Three generations
The new ration book surprised us at the end of December, just when speculation was growing about the demise of this booklet with its grid-paper pages. It arrived, like every year, surrounded by anxiety and annoyance, submerging us in that approach-avoidance conflict generated by the subsidized. In its little pages I notice the absence of many products that once made up the monthly quota, now reduced to just a monotonous repertoire with insufficient nutritional values and rising costs.
For the first time in our house we are all in the same age bracket among the five defined by the Ministry of Internal Commerce. Exactly in the box for 14 to 64 years my son appears, together with Reinaldo and me, but at least three generations of Cubans have seen the store clerks mark down what we can put in our mouths. Trapped in poverty, millions of compatriots depend on price assistance to survive. Rationing is a trampoline and falling is certain, a dependency we all wish would end, but that almost no one can let go.
I see my name written next to Teo’s and I’m afraid that his children, too, will receive milk only until the age of seven, be allotted washing soap every two months or a tasteless toothpaste to clean their teeth. I shudder imagining that in thirty years we will still have to prove, with a doctor’s certificate, that we have an ulcer to have the right to a few ounces of meat or a container of soy yogurt. With its minimal quantities and doubtful quality, the ration market has also instilled in us an unhealthy gratitude and a guilt complex that cannot be our legacy to those yet to come. If another December arrives and we receive a new ration book, it will not be because we have avoided the economic cuts, but rather because we have fallen another step lower in our citizen autonomy.
Enero 23rd, 2010 at 16:41
I do not know if this is appropriate or not, but I had not heard of this blog until someone on tripadvisor had recommended it. What I am wondering is what items do people need in Cuba. I am going soon again and often take items there for people, tylenol, duct tape, etc. What I would like to know from someone with more knowledge than myself is what to bring. I do not typically give gifts to hotel workers but rather to people away from the hotels. I do not look at this like charity, rather I am coming to the country anyways and would like to do something to make peoples lives easier somehow. I would truly appreciate any suggestions. Some people on trip advisor are now saying do not take gifts to Cuba, I would appreciate advise from people who live there or have lived there. Thanks
Enero 10th, 2010 at 18:21
Tracy let me explain a bit. It’s been 20 years I lived in Cuba but I still remember.
They give you this rationing book on the OFICODA is the name of the office to give you this. So it is assign one per household. All occupants of the household are in it. As you can see they are also classify depending on age.
They are classify by age because to children they give milk but the rest can not drink milk. (they cut age is 7) older than 7 the child does not get milk.
Then they have lines per month for beans, rise, poultry or fish allowances
if you check in some other post here someone listed how much of each of this things they may get. The food they buy using the rationing book is not free. In fact some older retired people are only able to afford this. Their salaries are much lower than working people. They will earn if they are lucky about 200 Cuban pesos a month (7 dollars a month). That’s about half the standard salary for working Cubans.
That is barely sufficient for them to buy the food from the rationing book. Then they this food is not really sufficient as we computed the amount of calories supply does not satisfy the needs of a normal human. They will have to fence for themselves and find by whatever means the food at market prices. Since they make so little money for many it means they will have to steal from the government or do something consider illegal. Needles to say many of the transactions of selling and buying happen in the black market.
I remember going to visit and their normal chicken was really small like a Cornish hen.
Many of the items in the list they may not get them at all. Also if you are not in the move when they arrive to the distribution center you may not get it at all since the people that works at this distribution centers are very corrupted and will try selling some of it to people paying higher prices. They have found also many instances of people not even getting the assign portions just because the bodeguero will like to keep some for himself in order to make some extra money.
Enero 10th, 2010 at 16:38
totally agree negrito cimarron!
Enero 10th, 2010 at 12:32
for Julio and Juan, if that’s a decission cubans will make why the government don’t stop interfering on it, why not to make a referendum without the typical cheating socialists and communists make. Socialism is not to get stuff been made on a wimp of a leader, modern socialism is democratic, that style of socialism from last century where everything is controlled on society is dead (even though some crazy guy in Venezuela is trying to revive it).
And US embargo is just a mere justification, Cuba can perfectly negotiate and trade with other countries, the issue is that Cuba never pays back what is owe, plus is a reality the regime in in bankruptcy.
Enero 10th, 2010 at 07:19
Juan, you sound very much like some low-level Cuban government official looking to suck up to gain some sort of favor. And should you be successful in gaining it, I’d guess you’ll use your few extra dollars to buy extra goods on the black market so that you can continue to eat the rest of the month.
Yubano, self-expression is far more effective if it is polite; I support and agree 100% with Julio. When someone screams and yells, no message gets communicated. If you want to bark out insults, come to America and you will find plenty of opportunity to shout out nothing. Freedom of speech may be an inalienable right, but as “the word is mightier than the sword”, you should use words responsibly.
Julio, would you or someone be able to describe this rationing a bit more? I understand books are issued, and I assume they’re stamped or something when presented to a merchant. Are you really supposed to live on that amount of food? If I wanted to buy broccoli or some other vegetable (assuming I could find it for sale), am I legally allowed to buy it? I mean, you have spaghetti on the list, but no sauce to put on top of it. There’s no flour to bake anything with. Seriously, as a fat-n-spoiled American, I’m not seeing how this could possibly work.
Enero 9th, 2010 at 23:56
That is a nice comparison Jason. Good to meet another skippie!
#83″..that will be a decision that cubans should make”.
But that doesn’t stop any one of us having opinions however it is a
pity that the USA which spends millions of dollars each year on self-professed “regime change” doesn’t adhere to this message.
And there is of course the embargo which prevents you Jason from achieving a bank transfer to Cuba using the ANZ. Why the ANZ and not the other 3 big banks? Ask the ANZ!
Enero 9th, 2010 at 19:48
Jason
“but don’t think this means that socialism needs to be abandoned.”
that will be a decision that cubans should make.
Enero 9th, 2010 at 06:50
I think Juan has made some good points.
Speaking from the other side of the world (Australia), one thing that impressed me about Cuba was its ability to look after its most vulnerable citizens in the wake of natural disasters, particularly in comparison with the dismal efforts of its wealthy neighbour following Hurricane Katrina.
I applaud Cubans fight for more democracy - but don’t think this means that socialism needs to be abandoned.
Enero 8th, 2010 at 17:09
#80 just as earlier when I asked for evidence of ‘lies’, ‘misinformation’etc with no response I would similarly ask where I have been ‘insulting’ , ‘bristling’ or ‘defensive’?
Interesting that noone has addressed any of the substance of my comments. This really is a closed society
Enero 8th, 2010 at 06:27
Juan:
Why so defensive?
Things seem ok when you are postulating your truths yet when they are questioned you brisle.
Arguing a point with insults in any form devalue the idea.
Perhaps that is the way you think conversations go with you & around you in the world you live in.
To be constructive I think one needs to be able to listen to & respect others ideas.
If there is a disagreement, then in a civil manner (not imposible if tried) the facts & ideas can be explored and we can all learn.
From what I see you have no problem expressing yourself in very good english.
Your thoughts are well structured but your emotions get the better of you.
Add to it: for you & your ideas to be respected, you have to start by respecting yourself otherwise: how can you give what you don’t have within you?
Start over friend, I really want to listen to your point of view, see what you have to offer, not raising your voice but calmly.
By the way … I meant the wish for you to enjoy your gifts …
Enero 8th, 2010 at 02:14
#78 I am not really sure what you are asking or what point you are trying to make?
I wrote in #23 “Julio and Sigmund your knowledge of Cuban money is somewhat sparse.
ICUC is equivalent to approx.90UScents(not 80 unless you are exchanging USD cash)
1 CUC will buy 24 CUP. 25CUP are required to buy 1CUC. In Cuban Cadecas.”
#33 “Andy you couldn’t have done much research prior to your trip to Cuba if it came as a surprise that USD CASH has a 10% penalty. USD TC’s and ALL other cash currencies are converted at a rate equivalent to 90USD to 1 CUC.”
