Cuba! That island of mystery. Of enchantment. And the finest merchandise this side of the Caribbean on sale today! Wait...that's Agrabah, not Havana. Anyway, enjoy as we discuss the finer points of antidisestablishmenttotalitarianism. Or the tearing down of evil regimes without destroying the lives of millions of people. Difficult feat. Can capitalism defeat it? Is it actually a worker's paradise? Find out inside!
A whole episode about communist Cuba with no mention of Batista?
I think this episode is really incomplete without mentioning that (at least in the past), US policy with regard to totalitarian regimes had a lot with those regimes' friendliness to US corporations. That's a bias in the decision of whether the people living under a regime are better served by "free trade" or crushing sanctions aimed at regime change.
Basically, I think capitalism can increase people's freedom and quality of life. But it doesn't necessarily. There's a whole continuum from free participation in trade that enriches people at an individual level and outright slavery (where workers are definitely participating in capitalism, but gaining the minimum possible benefit from doing so).
Cuba isn't a great place to live compared to the US, but it should be evaluated in context. Tropical nations with powerful neighbors, high poverty, and natural resources often fare quite poorly.
I think the current policy doesn't work well, and that the quality of life for Cubans (and Americans) would be improved by things like people being able to visit their families, or participate in cultural or athletic exchanges. I also think diplomacy has some potential to do good. The question is whether the debate can be moved beyond "yay communism" and "boo communism".
A whole episode about communist Cuba with no mention of Batista?
ReplyDeleteI think this episode is really incomplete without mentioning that (at least in the past), US policy with regard to totalitarian regimes had a lot with those regimes' friendliness to US corporations. That's a bias in the decision of whether the people living under a regime are better served by "free trade" or crushing sanctions aimed at regime change.
Basically, I think capitalism can increase people's freedom and quality of life. But it doesn't necessarily. There's a whole continuum from free participation in trade that enriches people at an individual level and outright slavery (where workers are definitely participating in capitalism, but gaining the minimum possible benefit from doing so).
Cuba isn't a great place to live compared to the US, but it should be evaluated in context. Tropical nations with powerful neighbors, high poverty, and natural resources often fare quite poorly.
I think the current policy doesn't work well, and that the quality of life for Cubans (and Americans) would be improved by things like people being able to visit their families, or participate in cultural or athletic exchanges. I also think diplomacy has some potential to do good. The question is whether the debate can be moved beyond "yay communism" and "boo communism".