Cuba examining socialism for flaws
The Cuban government has launched a study with a surprising focus: What about socialism causes people to steal?
In the wake of an unusual investigation by Cuban state journalists into public employees who regularly cheat customers, Havana has announced an even more surprising response: a study of what’s wrong with the entire system.
What’s wrong with the entire system is the entire system itself. Socialism goes against the laws nature.
Or, to put it in another way: survival of the fittest. When a man, just like any other animal, is reduced to his base, his instinct, just like any other animal, is to survive. And no social constricts such as stealing or cheating or lying or killing will prevent him from following what is his inherent natural instinct.
For the Miami Herald to publish this, and then give it validity with the ‘serious’ tone of the article, says more about the Herald than anything else. This should be a satirical piece in The Onion intended to be read with tongue planted firmly in cheek.
This is sort of like “moderate” neo-Nazi types saying that maybe Hitler went just a tad too far with the Jewish extermination thing, and that although the idea was basically “sound,” it was “improperly” carried out due to “human error.” It’s complete BS, but consider the source.
What an open-ended, unserious, and ultimately (intentionally?) flawed question. It’s as helpful as asking what causes people to steal and murder in a free, capitalist society. If this is Raul’s first step towards loosening the Communist party’s hold over the island’s government it will be deja vu.
Damn, I thought they just called themselves socialist for the propaganda. I never thought they might believe the lie.
Lesly,
If the didnt believe the lie, do you think they would have lasted 47 years so far? They believe it alright.
Only a totalitarian state can stay in power for 47 years without interruption. It’s a very simple, very clear distinction between socialism and communism (with a capital C).
They might believe it, but their philosophical gymnastics must be exhausting.
Lesly, move to Sweden. Then (a) you’ll be a happy camper paying 90% tax rates for the greater good and (b) we’ll be rid of your leftist ass.
Forgot to add one of my favorite definitions expounded by John Loeffler of Steel on Steel: “A communist is a socialist in a hurry with a gun.”
Moneo, it’s a shame you’re not stuck in Cuba. Your contempt for democracy, blanket assertions, and intolerant world view are attributes the Communist party could use.
Lesly, coming from you that’s a compliment.
Lesly: What causes people to steal in a oppressive closed communist society? It happens way more in that kind of society than in a free open capitalist society.
Why?
Can it be … something inherent and immutable in the system?
Ian, I deleted your previous comment. The favorite tactic of leftists like you is comparing anyone who hates totalitarianism with totalitarianism itself. That’s not gonna fly with me. Why don’t you go somewhere else where you can read the leftist bullshit you so believe.
Asking for comments on the flaws of Cuba’s socialism reminds me of the similar “Let a Hundred Roses Flower and Bloom” campaign in communist China, in the fifties.
In an attempt for constructive criticism, the Chinese felt they could purge themselves of the few overzealous party officials and regulations. People were promised anonymity and freedom from retribution. Instead of a dribble of complaints they got a torrent. So incensed were the party officials they spent the next few years indentifying the respondents from handwriting analysis, informants and physical pressure. Rather than being parties to reform, respondents were publicly humiliated at open “trials” and forced to recant. Many were sentenced to reeducation farms.
Cubans should be wary of falling into a trap. Communists have never taken kindly to criticism. The want to perpetuate their power, as any closed ruling group does. They also want to know who might be subversive against the regime.