I responded very specifically to the relationship b/n the USD and CUCs.
And actually strictly speaking the extract is not accurate on 2 counts. US Dollars are and always have been accepted. See above.
Secondly there isn’t and never was a “20% commission”. As before 1CUC = $0.90. That is the exchange rate plus an approx. 3% commission. There is a 10% penalty for usung US dollar notes(not TCs). If you go to Europe with USD you will pay an exchange rate plus commission if changing USD into Euros. I agree that there is no additional penalty for cash but have not hidden that.
1Euro will buy 1.28CUC. That is the exchange rate plus the same 3% commission. If you look up Forex rates you will see that the relationship b/n the CUC-USD-Euros is similar.
Enero 7th, 2010 at 22:04
Juan
read this
Note: US Dollars are no longer accepted in Cuba and visitors will be charged 20% commission on exchanging them. In the 1990s, Cuba decided to slowly get rid of its Dollar reserves, banning the currency from general use and introduced the replacement CUC as a ‘tourist dollar’ under its control. Cuban nationals continue to be paid in the Cuban Peso (CUP). In some tourist areas, the Euro is also accepted. Hard currency (ie CUCs not CUPs) must be used in most transactions.
from
http://www.worldtravelguide.ne...../Cuba.html
You are saying this was never true?
Enero 7th, 2010 at 21:48
#72…..From #33 “And Anónimi to imply that NONE of those services exist rather than to more appropriately hone in on the adequacy of those services is both dishonest and is truely stupid.”
And from #69 “Are those services, standard of living good enough - No. Are they better than a substantial part of the world - Yes. Should one be satisfied with this - No.”
The lies are???
#70 what “statistics” bogus or otherwise did I post? And can you be just a wee bit more specific about the “pretend knowledge” and “misinformation”. Be delighted if you were to factually refute anything I have stated. Always happy to correct anything I have wrong - that’s what learning is all about.
Enero 7th, 2010 at 21:43
concubino
Enero 7th, 2010 at 18:09
Sigmund,
Take a look at appendix 1 in the same link.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Very interesting, very interesting.
Enero 7th, 2010 at 21:41
Wait Yubano not so fast.
I have ask in the following post to the frequent contributors for a vote on the subject. If they think you are correct then fine with me.
Enero 7th, 2010 at 21:39
I meant to say, you have a right to do as you wish…
Enero 7th, 2010 at 21:38
Julio
If have a right to do as you wish. I have not violated anything. If you don’t agree with my comments you can ignore them just as you suggest I ignore yours. This not a contest. You have chosen to inject yourself into every issue including telling people what to do, that is not your place…
Enero 7th, 2010 at 21:09
Juan THESE ARE THE LIES!
“I rest my case. Did you actually read what I wrote in e.g #33? What are the ‘lies’ you refer to?”
“What people conveniently forget when talking about the low salaries is the low(subsidised) telephone/water/gas/electricity/health/transport/education available to all. Probably 50% of the rest of the world as well as many poverty stricken US citizens would love to as “poor†as the average Cuban!”
CAN YOU READ!PLEASE ESPOND TO THESE ISSUES AND NOT CHANGE THE SUBJECTS I ADDRESED!
WHAT TELEPHONES?
WHAT WATER?
WHAT GAS?
WHAT ELECTRICITY?
WHAT HEALTH CARE?
WHAT TRANSPORT?
EDUCATION, YES! BUT YOU HAVE TO PAY “THE REAPERâ€
AND WHAT INTERNET ACCESS?
Reporters Without Borders: Going online in Cuba - Internet under surveillance
http://www.rsf.org/Going-onlin.....ernet.html
Reporters Without Borders:Authorities block websites, detain 26th journalist
http://www.rsf.org/Authorities.....etain.html
Enero 7th, 2010 at 20:57
Yubano, I have to disagree with your assessment.
I do try to engage people and also try to be fair. Like to treat people the same way I like to be treated. I do have my own blog. But I prefer posting here. If it bothers you, you can simply ignore me. I again disagree with the approach you take with regards to propaganda and lies I think it will be more telling if we are able to reasonably argue that they are wrong. Otherwise this becomes attacks after attacks.
That is just not meaningful to me.
On the other hand when I have requested others here to adhere to no attacks I have been very polite and they have done so. Every one for the sake of keeping the conversation civilized has complied. If this forum becomes a place for attacks like you have describe. I have to say I will not like to participate any longer.
Just to keep things in perspective take a good look at the rules stated by Yoani herself. After all this is her blog not yours or mine
Can you read the first rule?
On the other hand since you have brought this up maybe we should ask everyone else and see what they think. I will abide to what the majority here thinks.
*Serán borrados los comentarios que contengan injurias a cualquier persona, incitación o apologÃa a la violencia.
* Los comentarios que contengan más de dos enlaces pasarán a moderación hasta tanto se verifiquen las páginas web recomendadas en él.
* Los filtros de Wordpress borrarán automáticamente todos aquellos comentarios que contengan palabras obscenas o textos que estén repetidos.
* Si se quieren agregar largos documentos para apoyar un comentario, lo mejor será escribir solamente el enlace a la página web donde se puede leer el texto del mismo.
* Se excluirá de los comentaristas a aquellos que usurpen la personalidad de otros.
* No se podrán publicar comentarios que no usen el alfabeto latino.
* Se recomienda enfáticamente no incluir comentarios escritos todos en mayúsculas, pues se considerará como un grito o un alarido.
Enero 7th, 2010 at 20:33
Most people ignore you Juan because rational dialogue is not an option. You spoke before of hidden agendas, look in the mirror. Anyone who has any sense sees your BS for what it is, misinformation masked in bogus statistics and pretend knowledge.
Enero 7th, 2010 at 20:11
#49 “What is really “insulting†is statements like his when we all know that they are lies and tries to twist the truth.”
I rest my case. Did you actually read what I wrote in e.g #33? What are the ‘lies’ you refer to?
#41 “..so Juan you say 1 CUC is .90 us dollar? That is without including the 20 percent tax that the Cuban regime imposes on the dollar?”
Yes I not only say it is fact. There is no 20% tax. The only reason I keep correcting this misinformation - is that if such basic facts are distorted it does call into question other assertions. Re-read #33.
#39 apologies for appearing to assume that all such 1950s US centric rheteric emanates from Miami. I do know better.And anyone - not necessarily you - who wants to hark back to the good old days of pre-1959 does tend to lose my attention. To be slavishly uncritical of those days diminishes the substance of any criticism of today.
As for your and others very interesting statistics but given that I wrote “…rather than to more appropriately hone in on the adequacy of those services” I am not sure how it is all supposed to be some sort of refutation of my thoughts? Are those services, standard of living good enough - No. Are they better than a substantial part of the world - Yes. Should one be satisfied with this - No.
#52 I do wonder at what the attitude of the land of the unfree would be to a foreign national distributing in the USA illegal(irrespective of whether you agree with the law) equipment in the interests of ‘regime change’?
#43 That was a very thoughtful and useful contribution. As I said previously “It is ironic that many regular commentators here avoid any rational dialogue - a critism they rightly or wrongly ascribe to the Cuban government.”
Enero 7th, 2010 at 20:11
Julio
I ask because it seems to me that while you are well meaning, and I respect your support for what Yoani is doing, you have co-opted this blog as if it was your own. You inject yourself into every discussion often times imposing your views as if you are the final arbiter for everything that is spoken here. Your opinions are always right regardles of how many times you contradict yourself, you tell people how they must comport themselves and the justification is that we must be civil and resist ad hominum attacks (one of your favorite terms). Have you considered starting your own blog? My god man take a breath.
The one over-riding factor in a blog is that it is an open forum for opinion, debate and counter-debate. Not everyone is going to be polite and want to tip-toe around some of the rediculous statements that are made here. If you choose to take the “civil” approach and try to convince the unconvinceble that is your right. Not all of us wish to contribute in that manner. When I see propaganda or outright lies I characterixe them for what they are. I obviously do not speak for anyone else but I will continue to express my self stridently when necessay without apology. Finally, you are not the judge of what is meaningful debate, no one is. This a forum for ideas and if you choose to participate you must be prepared to defend your points of view, in whatever fashion.
