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I was discussing today with a relative how Cuba's Fidel Castro framed the public opinion in the country in such a way the nation is currently... having a very h

by dsign 2y ago

I was discussing today with a relative how Cuba's Fidel Castro framed the public opinion in the country in such a way the nation is currently... having a very hard time. Even after Fidel Castro's dead. Worse, Hugo Chavez imported the same set of morose ideas, and a decade later, with both idiots dead, the two countries are competing to see which one has longer blackouts. Never underestimate people's capacity to listen to popular figures and embrace damaging cabals.

pessimizer 2y ago
Strange but conventional perspective. I would say to never underestimate the long-term sadism of the US when dealing with small countries who insist on abolishing slavery or owning their own natural resources, or the ability of the people who benefit from that sadism to blame the victims of it.
- dsign 2y ago
  There is something to what you say; like, Marcos Rubio has probably benefited from that sadism. Materially though, I think the Americans are worse off for it. With that said, the average Cuban is so down that they don't get a chance of being a victim of USA's long-term sadism (though many, many, have benefited from USA's long term generosity. Florida is full of them). Being affected by USA's sanctions require sufficient standing to, well, try to import something from USA or access its financial markets in some way. Yes, USA's legislation forbids the Cuban government and its citizens from doing business with American entities, and that includes accessing financial instruments. But all Cuban citizens are forbidden by their own government from commercially importing goods and services from any part of the world. Goods for private consumption are under a 100% tariff, except for food, which is under a temporary exception due to famine[^2]. That exemption is re-examined every three months, with government officials showing up on TV and bemoaning the missed tariff income. Foreign investment is heavily regulated, and only allowed for big industries that the government considers strategical. The business regulation forbids citizens from participating in or forming stock corporations. There is no legal notion of corporate veil. The Cuban banking system is wholly-government controlled[^1], and it only allows privates and businesses to give foreign currency to the government at a rate set by the government, with no exchange in the other direction. But the Cuban government decided to stop printing its national currency to force everybody to use its digital ledgers, so that they can levy revenue taxes directly (yes, "revenue", not "profit"). It makes sense in some sort of Machiavellian way. Problem is, the power infrastructure has collapsed and nothing digital is currently working. There is still a stiff tariff and insurmountable paperwork on importing solar power infrastructure--which is only allowed for private residences. If you do manage, you are required to connect that infrastructure to the public network but it's impossible to do due to bureaucracy and red-tape, and you are not to be paid by the power delivered into said network. Solar farms which do not belong to the government are not allowed. I could keep going for a few more pages. Yes, there is USA long-term sadism towards some small nations, I've been affected by it and it's not exactly kosher. But it's a drop in the bucket compared with what those small nations do to their own citizens. [^1] But there are some interesting corruption twists in that story which I don't have time to go on. [^2] Famine in a country with great weather and good soils, because the government forbids farmer from selling their produce at market prices and from importing machinery and miscellaneous equipment, fertilizers and seeds.

by dsign 2y ago

pessimizer 2y ago

Strange but conventional perspective. I would say to never underestimate the long-term sadism of the US when dealing with small countries who insist on abolishing slavery or owning their own natural resources, or the ability of the people who benefit from that sadism to blame the victims of it.

dsign 2y ago
There is something to what you say; like, Marcos Rubio has probably benefited from that sadism. Materially though, I think the Americans are worse off for it. With that said, the average Cuban is so down that they don't get a chance of being a victim of USA's long-term sadism (though many, many, have benefited from USA's long term generosity. Florida is full of them). Being affected by USA's sanctions require sufficient standing to, well, try to import something from USA or access its financial markets in some way. Yes, USA's legislation forbids the Cuban government and its citizens from doing business with American entities, and that includes accessing financial instruments. But all Cuban citizens are forbidden by their own government from commercially importing goods and services from any part of the world. Goods for private consumption are under a 100% tariff, except for food, which is under a temporary exception due to famine[^2]. That exemption is re-examined every three months, with government officials showing up on TV and bemoaning the missed tariff income. Foreign investment is heavily regulated, and only allowed for big industries that the government considers strategical. The business regulation forbids citizens from participating in or forming stock corporations. There is no legal notion of corporate veil. The Cuban banking system is wholly-government controlled[^1], and it only allows privates and businesses to give foreign currency to the government at a rate set by the government, with no exchange in the other direction. But the Cuban government decided to stop printing its national currency to force everybody to use its digital ledgers, so that they can levy revenue taxes directly (yes, "revenue", not "profit"). It makes sense in some sort of Machiavellian way. Problem is, the power infrastructure has collapsed and nothing digital is currently working. There is still a stiff tariff and insurmountable paperwork on importing solar power infrastructure--which is only allowed for private residences. If you do manage, you are required to connect that infrastructure to the public network but it's impossible to do due to bureaucracy and red-tape, and you are not to be paid by the power delivered into said network. Solar farms which do not belong to the government are not allowed. I could keep going for a few more pages. Yes, there is USA long-term sadism towards some small nations, I've been affected by it and it's not exactly kosher. But it's a drop in the bucket compared with what those small nations do to their own citizens. [^1] But there are some interesting corruption twists in that story which I don't have time to go on. [^2] Famine in a country with great weather and good soils, because the government forbids farmer from selling their produce at market prices and from importing machinery and miscellaneous equipment, fertilizers and seeds.