In the past, when Fidel Castro was alive and in full posession of his faculties, you could easily say that he was a dictator. Everything of importance was designed, implemented, and micro managed by him. The man was a megalomaniac and, and history would show, also incompetent; but boy, the cult of personality goes deep here, not only in mass media but many of the sicophants.

Today the Secretary General has no power. Everybody knows that; along with the fact that he is also a puppet with the charisma of bucket half filled with sand. Guidance and executive power come first from the Central Committee; which I'm sure follows "tips" and "recommendations" from Raúl Castro (Fidel's brother), a man that should be effectively retired. Everybody knows that's not the case.

However, and being honest, I really don't care about labeling this place as a dictatorship or not (it is a fuzzy concept for me, and I won't fight hard for one or the other). Unless there's a clear definition, labels are sometimes subjective. Hell, this is not even a communist country, despite what they themselves like to present; this is not the dictatorship of the proletariat. And never was.

When I was there the painted picture I was taught was different than what I saw.

I am not a dictator in my house. No one would say that either. They would say I do make the rules and have final authority. Can I determine our living conditions? Yes. I try to run a good house and love those under my care. We are communists in practice. Not by name.