Cubans overwhelmingly ratify new socialist constitution
reuters.com
reuters.com
Also it's frankly weird how the last capitalist era there is basically enshrined in their culture (from the cars, to the fairly-well-preserved buildings dating from that era)
Odd observational note on the people: Many are into what I'd call cults but what most would call run-of-the-mill superstitious beliefs (voodoo, etc.)
Cuba is not without its problems, but much of what you describe is not unique to a third world country.
The one area you're just completely wrong about is the flavors. I was only able to stay for 10 days, but on my short trip there I stayed in locals' houses (which is quite common there - google "casas particulares") and the vast majority of the meals we had - especially the ones cooked by the people we stayed with - were extremely flavorful.
I'm not claiming socialism is great or anything - there was a potato shortage while I was there - but I'd just hope no one reads your post and thinks Cubans are eating terrible bland food...
>I'm not claiming socialism is great or anything - there was a potato shortage while I was there
But the point is that the countries that were third world a half century ago but have since raised themselves up to developed status did so through free market economics, while the socialist dictatorship countries like Cuba failed.
Guess which country is the richest in the Caribbean? Okay, it's the USA. It may hardly be a democracy anymore, it doesn't particularly respect human rights, but it hasn't regressed to developing status yet and it has free market economics up the wazoo. The richest independent country (as in, its mainland is in the Caribbean) is of course Cuba.
Or are you listing St. Kitts as not independent, because it's part of the Commonwealth?
Trinidad and Tobago is richer though (at $32,520 GDP/capita vs Cuba's $22,237).
And I respect your honesty for checking other countries after proving me wrong...
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas...
We have a favorite Cuban place in the States (shout-out to Corazón de Cuba in Long Beach, Long Island) and the owner said that he is able to make much more flavorful food in the states than he was in Cuba proper
No, I think your first list perfectly enshrines the effects of modern day capitalism on modern day Cuba...
> garbage EVERYWHERE, many toilets have to ration toiled paper (!), not to mention, no incentive to clean the bathrooms, many restaurants had bland flavors due to the inability to order specialty food items and spices and only work with the bulk items the government gives you
Aside from the government propaganda, a lot of South American & Caribbean countries have the same issues you've outlined. (Though the lack of toilet seats has so far been pretty unique to Cuba in my travels most of the poorer countries are definitely BYOTP.)
One thing that really stood out to me about Cuba when I went was their odd transition to "private property" which this new constitution vaguely addresses. When I was there (in 2014 or 2015?) Cubans were allowed to "own" real estate but the government could force them to "sell" the property at any time, at the price specified by the government, and only to the seller selected or approved by the government. It didn't seem that "ownership" came with many rights or benefits.
As for the "voodoo" I think that's fairly common in the Caribbean/South America as well. There are "voodoo markets" in Haiti & Togo, for example. And the "witches market" in La Paz, Bolivia is... something if you're into being surrounded by dried llama fetuses.[1]
[1]https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-52738...
But don't these scientists know that they are way to lazy to cure cancer anyway because in socialism, people have no motivation to work?
> When I was there (in 2014 or 2015?) Cubans were allowed to "own" real estate but the government could force them to "sell" the property at any time, at the price specified by the government, and only to the seller selected or approved by the government.
AKA eminent domain?
> https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-52738....
Seriously?
And you're right, I didn't explain the property rights clearly. I commented in a rush and that was a mistake.
> Cubans were allowed to "own" real estate but the government could force them to "sell" the property at any time, at the price specified by the government, and only to the seller selected or approved by the government
What I meant by this (but did not clearly articulate) was that "homeowners" can not only be forced by the government to sell at any time (similar to eminent domain) but also need permission from the government if they want to sell. And even when they've been given permission to sell they don't list it on the open market or even have an assessment (as would happen with an eminent domain action). Instead, the government simply assigns a price to the property and then assigns a potential "buyer" for the predetermined price. If that "buyer" isn't interested, the government will assign another. I'm sure you can see how this system can easily be exploited by government administrators to obtain the most desirable property for themselves and their "friends" at an artificially low price.
And yes, I seriously linked to the Daily Mail. It certainly isn't always the best source of information but I was intending to share the photos and that link had the most variety. As I've been to the witches market, I found both the photos, and the information in the article, to be accurate and added to the conversation.
Your snarky attitude, on the other hand, adds little to HN. A quick look through your comment history makes me wonder whether you might benefit from a review of the Guidelines.
Voodoo is not a run-of-the-mill superstition/cult any more than a major abrahamic religion is. It is a valid, recognized religious practice [1].
https://www.salon.com/2014/11/17/6_reasons_why_religion_does...
> There are references to {markets and {recognition of private property}, foreign investment, small businesses, gender identity, the internet, {the right to legal representation upon arrest} and habeas corpus}.
Honestly, let us just keep Cuba a toy socialist country as it is and not boycott it. Otherwise, where would we point to when we want to show real world socialism? Assuming that Maduro is on his way out, of course.