Castro’s Cuba Expands Its Private Sector
- Posted on September 24, 2010 at 5:25pm by
Meredith Jessup
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Shake-ups continue in Cuba after the communist government announced it would be shedding half a million state jobs. For the first time in decades, the Cuban government says it will allow individuals to work for themselves in 178 various private sector activities — with the ability to hire their own employees and access credit — according to guidelines published Friday.
The Cuban government has not granted new licenses for private sector work in years, according to CNN. But many Cubans will now be permitted to be “self-employed carpenters, restaurateurs, barbers and even salsa dancers.” Without new licensing, the number of Cuba’s self-employed had dwindled to just 143,000 out of the country’s 5.1 million-strong workforce.
Granma is the publication of the Communist Party and one of the principal ways the government communicates with the people. The paper promised more details in coming days, saying that the expanded private enterprise would be “another opportunity, under the watchful eye of the state” to “improve the quality of life of Cubans.”
Currently, Cuba’s government dictates nearly every aspect of the Cuban economy, employing at least 84 percent of the workforce and paying an average salary of about $20 a month. In return, Cubans receive education and health care from the state, as well as cheap housing, transportation and basic food.
Friday‘s new guidelines are the most dramatic step yet by President Raul Castro to reshape the country’s stagnate economy, but he insists the socialist system will not be altered.
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Red Neckerson
Posted on September 26, 2010 at 3:18amCuba has figured out that communism does not work and now the Obamaites want to make us a communist nation, go figure.
Report Post »tatankachief
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 7:40amThere ya go Mr. Oblamer … another Communist / Socialist success story. Sounds like a good fit for you and your radical cabinet.
Report Post »Polwatcher
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 11:05amActually is is good fit if B.O.’s goal is to take down the USA.
Report Post »RightPolitically
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 11:23pmObama take note!
Report Post »RESTORATION1787
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 11:14pmOnce the fire of Communism has consumed everything possible, Through the ashes, capitalism always rises.
Report Post »JRAGWEED
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 7:01amYeah right, but it‘s that pesky 100 years of peasant ville and servitude before getting freedom back that’s a real bummer…..
Report Post »ILOVEGLENNBECK
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 10:53pmCuba better secure it’s borders!
Report Post »psst
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 10:45pmOh Damn. Now there won’t be any cars left on the streets in downtown Havana.or the whole of Cuber ( a lil’ JFK lingo) for that matter. Unless unca Fidel say they can be driven on rims.
Report Post »All the tires will be taken off, the inner-tubes blown up and sold for 1/ 4 Lb O Beans.Miami here they come.The Florida Strait will be jammed w/ Inner-tube cruises.
TV and radio adv will shout. Get away from the hustle and bustle of Paradise Island,Fine Cuberan Seegars and Cuberan Rum.Just kidding, you-all could not afford those.. But anyway, take an Inner-tube Cruise..See how the Evil Capital;ists lives.Whilst they are still capitalists.left. All for 1/4 Lb O beans. or rice. Even a piece O pickled pig tail will do.
Ooops.. Sorry!! fergitboutit.. I forgot to remember. Unca Fidel did not say they could leave.
Bummer.
ClockKing
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 10:21pmI’ll believe it when Castro and his successor (likely his brother) are dead and cold. Even when one dictator dies, it take the power elites one more turn before they surrender to reform, just like in the old USSR and PRC.
Report Post »jackact
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 9:36pmAdd your comments
Report Post »puck30
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 8:04pmCould it be that when Castro was near death not long ago he had a spiritual visitor.
Report Post »Boojer56
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 7:56pmThats funny I thought according to Michael Moore it was a paradise over there and their healthcare system was top notch, except for the lack of air conditioning, emergency power generators. Minor things. Of course they do drive those cool old cars from the 50s they don’t go very fast as they use forklift engines to power them
Report Post »Viana
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 7:21pmAre you paying attention? Did you hear what the barber said: He rather work for the government because now HE HAS TO WORK!! he has to attract clients, pay rent, llicenses, employees if he gets any and then pay the government TAXES!!! Ha! 50 years vegetating under the sun, no incentives to do better, improve or progress, because the government took care of the rest, little as they get, but they didn’t have to bother, this is the gneration that accepted it, bent their knees and did what they were told, they attended the meetings and went to the demonstrations, now that he should be thinking of retiring, he has to start all over and compete with the younger generation, full of energy and ideas and goals to improve and get a better status of living. Maybe the physicians will get back some dignity. Ah!!! the joys of tiranny gone bankrupt!!!
