days of "Take me to Cuba".

[Renton 22434]

Well I never said they are 100% accurate, but the idea that they could be systematically manipulated isn't really plausible either. Just to clarify, we are talking about an international data set, not some dodgy internal figures Cuba is quoting. The relative health and education of the population of Cuba is also obvious to anyone that chooses to go there.

 

I've not heard anyone make an argument that it's a great place to live either, so that's another strawman you've come up with. I just think there is some merit in the success of their health and education services that perhaps we could learn from, or especially the US might learn from. You have to pose the question why the US with all its vast resources is failing so badly in these areas. I'd add that in my opinion there is an optimal balance between state intervention and the free market, a balance which Western Europe, including the UK, is closer to than the US or Cuba.

[Park Life 71]

Lot of Americans fly there to get their teeth done. Best dentists in the world and v cheap.

[Rob W 0]

Revolutions don't usually happen when the population is happy like.

 

or the Govt has all the guns..............

[Rob W 0]

Lot of Americans fly there to get their teeth done. Best dentists in the world and v cheap.

 

personally I think Australian Dentists are the best - I've been in the Marathon Man chair in lots of places - Yanks are pretty good but the cost is unbeleivable!

[Meenzer 15871]

Lot of Americans fly there to get their teeth done. Best dentists in the world and v cheap.

 

personally I think Australian Dentists are the best - I've been in the Marathon Man chair in lots of places - Yanks are pretty good but the cost is unbeleivable!

 

 

Rob blatantly scoffing all the boiled sweets he's meant to give out on take-off and landing tbh.

[Renton 22434]

He has got great teeth though.