Enero 7th, 2010 at 19:43
Yubano, I am not moderator (official or unofficial) and I know where you are going with this. I think the statement I have made are very reasonable to make a reasonable debate here.
To engage in fight does not produce any meaningful debate.
Would you like to argue that what I have propose with regards to not use of ad hominen attack and attacks without arguments should not be so?
If you like we can ask the rest of the frequent contributors here and see what they think.
Enero 7th, 2010 at 19:36
I was just reading this post by Fernando of BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/mun.....iente.html
and in the comments section found a very interesting comment by a Cuban who the government did not allow to study abroad so he migrated to Argentine and later to Mexico to pursue his Studies in Physics. Now he will like to return to Cuba to form a research group in the topics he has learned but the Regime is refusing his entrance in Cuba. So he continues talking about what the Cuban regime calls the pillage of Brains by developed nations.
Here is his complete post
Hola Fernando:
Me ha gustado este artÃculo, asà como la mayorÃa de los que escribes. Te escribo para contarte una historia personal que quizás emplees para hacer un artÃculo.
Resulta que soy graduado de FÃsica en Santiago de Cuba. Hace unos años me gané una beca para realizar estudios de maestrÃa en Argentina. Como es natural me negaron la salida en la Universidad donde trabaja (la UO). Por ese motivo renuncié a mi puesto en la Universidad y me agencié los trámites para irme del paÃs con mis propios recursos.
En argentina estube dos años, con lo cual perdà mi “residencia” cubana. Debes saber que si un cubano está más de 11 meses fuera de cuba (a menos que esté casado/a con un extranjero) pierde la referida “residencia”. Ésta es la que en otras palabras te permite viajar en “Astro”, tener tu cuota racionada, acceder a los hospitales sin pagar nada, etc…
Actualmente, estoy haciendo el doctorado en México y terminaré en unos años. Debo agregar que lo que he aprendido en estos años en Argentina y en México, son temas avanzados de fÃsica que no se imparten en ninguna universidad del paÃs. Más aún, los grupos de trabajo en estas lÃneas (fÃsica teórica de altas energÃas) virtualmente NO EXISTEN en la isla.
Ahora bien, he preguntado en las oficinas del DIE en Cuba (Departamento de Inmigración y ExtranjerÃa) sobre los trámites que debo hacer para regresar a mi paÃs. La razón es que me gustarÃa crear un grupo de investigación en la misma UO que me negó la salida. AsÃ, ayudo a que no se desperdicie tanto talento con la imposición de temas de trabajo mediocres y poco creativos cuyo único fin es perseguir dinero y poder hacer estancias en el extranjero.
La respuesta que me dieron fué simple: …”usted es cubano solo por los artÃculos 11 y 12 de la constitución”…sépase que he buscado los mencionados artÃculos y no hay nada referido a mi pregunta. Lo que es peor: la única opción que existe para el regreso debe ser valorada, colegiada, etc… por la embajada y el MinRex.
La pregunta que hago es ¿donde queda entonces el discurso del “Robo de Cerebro”?. En Cuba, no se “roban los cerebros”, se REGALAN. Si yo me gano un premio de importancia internacional, ya sea el premio Dirac, Novel, o cualquiera, de seguro que serÃa para el gobierno cubano un cubano sin lugar a dudas.
Yo no estoy interesado en polÃtica ni pretendo pararme en “ismos” de ninguna Ãndole. Soy un cientÃfico y estoy convencido de que la sociedad moderna está llena de defectos y de mecanismos que inhiben la libertad personal pero, es demasiado absurdo todo esto.
Ya no busco respuestas. Seré ciudadano del mundo como decÃa Albert Einstein hasta que elija un palmo de tierra donde pueda vivir lo más parecido a mi yo. Esta historia que le cuento bien podrÃa ser la de muchos colegas del mundo de la ciencia. Ellos no tienen vos en ningún lugar de la isla.
Saludos…
Enero 7th, 2010 at 19:30
Julio
Do you have an official or semi-official relationship with Generation Y? Are you a moderator for this blog?
Enero 7th, 2010 at 19:25
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by juliorey: @yoanisanchez Three generations http://tinyurl.com/yl9yo5t #fb…
Enero 7th, 2010 at 18:09
Sigmund,
Take a look at appendix 1 in the same link.
Enero 7th, 2010 at 17:23
56
concubino
Enero 7th, 2010 at 15:52
http://www.miscelaneasdecuba.n…..nt2009.pdf
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Concu….. very good find…… I could learn of this the following:
Havana city has 210.000 telephonic access lines according this document……. Havana’s inhabitants are 2.200.000 ….. that means only 10% of Havana’s population has telephonic access ……. I know Havana is the favored city in Cuba, then, we can assume only 10% of Cuba’s population has telephonic access, what means 120.000 cuban homes has telephon….. it is 12 telephones for each 100 persons….. not 15 for each 100 as I said before.
I could learn also that fast telephony in Cuba is in “Cave age”…… and Cuba only need freedom to has a huge source of income of telephony.
Enero 7th, 2010 at 17:11
Humberto
I was suspecting the Cuban government will doing something like that. They are basically trying to get their spies in exchange for this NGO.
Since the guy the Cuban government got was only distributing cells and computer and communication equipment I think is impossible to charge him as spy because there is no connection with the US government intelligence. Therefore we should not trade in this case either.
The Cuban 5 are spies.
Enero 7th, 2010 at 17:04
THIS IS MIGHT SEEM SMALL BUT I BET IT WILL INVOLVE THE “CUBAN 5″ SOON!
BBC NEWS: US denies contractor held in Cuba was spying
“Washington has labelled “false” Cuban claims that an American contractor arrested at Havana airport last month was a US spy. The US state department said the man did not work for American intelligence.”
“Those comments are false. Cuba has a history of mischaracterising what Americans and NGOs in Cuba are doing,” said state department spokesman PJ Crowley. “This person is not associated with our intelligence services.” ”
“This is a gentleman hired by a company that hires for the American secret services and is now the subject of an investigation,” Mr Alarcon told reporters in Havana.
He described it as an example of the “privatisation of war” by the US, which hires people to be “agents, torturers, spies”.”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8447287.stm
Enero 7th, 2010 at 16:55
This is an interesting post of someone who try to migrate illegally from Cuba and was cough by the American Coast Guard before arriving into American soil.
Use Google translate to read it very interesting!
http://www.miscelaneasdecuba.n.....rtID=25024
Enero 7th, 2010 at 16:40
Concubino, thanks for the report on telecommunications in Cuba
it does have lots of information about the current telephone system cost and cell phone cost.
Juan??
So would you like to continue dialoguing?
Enero 7th, 2010 at 16:32
Albert
Enero 7th, 2010 at 12:47
@#53
Siggy (w/all my respect please allow me the use)
I put down some thought about the guevara fellow in comment #119
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Very good comment this #119, Albert.
Enero 7th, 2010 at 15:52
http://www.miscelaneasdecuba.n.....nt2009.pdf
Enero 7th, 2010 at 13:28
#52 Regarding Alarcón.
Ricardo Alarcon, President of the Cuban National Assembly among other titles he had in the hierarchic of the Robolution. When this guy dies, he should donate his scarce brain for research.
Not to long ago this brainless guy, held a meeting with University students and he was confronted with the following question: “Why is it that Cubans are not allowed to travel freely outside Cuba.”
“Well, (not knowing what to answer)if the whole world is allowed to travel, I mean the 6,000 millions of inhabitants were able to travel wherever they wanted, it will create a bottleneck in the skies”
He probably thought these students were so stupid as to believe his childless answer.
Enero 7th, 2010 at 12:47
@#53
Siggy (w/all my respect please allow me the use)
I put down some thought about the guevara fellow in comment #119 at “The Last Moon of 2009.