Report Post »tankchaser
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 5:57pmCuba’s government dictates nearly every aspect of the Cuban economy, employing at least 84 percent of the workforce and paying an average salary of about $20 a month. In return, Cubans receive education and health care from the state, as well as cheap housing, transportation and basic food.
Sounds like Obama’s future plans for America. Ask yourself, what is basic food? What is cheap housing? Transportation probably bicycle or LPC leather personnel carrier, shoes? Education and health care I am sure that’s world class also. No rationing or waiting if your one of the elite of Cuba.
Under the watchful eye of the state” to “improve the quality of life of Cubans.” Yes I am sure the Cuban government would keep a watchful eye on the private enterprises, that way when they start making some real money it can be confiscated or taxed away by the state.
Obama and his accomplices get their way and that’s what we are looking at. Strange isn’t it, the rest of the world seems to be realizing that Communism doesn’t work and America is sprinting toward it at breakneck speed.
Report Post »spendthrift
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 7:05pmWell stated RV.WC !
Report Post »broker0101
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 5:50pmI await the NAACP and AFL-CIO’s leap to action in defense of the hard-working “public-sector” Cubans’ abuse by the….. Wait, by whom are they being abused again?
Report Post »Chapulin81
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 5:47pmWhat we will learn later on is that in order to obtain the Cuban Private Sector classification, the Cuban government will probably demand some sort of licensing fee and possibly a large percentage of the earnings will go back to the government, leaving the population back to the $20.00 a month. The funds collected will then be redistributed accordingly. For some reason this possible process feels pretty familiar….
Report Post »carol m
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 5:43pmUnbelievable, the rest of the world has figured out that communism/socialism/markism doesn’t work. So what does Obama do he rushes right in to pick up where they left off. Obama should be tried for treason!
Report Post »Beckofile
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 6:17pmYes the rest of the world would like to partake in a little prosperity but for us our leaders believe we need to give up our prosperity for others to take our place. While the rest of the world (China) goes capitalist we will go with big government that wishes to redistribute your childrens money to overseas people. It is sad but the citizens here voted for this sad situation.
Report Post »pajamash
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 6:28pmCarol – Haven’t you noticed? Obama always is reactive instead of proactive. Took him too long to get down to The Gulf. Took too long to get engaged with the disaster. He took too long to make a statement about the Ground Zero Mosque then had to be reactive when he put his foot in his mouth. Many more examples abound.
Report Post »carol m
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 9:34pmBeck I wonder if our citizens really did vote them in? I truely think that a much closer eye has to be kept on all voting tabulations this year more than any other it is that important. Besides, I bet alot of conservatives felt defeated so they figured why go out and vote. This could have turned out so differently. Maybe this is a good thing because it woke up a sleeping giant. Maybe there is still time I so hope so for my kids and all the kids of the country.
Paja, I am not understanding your point, please expound.
Report Post »jackact
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 9:36pmObama’s mission was launched over 100 years ago. The scourge of world communism does not just give up and run away. Even when faced with obvious failures, like most of Europe for example, they press on unfazed. Obama wants a one world government/order that he and his enablers, the ruling class, can control. This has been their goal for generations. This has always been the world mission of communism. They are not rational like us. Their blood lust for complete control will never cease. We can slow them down on Nov. 2, 2010 and derail them substantially on Nov. 2012.
Report Post »Have faith.
Darkwolfe
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 10:09pmAnd a good many SEIU, Big Labor, ACORN, and other Soros dependants should be under heavy heavy investigation leading to charges of treason also since their activities are clearly intended to subvert our Constitution and destroy the United States.
Any time you see those logos, keep your hand on your wallet and your firearm free in its holster. I fully expect them to try something extremely nasty within the year. Beck’s “Reichstag Fire” even most likely.
Report Post »ne14puertorican
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 5:34pmIf Fidel finally gets it, it‘s amazing Obama doesn’t.
Report Post »AMERICA4EVER
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 5:33pmWe”ll see, the jury is still out on Cuba, but now that Russia dumped them, I guess it is time to try good old, proven capitalism.
Report Post »Rev. WC
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 5:53pmI’d like to make you a business offer…
Seriously. This is a real offer. In fact, you really can’t turn me down, as you’ll come to understand in a moment.
Here’s the deal. You’re going to start a business or expand the one you’ve got now. It doesn’t really matter what you do or what you’re going to do. I’ll partner with you no matter what business you’re in — as long as it’s legal.
But I can’t give you any capital — you have to come up with that on your own.
