How would you reform Cuba's economy? - Politics Forum.org | PoFo

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As either the transitional stage to communism or legitimate socio-economic ends in its own right.
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#14776852
So I think we can all be agreed on the fact that Cuba's economy is not working. Land is underused, inefficiency in the state sector is rife and one of the underpinnings of the system is cheap oil from Venezuela which could collapse any day now. An interesting article on this was published in Jacobin last year.https://www.jacobinmag.com/2016/10/alternative-cuba-socialism-left-opposition-worker-control/https://www.jacobinmag.com/2016/10/alternative-cuba-socialism-left-opposition-worker-control/
The TL;DR of it's proposals is this
Cuban socialists might find areas of overlap with the liberal Catholic and social-democratic critics. Those include proposals that would promote agricultural production and productivity, such as codifying individual farmers’ usufruct rights, eliminating the compulsory sale of agricultural produce to the government at prices dictated by the Acopio, and creating wholesale markets for small firms and individual producers.

In the field of urban employment, these proposals include forming cooperatives based on the initiative of interested workers, rather than on government diktats trying to dispose of so-called lemons — unprofitable enterprises or businesses that are difficult to administer on a centralized basis, like small restaurants.

At the same time, this new left will need to counter other proposals from those same groups. For example, they call for legalization of all forms of self-employment, including occupations that should be run on behalf of the public interest, like education and medicine.

The Left can respond to the call for free importation by arguing that a democratically run state should allocate foreign exchange on a strict priority basis, with social criteria that favor the most economically deprived sectors of the population and the purchase of capital goods that would most support the country’s economic development. Otherwise, affluent Cubans might waste the country’s relatively scarce foreign exchange on frivolous imports, such as expensive vehicles or luxurious furniture and household effects.


Having come to a semi-Mutualist/Georgist perceptive on matters economic, I broadly agree with this analysis save for the last paragraph as it is light on state interference but I;m interested in the perspectives of more statist socialists on how Cuba should proceed.
#14776954
Cuba is perfect, anyone who says otherwise is a counter revolutionary agent spreading lies and propaganda. I think I have uncovered a another poster being paid by Mossad. What does 30 pieces of silver buy you these days?
#14776966
Decky wrote:Cuba is perfect, anyone who says otherwise is a counter revolutionary agent spreading lies and propaganda. I think I have uncovered a another poster being paid by Mossad. What does 30 pieces of silver buy you these days?

I actually agree with this, they can't change without America bursting in bringing "freedom" in the land. I feel the best they can do, is focus on technology for central planning and be closer to China. They can bring "reforms" when America dies.
#14777235
Decky wrote:Cuba is perfect, anyone who says otherwise is a counter revolutionary agent spreading lies and propaganda. I think I have uncovered a another poster being paid by Mossad. What does 30 pieces of silver buy you these days?

So you approve of the development of the petite-bourgeois? Interesting...
#14777330
What would an anarchist be able to understand about Cuba anyway. :roll: If you people were in charge instead of the strong Cuban people's state the Americans would have invaded long ago. I bet you would would love that. American individualism would be your sort of thing.
#14777464
I would leave it alone. I find the whole reality of the Cuban revolutionary government romantic. The thing is that I don't trust anyone to "fix" it. Perhaps some dedicated communists might be able to hold on to the essence of Cuba and give their economy some legs.
#14777554
Decky wrote:Whatever Kronstadt boy. :roll:

Sweet dreams of buggery by Stalin D.
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Interesting perspective, DrLee. I would have assumed you would be a fiscal conservative.
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Clang, they do use a special currency convertible to dollars for the elite; the peso not being worth much.
#14777606
Stalin would never bugger anyone. He felt homosexuality was bourgeois decadence.

On the other hand what happens in the seminary stays in the seminary...
#14777668
Decky wrote:Stalin would never bugger anyone. He felt homosexuality was bourgeois decadence.

On the other hand what happens in the seminary stays in the seminary...


Which is why, I don't understand reddit commies love for Stalin since he's a "brocialist"?
#14777708
In a revolution, anarchists are the best friends capitalists can count on.

Liberalizing Cuba's economy would be great for some people, and worse for everyone else who benefits from the many free services provided by the state. While I think it makes sense for there to be an avenue for small enterprise (in the early Soviet Union this was allowed on a small scale, and I see nothing wrong with it) and for farmers to sell their surplus, Cuba shouldn't "reform" its economy and betray its people by selling out to foreign interests.
#14777804
Tewodros III wrote:Which is why, I don't understand reddit commies love for Stalin since he's a "brocialist"?


I on the other hand can't understand why anyone wouldn't love him. I can't speak about reddit communists since I am not middle class and thus don't have reddit.
#14778001
Clangeddin wrote:I don't know much about Cuba, myself, I read somewhere once, that they had a double currency system there, and it was somewhat criticized, is it still a thing?

Yes. This is because their system is heavily subsidised. Food, drink are almost at cost, drugs I think are lower than cost, so foreigners buying stuff pay more and in so doing, add to the economy. My husband arrived there feeling a little unwell. As the day progressed he felt illl enough to see a doctor who came to him and prescribed two drugs. The costs was $5 for the doctor and $ 5 for the drugs which would have been about $100 here, with out insurance.

Surgeries for medical tourism are a real revenue getter, and might be what you're thinking of.


Edit


Liberalizing Cuba's economy would be great for some people, and worse for everyone else who benefits from the many free services provided by the state. While I think it makes sense for there to be an avenue for small enterprise (in the early Soviet Union this was allowed on a small scale, and I see nothing wrong with it) and for farmers to sell their surplus, Cuba shouldn't "reform" its economy and betray its people by selling out to foreign interests.

The State keeps 51% of foreign business, and I hear some companies would not be considered at all. This would include fast foods, ie McDonald's, but excludes soft drinks like coke-cola, which is popular with foreigners for mixing with rum. I think there's some thinking that foreign made fertilisers should be banned. Off shore on the south side of Cuba is one of the world's healthiest coral reefs. It's protected by the curvature of the islands shoreline and it's thought to have kept the reef safe from fertiliser runoff from North America.
Last edited by Stormsmith on 19 Feb 2017 22:34, edited 2 times in total.
#14778010
Bulaba Jones wrote:Liberalizing Cuba's economy would be great for some people, and worse for everyone else who benefits from the many free services provided by the state. While I think it makes sense for there to be an avenue for small enterprise (in the early Soviet Union this was allowed on a small scale, and I see nothing wrong with it) and for farmers to sell their surplus, Cuba shouldn't "reform" its economy and betray its people by selling out to foreign interests.

There were similar arguments at the end of the Soviet Union, which led to the economy going off a cliff rather than gradually transitioning to a functional setup. Cuba's running on oil from Venuzuela, which is looking close to breakdown. Rolling blackouts might just trigger a coup against Raul.
#14779136
The entire economy should be funded by tourism. Put Desi Arnaz Jr. in charge and give all tourists attractions a Desi and Lucy motif. :D

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