In it I tried to mention a few of things which thru the years have “bother” me about the mythological che.
Creator of the “new man” and money making object for the tourist industry of the castro & co. business.
From hero of the revolution to having his name on a condom pack :-( or :-)
Enero 7th, 2010 at 12:15
46
Albert
Enero 7th, 2010 at 10:55
Food for thought …
What makes Cuba such a valuable target for a US attack?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I totally agree and I would like to add:
Each time I hear some one talking about the “dispute” USA-Castro I repeat the same speech.
One of the first disgrace castro brought to Cuba was the capital escape….. and not only castro…… each time a political problem affects a country the capitals of this country leave temporary or permanently to a more quiet place….. to where leave the capitals??? well, they use to leave to a rich and stable country…. in America this rich and stable country is USA. It was the first “present” of castro to USA: Both human and economical capitals left Cuba to USA after castro started his madness. Then came the turn of the tourism industry…… castro needed to isolate the cuban people in order to indoctrinate it and keep it away from “bad influences”, so he closed the country for more than 20 years and killed the huge tourism industry cubans had built with american investors help. It was the second big present of castro to USA. The cuban tourism industry went to engross the already huge tourism industry in Florida and Puerto Rico. Eventuely Dominican Republic, Bahamas and Mexico also got a piece of the pie.
The third present were the commerce industry. Spaniards spent 5 centuries building the Singapore of America in Havana and Santiago de Cuba. When political differences started between castro and USA the huge commerce that went between North America and South America trough Cuba despaired. When castro drove Cuba to the orbit of the soviets and tied the country to the commerce with the communist countries, the huge commerce between Europa and central-south America that went through Cuba despaired. Then Miami took the place of Havana and became what is today: the center of commerce between north and south america and Europa and America.
Who does not remember Che Guevara saying in a crazy speech: “Cuba’s economy is like a dwarf, with a big chest, big and strong shoulders but short legs and arms….. we need to transform this situation, we can afford no longer to have a big “light industry” fabricating consumption items and do not have a “adequate” “basic industry” that is the ground of the industrialization…… we can no longer afford to depend of the Sugar industry, the agriculture and some cultivations ……..”
Who the hell said to Guevara he was economy master!!!!!!!
Well, the result of all this madness were 3 or 4 presents more to USA. The cattle industry gone, the Citric industry gone, the media industry gone, the “light” industry gone (of course, no “basic” or heavy industry were built in Cuba). The last presents????…… The Sugar Industry, the alcohol industry!!!!!
Bacardi is today a gigantic american multinational that fabricate since a pen to rockets parts…………. even the classic Tobacco Industry is on its way of disappearing off Cuba and relocate in Miami. Emigrated cuban growers smuggled cuban tobacco seeds and tarted to grow up the plants in fields with similar chemical composition of cuban soil in Honduras, Nicaragua and Dominican Republic. In few years these growers got to produce a tobacco ranked among the first in the world.
What’s next???….. Who knows.
Conclusions……. why would USA wants to change so beneficial state of things????
I ma sure that as long USA continue to get so precious presents “the country of the free” will not allow nothing bad to happens to its preferred dictator.
Enero 7th, 2010 at 12:05
ENGLAND’S GUARDIAN UK: Cuba claims jailed US contractor is secret service agent (Computer specialist’s imprisonment marks latest setback in attempt to thaw relations between US and Cuba)
“Cuba has accused a US contractor it jailed last month of being a secret service agent, in the latest spat to sour Havana’s brief honeymoon with the Obama administration.”
“”This is a man hired by a company that contracts for the American secret services and that is the object of investigation,” Ricardo Alarcon, the head of Cuba’s parliament, told reporters.
The American, a 40-year-old computer specialist who has not been publicly named by Washington or Havana, was part of the US’s “privatisation of war”, Alarcon added.”
“”Cuba in recent months seems to [be] determined to ratchet up the tension with the US, whether by roughing up the blogger Yoani Sánchez or staging military exercises to defend against a supposed US invasion,” said Dan Erikson, author of The Cuba Wars and an analyst at the Inter-American Dialogue thinktank.
“The result is that the US-Cuba deadlock continues unabated, and the rhetorical gestures on both sides calling for improved relations have done little to budge this lingering cold war standoff.”"
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worl.....contractor
Enero 7th, 2010 at 11:52
UTV-England: Forgotten CubaStephen Kinzer: Cuba’s revolution once inspired the world, but political stagnation has left it a poor, hungry backwater
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media 2010
“Vestiges of revolutionary enthusiasm survived into the 1980s, when I last visited Cuba. Millions had already lost faith in the promise of Caribbean communism, but millions still clung to it. Today believers are hard to find. People I met told me that they had a burst of hope two years ago, when Castro retired from active politics and turned the regime over to his brother. But life remains much as before, and the island has slipped into paralysing lassitude. “Finding enough food for our families and a roof over our heads is the extent of our dreams these days,” one man sighed.”
“Who would have imagined that Cuba would become an importer of food – even importing sugar, of all things, from the United States, of all places? Or that an entire generation of Cubans – those born in the early 1990s, when the end of Soviet subsidies brought a plague of hunger to the island – would be born malnourished and grow up stunted? Or that the birth rate would plummet, leaving the prospect of an aging population without working people to support it? Or that most groceries would be for sale only in hard currency, which is unavailable to most Cubans? Or that fishing would be all but forbidden because the regime fears that anyone with a boat will make straight for Florida? Or that the country Americans once treated as a giant bordello, a hotbed of degradation that Castro set out to wipe away, would once again become the hemisphere’s leading destination for sex tourists?”
“”We have three successes: education, health care and social equality,” one Cuban told me. “And we have three big problems: breakfast, lunch and dinner.” Another put it more directly. “In 51 years of revolution, we have not learned that agriculture is what keeps a country alive.”"
http://u.tv/News/Forgotten-Cub.....bb479fe3b5
Enero 7th, 2010 at 11:45
Humberto I do understand your point but we can show him where he is wrong and if he is serious about debating we will debate. Proof in hand.
We know that what they call health care can not be consider such since they get substandard services that are not comparable to for example US and that only a very small minority get such service. Even the top hierarchy of the Cuban regime is even more elitist when they get doctors from other country like Spain not even trusting his own people!
This always remind me Animal farm dictum
“All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than other”
so what they try to sell as a model of social justice is not evidently so.
Their system is plague with more inequalities than ours.
Yes we do have the super rich here in the US but that is a very small percentage of the population. The middle class is the great majority here. And the middle class here gets better services than a Cuban could ever dream off.
I am not even talking about owning a home or having a car or been able to travel anywhere you wished. But just on basic services and food.
For example with regards to the statement he made about the poor here maybe he does not know that here people get help by the government (The help consist on food stamps) and help to pay the bills (Electrical and heat) etc (food stamps is equivalent to money to pay for food for the very poor) etc.
In Cuba I am sure not everyone makes 400 pesos a month. That is just an statistical mean. What that means is that their is a group of people that make hell of a lot more than that and another group that makes lots less than that.
Our discussing have been center on the “statistical mean” of 400 pesos because they are the majority.
Enero 7th, 2010 at 11:26
Julio,
I made a response to his claims.Yoani has written on the lack of these things in Cuba in previous posts. |Maybe this “Juan” should read some of the old blogs. What is really “insulting” is statements like his when we all know that they are lies and tries to twist the truth.
WHAT TELEPHONES?
WHAT WATER?
WHAT GAS?
WHAT ELECTRICITY?
WHAT HEALTH CARE?
WHAT TRANSPORT?
EDUCATION, YES! BUT YOU HAVE TO PAY “THE REAPERâ€
Enero 7th, 2010 at 11:22
Dr Freud has bring many interesting statistical information comparing the Cuba of 1959 to the modern Cuba in post 44.
So what he is showing is that before it was the same Cubans but different society at least from the economical point of view and should we say also different politically and was able to produce more real value per capita.