I won’t give you any labor — that’s definitely up to you.
What I will do, however, is demand you follow all sorts of rules about what products and services you can offer, how much (and how often) you pay your employees, and where and when you’re allowed to operate your business. That’s my role in the affair: to tell you what to do.
Now in return for my rules, I’m going to take roughly half of any profits you make in the business each year. Half seems fair, doesn’t it? I think so. Of course, that’s half of your profits.
You’re also going to have to pay me about 12 percent of whatever you decide to pay your employees, because you’ve got to cover my expenses for promulgating all of the rules about who you can employ, when, where, and how. Come on, you’re my partner. It’s only “fair.”
Now… after you’ve put your hard-earned savings (capital) at risk to start this business, and after you’ve worked hard at it for a few decades (paying me my 50 percent or a bit more along the way each year), you might decide you’d like to cash out — to finally live the good life.
Whether or not this is “fair” — some people never can afford to retire — is a different argument. As your partner, I’m happy for you to sell whenever you’d like… because our agreement says, if you sell, you have to pay me an additional 20-35 % (percent) of whatever the capitalized value of the business is at that time.
I know… I know… you put up all the original capital. You took all the risks. You put in all of the labor. That’s all true. But I’ve done my part, too. I’ve collected 50 percent of the profits each year. And I’ve always come up with more rules for you to follow each year. Therefore, I deserve another, final 20-35 % percent slice of the business.
Oh… and one more thing…
Even after you’ve sold the business and paid all of my fees, I’d recommend buying lots of life insurance. You see, even after you’ve been retired for years, when you die, you’ll have to pay me 50 percent of whatever your estate is worth.
After all, I’ve got lots of partners and not all of them are as successful as you and your family. We don’t think it’s “fair” for your kids to have such a big advantage. But if you buy enough life insurance, you can finance this expense for your children.
All in all, if you’re a very successful entrepreneur … if you’re one of the rare, lucky, and hard-working people who can create a new company, employ lots of people, and satisfy the public … you’ll end up paying me more than 75 percent of your income over your life. Thanks so much.
I’m sure you’ll think my offer is reasonable and FAIR & that you will happily partner with me …
but it doesn’t really matter how you feel about it, because if you ever try to stiff me — or cheat me on any of my fees or rules — and notwithstanding that Sen. Reid says that the payment of income tax is “voluntary” I have the power and right to knock down your door in the middle of the night, threaten you and your family with heavy, automatic weapons, and throw you in jail.
That’s how civil society is supposed to work, right? This is America, isn’t it?
That’s the offer America gives its entrepreneurs. And the idiots in Washington wonder why there are no new jobs.
Report Post »Zorro6821
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 6:13pmFolks, I hate to break it to you. Stop worrying about Castro and his little communist regime, It means nothing in real economic or miltary terms and virtually is NO threat to America, Our elites use Castro as a diversion. Our Great Capitalism has been out sourced to Communist China with tremendous fervor, under Bush 1, Clinton, Bush 2 and now Obama. So good old Capitalism really doesn’t seem to be working all that well. Folks the ship has sailed and we are just ranting about Cuba and missing the elephant in the room. Castro not so scarey China very scarey.
Zorro
Zorro
Report Post »LBreath
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 6:15pmNice story Rev, but what has it got to do with Cuba?
Report Post »tepartyblog.info
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 6:58pmi think the radical change in cuba is just on more thing we can blame the tea party for. WE ARE GLOBAL.
Report Post »baldwin4freedom
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 8:18pm@LBREATH
REV is showing the parallels between the USA and cuba. Cuba claims to be increasing private sector growth, but you cannot have a sustainable growth when the government still has a large say in how and what you do. It is obvious and very SIMPLE.
Report Post »Cynic-clinic
Posted on September 24, 2010 at 9:44pmHOO-RAY Rev-Wc—you nailed it. That’s a summary of life in the private sector where we take all the risks, we create jobs and the government, who created no part of our enterprise, takes most of the wealth we create. They even believe that all our profit belongs to them and they argue among themselves about how much of it they can steal from us before we no longer elect them.
Report Post »PostProgressiveAmerican
Posted on September 25, 2010 at 5:59amThanks Rev…looks like we ar emoving to be more like Cuba while they are trying to be more like us. Won’t be long before Cuba is more free than America.
By the way, I sure hope the administration sent a secret envoy to Cuba when Castro told the reported that communism had failed – there was an opportunity to promote democracy and the free market…oh wait, that would assume the Administration actually wants that. My bad.
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