The power of preconceptions... I once worked with someone doing stats for a UN program. They used to say that the two most reliable statistics, in any country,

The power of preconceptions... I once worked with someone doing stats for a UN program. They used to say that the two most reliable statistics, in any country, are life expectancy and the murder rate. Because it’s quite hard to systematically hide murders or change the age in death certificates. In the Western Hemisphere, you can get a pretty good estimate just by taking a stroll of any cemetery. Having been to Cuba, I can also assure you that despite all its shortcomings, starvation just isn’t a thing. Unless you’re allergic to rice and/or chicken. I even got to experience the health system (yeay climbing). And while „bare bones“ was the motto of the day, all the essential parts seemed to be working quite well.