Talking about percapita. I have found information that mention the percapita income for Cubans to be about 4800 dollars but we know that the average Cuban does not get pay 400 dollars a month but a very debilitated Cuban peso. So my assumtion is that the rest of the money will go to pay for the “free subsidies” since in real accounting nothing is free. Someone has to pay for the doctors, the teachers and the subsidies you talk about. So there is an implicit tax in every salary pay by the Cuban goverment.
Assuming a 4800 dollars percapita and since 4800 pesos translate into about 200 dollars a year. So we get that Cubans are paying 4800-200=4600 dollars in tax for the so called benefits. Now that will be the equivalent of paying a tax of 95 percent!! And this is not even considering the quality of the services offered!
Enero 7th, 2010 at 10:57
When I say “fear” I mean to say “fair” :-) sorry I many times do lots of mistakes when I write in a rush without re reading.
Enero 7th, 2010 at 10:55
Food for thought …
What makes Cuba such a valuable target for a US attack?
Intelligence?
In relation to the new dynamics of today’s world, the Cuban intelligence may be worth “contracting” to special interest groups, perhaps some military/insurgency advisors for less than critical operations.
The relevancy once held by Cuba may no longer be as much as the regime likes to belive.
Natural resources?
The volume and variety of these resources may not justify the cost & effort necessary to be invested.
Political gain?
Can’t seem to come up with any; in the other hand I can come up with reasons why there is no poitical gain to be had.
World opinion, american’s disaproval of anything like it and the most basic … respect for the human being & his/her liberty to choose.
Enero 7th, 2010 at 10:53
Juan, I should apologize for saying this
“And you probably are going to remind me that Cuba is a 3 world country “
I should let you make your statements and not put statements you have not talk about in your mouth but emotions got the best of me! :-)
I know is very hard to not stay emotional when talking about issues we all have lived.
My purpose is to show that the so call “triumph of the revolution” are not so.
That Cubans are exploited almost as slaves.
You may not agree with my statements but let us do the math and see where we come out.
So please accept my apologies.
Enero 7th, 2010 at 10:41
Next time you go to Europe assuming you actually ever leave Miami you will get around O.67 Euro for each $1USD. So is that a 33% TAX?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is no tax involved in the transaction described above but exchange rates…….. Reasoning in this way we have to account a little detail……. the CUC’s value is an arbitrary one that is not grounded in any logical exchange rate but designed to robe the cuban people…….. no one give a peanut for a CUC outside Cuba, this invention has no real value and it only purpose is to “dollarize” the cuban economy giving the “impression” that is not the dollar but a “cuban money” that cuban people has to use in a mandatory way…… the approximately real value of the cuban money is the exchange rate between pesos and dollars (24/1) because dollars and CUC are the same thing minus the thieves tax = 10%.
About the supposedly subsides Juan related:
1959 the annual income of each cuban was 1200 pesos and the exchange rate peso/dollar was 1/1 (In the international market). You could get a peso and change it for dollar, drachmas, pesetas, yens, etc wherever in the world.
Today the annual income of each cuban is 4800 pesos and the exchange rate is 24/1 (Not in the international market what means this rate is unreal). A worker annual income is today 200 dollars
telephone: In 1959 there were 35 telephone lines per 100 people, today 15 lines per 100 people, we can say this service does not exist.
water: 1959 Cuba was a semi-industrial country with 80% of the population living in urban areas. 90% of this people had access to running water of high quality. Today only 1% of the population has access to running water and 50% has a couple of hours some days a week for filling theirs deposits of water what means 99% of the population has not running water. The quality of this water is one of the worst in the world. This service definitively does not exist.
gas: 1959 50% of the urban population has access to industrial gas. 50 years later the situation is the same.
electricity: 1959 the country generated 450 w per person, today 75 w. this service is rare.
health: 1959 one doctor per 950 cubans, today one per 740. Free health services was available for all. it service has stayed at same level.
transport: 1959 one urban bus per 300 inhabitants, today one bus per 25.000. 1959 one interurban bus per 2000 inhabitants, today one per 35.000. This service practically does not exist.
education available to all. 1959 education was free and available to all too. Same thing now than then.
Most services related does not exist today…… you can not be paid for services that does not exist Juan. Other services remain at same level than 50 years before, the cubans today earn almost no money compared with cubans in 1959……. what we needed a 50 years long and bloody tyranny for????
Enero 7th, 2010 at 09:48
By the way Juan … you had a busy Jan. 6th. three contributions to the blogg in a matter of what … 25 minutes?
I guess Los Reyes Magos brought you what you wanted, access to a computer.
Enjoy!
Enero 7th, 2010 at 09:33
Juan:
Is poverty not having sufficent food & other personal necesities due to availability?
Are poverty conditions the reason for the public services rationing & decaying infrastructure?
Is poverty the consecuence of the equalization of all citizens in Cuba?
Is poverty the fault of a failing economic model?
Is poverty the failure of a leader?
Is poverty the fault of the Cuban people?
Lastly Juan you may be tempted to blame the embargo … & the US.
But, while you are thinking of a counter argument … stop & listen.
There are a lot of countries besides the US all free to trade with Cuba.
There is nothing stopping Cuba as it stands today from a successful economy.
Since the system is right, for the last 50 years your leaders have been creating & grooming the “new man” freely.
Where are the results? where is the prosperity generated by the “new man” from the people to the people?
Where is the prosperity of a good socialist, isn’t that what it should be happening by now?
Juan, is like pointing a finger at someone … while the index goes forward … there are three fingers pointing at you ..
If you are following orders you are doing well for what you buy with your obedience.
Ignore you concience & hide your thoughts.
If you belive what you are postulating, good for you just keep in mind … everething evolves, everything changes, nothing remains the same for ever. … think hard and honestly.
Would you be ready when change happens?
Enero 7th, 2010 at 09:31
26
Julio de la Yncera
Enero 6th, 2010 at 21:46
so Juan you say 1 CUC is .90 us dollar? That is without including the 20 percent tax that the Cuban regime imposes on the dollar?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Julio ….. what our friend Juan do not get is the fact that each dollar that get in Cuba most pay a tax of 20%…….. after that the dollars must be changed for CUC…… they do not accept cubans paying in dollars…… then…… you get to change your dollars in CUCs losing 10% in this exchange what means you have to add 30% to the value in CUC of any item you buy in Cuba for getting the real price….. that’s it………. of course…… this scenario shows only the case of the approximately 2000 millions dollars sent by the cubans in USA that affects 40% of the cuban population in the island…… there is another 500 millions dollars sent by cubans living in Europa and others countries that do not send dollars but other currency that avoid the 20% of taxes but pays another % (I do not know how much) and lose 10% in the “cadecas” when exchanging, this affects another 10% of the population in the island…….. and there is another 5% that have access to dollars inside the island by working in tourism or foreign companies that pays only 10% in cadecas.
So, you have approximately 40% of the population paying 30% more for any items they buy…….. 10% of the population paying 10% more plus X% in taxes…….. and 5% of the population paying 10% more………… the rest of the population have no access to dollars.
Enero 7th, 2010 at 09:24
As for the “free health” will it be fair to say there is multiple tears in the Cuban system were some elite group gets better benefits than the rest?
Enero 7th, 2010 at 09:23
Also one other thing Juan
“Next time you go to Europe assuming you actually ever leave Miami”
do not assume that all Cubans are from miami
:-)
I am not. I live in Maryland near Washington DC.
As for the comment on Europe I have visited Europe and many other countries too. I found that Europe is quite expensive compare to the US. They make less money salary wise and are charge bigger taxes and also the products you buy over there are more expensive.
When you make comparisons between countries you can not transpose information from one country and apply to another because you are not taking into account all the factors. So is not fear to compare Europe with US in that way. Like is not fair to compare Cuba with the US or Cuba with Europe. But Considering that a person works 8 hours in Europe and the same person working 8 hours in Cuba or US should be able to get as a result of their labor the same benefits.
