3 ms·

I think a very interesting question is "why does Cuba have higher life expectancy?" It might be due to universal healthcare, or it might be that people simply

I think a very interesting question is "why does Cuba have higher life expectancy?" It might be due to universal healthcare, or it might be that people simply can't afford "bad" food and mostly eat what they're given by the government. And the government doesn't give them fast food, it gives them traditional staples like rice, beans, etc. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care_in_Cuba#Health_indicators_and_issues http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care_in_Cuba#Health_indi... Just because the healthcare is universal doesn't mean that it's good. There are differing views of the efficacy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care_in_Cuba#Contrasting_views_on_Cuba.27s_health_system http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care_in_Cuba#Contrasting... The main criticisms are that the government has the power to first game the statistics or outright manufacture them. And because journalists don't have the freedom to report honestly (repeat negative exposure means no more visas) we don't actually know if the stats are gamed a little or a lot.

tptacek 12y ago
The US and Cuba have roughly comparable rates of death due to coronary heart disease and stroke.
kenrikm 12y ago
Or it could be because it's propaganda [1]. Nah can't be that dictitorial communist states have always been known for being extremely honest. I hear they also have a low infant mortality rate.. [2] [1] great healthcare! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK3AnxSgdxA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK3AnxSgdxA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD7mLp9j-3k https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD7mLp9j-3k [2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_wKhXurFyI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_wKhXurFyI
- papaf 12y ago
  Research suggests that Cuba has good healthcare and a low infant mortality rate: http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/content/35/4/817.long http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/content/35/4/817.long There is propaganda on both sides, it is obvious by now that communism sucks. However, to say that everything about communism sucks and that nothing can be learned from it is intellectually lazy.

tptacek 12y ago

The US and Cuba have roughly comparable rates of death due to coronary heart disease and stroke.

kenrikm 12y ago

Or it could be because it's propaganda [1]. Nah can't be that dictitorial communist states have always been known for being extremely honest. I hear they also have a low infant mortality rate.. [2] [1] great healthcare! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK3AnxSgdxA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK3AnxSgdxA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD7mLp9j-3k https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD7mLp9j-3k [2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_wKhXurFyI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_wKhXurFyI

papaf 12y ago
Research suggests that Cuba has good healthcare and a low infant mortality rate: http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/content/35/4/817.long http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/content/35/4/817.long There is propaganda on both sides, it is obvious by now that communism sucks. However, to say that everything about communism sucks and that nothing can be learned from it is intellectually lazy.