We know this is not so. And you probably are going to remind me that Cuba is a 3 world country and so on but I like to see how short is the average Cuban.
As for the subsidies we are talking about my intention is to prove that the subsidies are not subsidies. In fact the prices charge to a Cuban following the rationing book prices are inflated for what a Cuban salary is.
You should not expend more than 10 percent of your salary on food.
As for the other supposed “freebies” the Cuban get like health and education.
with regards to education would you admit that not everyone in Cuba goes to University? For that to happen you have to have good notes in school. Is that correct? (That was correct in my time in Cuba and I assume is still correct)
Also you can not be critical of the government or you may loose the right to education and accuse of counter revolutionary. Do you agree with that?
Enero 7th, 2010 at 08:30
Forgot to include Albert in the list of people that will engage in good dialog or debate. Hope I have not forgotten anyone else.
Enero 7th, 2010 at 08:25
with regards to telephone can we also include cell phones since many Cubans at least in Havana seem to have it.
Enero 7th, 2010 at 08:18
Juan
“What people conveniently forget when talking about the low salaries is the low(subsidised) telephone/water/gas/electricity/health/transport/education available to all. Probably 50% of the rest of the world as well as many poverty stricken US citizens would love to as “poor†as the average Cuban!”
I also need information on this things so we can talk about it. I am trusting you will give us current information and truthful information.
My intention is to compute how short a normal couple as describe below is and also figure out and translate the economical situation to our situation in the US. That can be easily done using percentages of average salaries.
In other words if one was to have the telephone, water electricity food etc
taking into account the subsidies how much this couple should make in Cuban pesos to be able to afford all of this things. This will be useful information because it will let us know for each
I do have economical information on practically all the rest of the world and yes some countries are in worst situation that Cuba but still you need to understand that is not a valid form of argument. I could explain further but just let us leave it at that for now.
As for
“citizens would love to as “poor†as the average Cuban!”
I do not see citizens of the word asking for visas to entry Cuba as immigrant.
As you probably know Cuba before 1959 was such a country. Where people from diverse places were attracted to go because of the better economical situation with respect to the rest. Not anymore.
Enero 7th, 2010 at 07:53
Humberto, Please the first rule about debate is not to insult the other person with ad hominen attacks. Just because you do not agree with things that Juan has mentioned. The procedure to follow is to prove that his statements are wrong.
So far Juan statements are valuable since he is providing us with current economical information. We are trying to make a simple economical analysis of the situation for a Cuban family of 2 individuals and a child (Husband and wife and a son)
Now Juan my understanding is that the Cuban government use to charge a 20 percent fee every time you exchange a dollar. If what you are saying is true then that is not correct anymore. Correct?
So when people enter Cuba and say they have 100 dollars they are not ask to give 20 dollars? of those one 100?
I am asking because that was happening before.
Juan with regards to the services provide or not by the Cuban government that is another topic we will discus. Again let me remind you try not let the emotions get to you and insult others with comments like “truely stupid” otherwise this becomes you attack them and they attack you and we learn nothing from that. My purpose here is to learn and find solutions. Not sure how long you have look at this blog but I am one of the regular commenter s.
Juan as to this
“It is ironic that many regular commentators here avoid any rational dialogue - a criticism they rightly or wrongly ascribe to the Cuban government.”
is not true. I think I can place myself as an example. I also believe that Andy and John Bibb and John Two and Hank and Concubino and Dr Freud will also engage in such dialog. So let’s dialog.
A first question comes to mind to clear the air.
Are you a Cuban living in Cuba?
Enero 7th, 2010 at 05:57
Does it matter if the cuc or the dollar or the peso is the monetary unit?
Does it matter that the food & clothing is not readily available?
Does it matter if services like sewer & power have been failing for years?
Does it matter that the national resources are not supporting the economy?
If as told socialism is good and the condition for its success rest in the citizen’s ability to commit, work & create as the “new man” should:
its failure to work rests with the citizens then right?
If so the citizens of Cuba are not only an ingrate towards castro &co. but ignorant and unable to decide about their own life & future.
So much so that things have not only not improved, but gor worse in the last 50 years because the citizens of Cuba.
That seems to be the castro & co’s premise (they like us to belive) …
Perhaps the posibility exists that IF the socialist model works, the leadership is not capable to work with it.
Or if socialism does not work … why keep on trying for 50 years?
Perhaps it is not the fault of the citizen but of the leader.
Consider:
the leader has not been able to make it work instead he has always blamed others: the US & its blockade, the people not doing their part, the world economy, Russia’s fall, natural disasters … on & on.
The leader has had 50 years to work it out; by his own statements: his people is behind him in support, what is going on is a streak of bad luck & the fault of the US … etc.
Nevertheless, all has failed so far, but failure has created a generation or two of entitlement dependent people, yes it created a standard of education which serves say an engineer to make a living selling boniatos or go overseas as indented servant of the state.
Subsidies are bypassed fueled by the real necessities of the people … the black markets, the left hand services … are permited because they can’t be repressed.
How important are minute details (however necesary) in a discusion of how the cuc stands to another denomination or the calorie intake of a normal Cuba?
The focus perhaps should be in thinking about solutions, about sound & reality grounded arguments in preparation for the future.
Maybe Yoani is reporting, givin a glimpse to the outside world about life in Cuba, maybe that is (along w/the other bloggers in Cuba) the job she chose.
Maybe our job is to not only help the message go around the world but begin to think & discuss what ALL of us need to do.
Start thinking about preparing, about planning, about uniting our efforts not as one mond but with one desire: Cuba’s freedom, Cuba’s life, Cuba’s future … us, our children & the generations to come … CUBA.
Enero 7th, 2010 at 01:59
Andy you couldn’t have done much research prior to your trip to Cuba if it came as a surprise that USD CASH has a 10% penalty. USD TC’s and ALL other cash currencies are converted at a rate equivalent to 90USD to 1 CUC.
And Anónimito imply that NONE of those services exist rather than to more appropriately hone in on the adequacy of those services is both dishonest and is truely stupid. I have a lot more sympathy for Yoani postion than many of her strident US supporters whose agendas are at best mixed.
It is ironic that many regular commentators here avoid any rational dialogue - a critism they rightly or wrongly ascribe to the Cuban government.
Enero 7th, 2010 at 00:39
When I was in Cuba they said the CUC was pegged to the dollar… but they paid me .80 CUCs for each dollar. Slice it however you want. There was an added “penalty” relative to the Canadian dollar… that is I was better off changing US dollars for Canadian dollars (in Canada of course) and then changing the Canadian dollars for CUCs… came out about 0.10 CUCs ahead on each dollar that way.
Enero 7th, 2010 at 00:22
***
HI JUAN–Jan. 6 @ 21:20. Read SIGMUND FREUD–Jan. 6 @ 19:45–PRICES IN CUBA. My Chihuahua dog lives better than this. The real enemy of Cubans is the guy with the beard, cigar, and weapons–not us Gringos!
***
HOLA JUAN–Enero 6 @ 21:20. Lea SIGMUND FREUD–Enero 6 @ 19:45–PRECIOS EN CUBA. Mi perro Chihuahua viva mejor que esto. El verdadero enemigo de los Cubanos es el bato con la barba, puro, y armas–no nosotros Gringos!
***
John Bibb
***
Enero 6th, 2010 at 23:48
SORRY!THAT WAS ME ON THE LAST POST! I WAS ON THE FLOOR LAUGHING AT THE STATEMENTS MADE BY THIS “JUAN” DUDE SO I FORGOT TO INPUT MY INFO! HA HA HA! I CANT GET OVER HIM!
Enero 6th, 2010 at 23:45
JUAN!HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA !! YOU IGNORANT FOOL! OR CHIVATON!
“What people conveniently forget when talking about the low salaries is the low(subsidised) telephone/water/gas/electricity/health/transport/education available to all. Probably 50% of the rest of the world as well as many poverty stricken US citizens would love to as “poor†as the average Cuban!”
WHAT TELEPHONES?
WHAT WATER?
WHAT GAS?
WHAT ELECTRICITY?
WHAT HEALTH CARE?
WHAT TRANSPORT?
EDUCATION, YES! BUT YOU HAVE TO PAY “THE REAPER”
This guy is TOOO STUPID to add anything more!!HA HA HA!!
Enero 6th, 2010 at 22:45
Julio - the exchange rate plus a 3% bank charge (if you actually travel to other countries you would know that a 3% charge for changing from one currency to another is the lowest you will get anywhere in the world)means that for every 1USD you get approx. 0.90CUC. I am not sure how that translates into a “20% tax”?? Read what I actually wrote in 22. And yes 400CUP buys 16.67CUC.Could I live on that? - No. But then I pay more than a $1.60USD for a lb of pork and more than $0.90USD for a can of beer!
Next time you go to Europe assuming you actually ever leave Miami you will get around O.67 Euro for each $1USD. So is that a 33% TAX?
What people conveniently forget when talking about the low salaries is the low(subsidised) telephone/water/gas/electricity/health/transport/education available to all. Probably 50% of the rest of the world as well as many poverty stricken US citizens would love to as “poor” as the average Cuban!
Enero 6th, 2010 at 21:56
So Juan if your information is correct 400 CUP (Cuban Pesos) will be about 16 CUC.
Last time I check from the statistical information provided by Cuba
that was the average salary of a Cuban.
Enero 6th, 2010 at 21:46
so Juan you say 1 CUC is .90 us dollar? That is without including the 20 percent tax that the Cuban regime imposes on the dollar?
Enero 6th, 2010 at 21:43
Juan it is known the Cuban goverment charges a 20 percent fee on dollars change to CUC
that is why I computed 1 dollar equal .80 CUC
and I was asking if that was correct. Did you see the question mark?
As you could probably guess I do not live in Cuba in fact for just a bit more than 20 years.
Thank you for giving me the information!
Enero 6th, 2010 at 21:36
Communism is a moral disorder, not a psychiatric one. Evil is not a disease.
Enero 6th, 2010 at 21:25
Julio and Sigmund your knowledge of Cuban money is somewhat sparse.
ICUC is equivalent to approx.90UScents(not 80 unless you are exchanging USD cash)
1 CUC will buy 24 CUP. 25CUP are required to buy 1CUC. In Cuban Cadecas.
Enero 6th, 2010 at 21:20
John Bibb
“They were necessary then–we were in a war. But Cuba does not have true foreign enemies.”
My god what do you call the USA if not an enemy? A country that persists in listing Cuba as on eof the few terrorist nations in the world!!
Enero 6th, 2010 at 21:01
So A normal person will make around 20 CUC total
subtracting the 20 percent to pay of rationed food that will be about 4 CUC
so they will have about 16 CUC they will have to use to pay for cloth, shoes, electrical bill, gas, phone or cell phone,
How do they make it?
Impossible with Cuban standard salaries!
Enero 6th, 2010 at 20:46
Here is the post from one of the Havana time writters where is talks about making less than 20 cuc a month and having to pay 20 cuc for shoes that break in a month!!
http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=17727
I guess people will only work to pay for those shoes!!
Enero 6th, 2010 at 20:24
Anyone knows the exchange rate now from CUC to dollar and from Cuban pesos to dollar?
Is it 23 Cuban pesos for one CUC?
and 1 dollar equals 80 cents CUC?
Enero 6th, 2010 at 19:45
PRICES IN CUBA
cubano viejo
December 7th, 2009 at 16:53
This prices are according an invoice that Cubano Viejo (a commenter in the spanish site) brought after visiting Cuba last year in November.
The prices are in “CUC” (cuban convertible coin) equivalents to 0.80 US cents. So to convert the prices to dollars you have to ad 20% of the value.
Soy oil, 1 liter, 1.15 cuc
Mineral Water produced in Cuba (Portales or Ciego Montero) 5 liters 1.90 cuc
Shampoo Sedal, 500 g, 2.25 cuc
Conditioner, 500 g, 3.45 cuc
Condensed milk, 396 g, 1.10 cuc
Chicken leg (freeze) 1 kg, 4.45 cuc
1 mope, 0.85 cuc
Chocolate, Nutrichoco 400 g, 2.35 cuc
Dish soap, 500 g, 0.95 cuc
Meat, 1 kg, 14.70 cuc
Tomatoes sauce, 500 g, 1.40 cuc
Ketchup, 320 g, 2.85 cuc
Spaghetti, 500 g, 0.90 cuc
Malt drink, 6 ounces, 0.45 cuc the bottle
3 ice cream cones, 100 g each, 4.65 cuc
National beer, 1 can, 1 cuc
The produces related above were bought in a state market with CUC
The produce related below were bought in the free farmers market with pesos (28 pesos = 1 dollar):
Pork, 1 pound, 35 pesos
Pineapple (small) 10 pesos
Avocado medium 10 pesos
Petit pois (chicharos), 3.50 lbs
Potatoes (a very rare produce) 1 lbs, 1 peso (when it shows up)
Enero 6th, 2010 at 18:57
So assuming this as 35 percent we are missing a 65 percent to completed the diet.
Even if we assume they will get the food at this price something totally impossible
that will consume 40 percent more of their salary so the total expenditure just in food just assuming this same price for food will be about 60 percent of their income!!
As we know the cost of food in the black market or the farm markets is much higher than this. So no wonder these people have to steal from the government!
Still I know of many who would not do such things.
Enero 6th, 2010 at 18:42
I have just calculated the total calories of the monthly ration (a rough estimate of course). It is 27,698 calories, or 923 a day. (Assuming all the products in the ration book are available in the stores. I did not count the extras.)
For a 150 pound man who sleeps 8 hours, sits around for 8 hours, and engages in light exercise for 8 hours: This is about 35% of his daily caloric need of 2600 calories.
For the same man with a moderately active job — 20% of daily need
For a 100 pound blogger who walks everywhere, but otherwise sits at her computer — 40% of her daily need
Enero 6th, 2010 at 17:16
So Sigmund the total cost for just one individual is about
39.00 pesos for a week of subsidize food. A normal person in Cuba will make about 400.00 Cuban pesos a month that will be about 10 percent of his/her salary for just one week!
Now how about the food for the other 3 weeks of the month
Do you know the price on the farmer’s market?
What will be the price for all this items in the market in Cuba (Shopping)?
And the price for electricity, gas, transportation.
That will help us figure how short are they every month.
Assuming a couple with two kids and both parents working they both be paying about 20 percent of their salaries in just subsidize food.
To bring this into perspective let us assume an standard average American who makes 44 thousand dollars a years. Receive a subsidy in food that only covers one week of feeding for the family and consumes 20 percent of the income so 20 percent of 44,000.00 a year is about 3333.00 a month and 20 percent of that is 666.66 dollars!
So they pay more for their subsidized food percentage wise than the average family in the US for their food of the whole month!!
Why then call it a subsidy?
Enero 6th, 2010 at 16:08
6 Greg
Enero 6th, 2010 at 14:01
This is the nominal list and amount of produces a person can get in a MONTH. In the reality much of this produces can fail to show up in the market and you will pass the month with the deficit:
-Chicken, 1/2 lb (227 g), 70 cents/lb.
-Freeze fish, 10 ounces (283,8 g), 40 cents.
-Ground meat (Soy imitation), 1/2 lb (227 g), 35 cents (this imitation is replaced 2 times a year by hot dogs, 5 hot dogs per person, 1,20 pesos)
-Eggs, 10 unities per person, 90 cents each
-Rice, 5 lb (3.689 g), 25 cents, some times 2 additional pounds 90 cents each
-Beans, 20 ounces (567,6 g), 32 cents.
-”Cocking Oil”. Hydrogenated oil, so dangerous to the health that almost all countries in the world has it forbidden for human consumption, 1/2 lb (227 g), 40 cents.
-Refined Sugar, 3 lb (1,362 kilos), 40 cents and Brown Sugar 2 lb (908 g), 10 cents each.
-Potatoes, 2 lb (908 g), 40 cents each.
-Spaghetti, 1/2 lb (227 g), 90 centavos.
-Cookies, 1/2 lb (227 g), 65 cents.
-Soap, 2 unities, 25 cents.
-Liquid Soap, 1 bottle per family.
-Tooth paste, 1 tube for 5 person.
-Coffee, 4 ounces (113,52 g), 5 pesos.
-Chocolate, 3,5 ounces (100 g), 8 pesos.
-Yogurt, for children between 7 and 13 years, 1 liter, 1 peso.
-Milk, for children under 7 years, 1 liter daily, 1 peso. Pulverize milk, for people over 65 years, 1 liter, 50 cents.
-Bread (an imitation made of pulverized sweet potatoes), 150 g, 30 cents
This is the basket for a month but in the reality it is only enough for a week.
Enero 6th, 2010 at 15:38
Dr Sigmund Freud
I think the Castros ailment is called on popular terms
God Complex what in technical terms is call Narcissistic personality disorder.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N.....y_disorder
This are the conditions to qualify in this personality disorder
as for the subtype I think it will be
unprincipled narcissist
do you concur with my diagnosis?
:-)
1. has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements)
2. is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love
3. believes that he or she is “special” and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions)
4. requires excessive admiration
5. has a sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations
6. is interpersonally exploitative, i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends
7. lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others
8. is often envious of others or believes others are envious of him or her
9. shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes
Is my diagnosis correct about the Castros?
Enero 6th, 2010 at 15:30
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Julio Rey and Protagonists, Mario Del Sol. Mario Del Sol said: Three generations http://bit.ly/5kgqLk [...]
Enero 6th, 2010 at 14:54
Why are Cubans trap in such poverty?
Answer
Because the Castros can control better people that are dependent (poor) of them so they can be seen as saviors and “life givers”!
This is type of abhorrent paternalistic behavior of the Cuban regime. They make it look like they are doing some humanitarian act on the very poor but what this really is a way of creating loyalty by appearing as a father protector figure of the weak. When in reality this is self serving behavior by the regime to keep power and control.
Accepting such form of paternalism gives them the implicit authority to also act as the severe fathers when people are not supportive of their decisions.
As they say nothing is free in life. Sooner or later you will be ask to support something you may not personally approve of.
Before they were able to give more subsides in exchange for loyalties. Now the subsides are decreasing is logical to expect that the loyalties will also decrease.
The regime produce the poor Cubans by eliminating private initiative. They were so successful producing poor Cubans that their system is one of total dependency of people from the state. At least the great majority of them. So in this style of Castro communism what is essential is to keep people in this very poor conditions and of total dependency as to gain their unconditional support for whatever tasks!
So a few dollars here and there as stimulus for the hard workers or the lap dog is seen as something extraordinary among such poverty!
Time and time again comes to mind
Slavery.
Those so call “gifts of the revolution” are nothing else but chains to tie and bind Cubans to them.
Enero 6th, 2010 at 14:47
“Socialism advocates an egalitarian society where everyone shares equal wealth and power.”
If the above is true, I would like to see the day that Fidel & Raúl, open their bank accounts in Switzerland to share it with the rest of the Cuban population.
I also would like to see a photo-copy of the “Ration Book” (I know it does not exist) of all members of the Communist Central Committee, beginning with Fidel and ending with the last member of their Geriatric group of abusers.
Enero 6th, 2010 at 14:23
Kent@ #8
You are right ther is a need for kindered spirits, for a good will, borne with love, respect & tolerance.
Your kindness does not get lost, it speaks of who you are & who you serve.
Thank you for the reimder to our faith!
Enero 6th, 2010 at 14:17
It saddens me to read of such an impoverished state, especially knowing that it is an island only 90 miles from the shores of my own. There is no doubt in my mind that democracy and a free market could bring greater material prosperity to the people of Cuba.
However, I remind myself that although democracy and a free market may be necessary, they are not sufficient. We have many neighbors to the south who have reasonably free elections and open markets. Nonetheless, prosperity is the exception rather than the rule.
My prayer for Cuba is that all will come to know the grace of God and will seek to serve rather than to plunder. We in the U.S. struggle and often fail to keep our focus on God. We must all remember His exhortation: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
(Matthew 6:32-34)
Enero 6th, 2010 at 14:13
***
I remember ration books during WW2–when I was a child. They were necessary then–we were in a war. But Cuba does not have true foreign enemies. The Castro brothers are the enemy of the Cuban People. Most photos of Cuban kids show lack of enough good food. They are very thin with red eyes sunken in their faces. The King and his princes live very well. Socialism and communism provide a much poorer life for the people–except for the government.
***
Recuerdo los libros de “raciones” durante la guerra mundial II–cuando estuve un nino. Estaban necessarios en esta tiempo–estabamos en una guerra. Pero Cuba no tiene veredaderos enemigos extranjeros. Los hermanos Castros son los enemigos de la Gente Cubano. La mayoria de los photos de ninos Cubanos muestran una falta de bastante buena comida. Son muy flacos con los ojos rojos y hundidas en las caras. El Rey y sus principes viven muy bien. Socialismo y communismo providan una vida mas pobre por la gente–con excepcion del gobierno.
***
John Bibb
***
Enero 6th, 2010 at 14:01
Sorry, I had my email wrong.
Question: How much food is each person allowed to get per month, how much rice, beans, butter, oil, meat, milk etc
Thank you!
Greg Testa
ogunquitMaine@gmail.com
PS I am trying to locate the email address for Dr Fernando Barral, of Cactus 33 Restaurant. I went to that restaurant in 2005. I lost his email.
again, thank you!
Enero 6th, 2010 at 13:58
Hola!
What do you get for the month? e.g., how much chicken, meat, rice, beans, sugar etc do Cuband get??
Thank you
PS I like your blog!
Enero 6th, 2010 at 13:49
Ricardo #2
With the coming of the Robolution, Cuba was suppose to become a model for Socialism, instead it has become of model of Apartheids.
Enero 6th, 2010 at 13:05
With tonge in cheek I wonder how does raul & fidel’s book looks like?
All the aparatniks or at least most of them have a different diet & standard of living.
For the regular cuban that may be a different song, remembering Batista, the hunger was different, the hope for change was mayor.
Here we are years later, eating rotten potatoes, buying from “the left” & the “black market” (in its many forms), wearing shoes that last 3 months using toothpaste (one of guevara’s gifts) that stinks & soap that crumbles.
But … “we are doing fine”
The subsidy as a means of equalizing the social benefits against the privilerdges of the few … ?
This is what makes my faith shake in anger at times … the reminder, the extent of this parasitos whom have the gall to call gusano anyone lucky to be able to leave …
Enero 6th, 2010 at 12:51
Olá,
I Love haney….
Posso falar em Portugues my English is bad….
I am History Teacher’s,
eu amei seu blog…
parabéns pelas denuncias…
sempre acreditei que o Regime Fidelista era um modelo para o Socialismo…
Tank You…
I Lovin….rsrsrs…..kissess
Enero 6th, 2010 at 12:49
This is from the last post debate
Thanks Albert for your comment!
One more on the hostage analogy.
You guys are probably familiar with what is call the Stockholm syndrome. Where the hostage show signs of loyalty to hostage-taker.
Dr Freud, I wonder if there is something we can do from the psychological point of view to get the hostage in that situation of to wake up?
This fragment is from the wikipedia entry
The Stockholm syndrome is a psychological shift that occurs in captives when they are threatened gravely but are shown acts of kindness by their captors. Captives who exhibit the syndrome tend to sympathize with and think highly of their captors, at times believing that the captors are showing them favor stemming from inherent kindness. Such captives fail to recognize that their captors’ choices are essentially self-serving. When subjected to prolonged captivity, these captives can develop a strong bond with their captors, in some cases including a sexual interest.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockholm_syndrome