In the weeks following Fidel Castro's death we've heard historically weak assessments of the leader the Fidel Castro was, lionizing of the wonders of Cuban race relations, health and literacy efforts under the dictatorship of the Castro brothers. In the west, revolutionaries have been romanticized along with the socialist platforms that on the surface appear to help the tired masses make it through a tough life.
Had anyone taken the time to do their homework, it would be clear the former dictator deserves no such recognition.
Race Relations
While not the most touted benefit of the political and social system of Cuba, the race relationships there are oft mentioned, enough so that it's worth taking a look. As of May 2016, all of Cuba's nomenclatura was Hispanic or Caucasion decent....100%, yep that's right. Not one single Black person could be found in the Senior ranks of the one party system of the government. How's that for race relations? Additionally, numerous blacks could be found at a disproportionate rate in the country's prisons. Though obviously the government doesn't report on it there are numerous examples to be found. Race relations I guess are best when the minority races are kept out of governing positions. Is that the conclusion we should gain from this?
Literacy
There are some truths to the talk on Cuban literacy. Under the Batista regime literacy rates were reportedly as low as 30%. In Cuba now, literacy rates are reported to be 99% or higher. The Cuban government has clearly made efforts to improve literacy rates. But Cuban literacy rates are higher than the US!! Maybe, maybe not. The standards of measure for literacy used in the US and the ones Cuba uses, if you can even trust what the Cubans say, are much different. After brief periods of education and reading at a rough equivalent 1st or 2nd grade level, Cubans are determined to be literate. Whereas in the US a basic level of reading is considered to be roughly 4th grade and higher and is reported to be 86%. No one knows the real literacy rates based on the same standards. According to the Washington Post, by societal and relative measures, America is #7 in literacy rates and Cuba is not in the top 50. So apparently, it takes a murdering dictator to improve literacy rates in Cuba from 30% into somewhere comparable to any number of countries that don't have murdering dictators.
Health
Again, an improvement from Batista, but something like saying that getting shot in the head is better than being drawn and quartered. Let's take a look.
The Cuban health care system is broken into three tiers.
One is governmental for profit effort. Medical travel. Foreigners come to Cuba and for cash the Cubans perform medical procedures at a level comparabe to the finest western medical care. That's all good, but doesn't say much for socialist system.
The second is essentially healthcare for the government and party members. Yeah, the one that doesn't allow blacks to participate. Again, fine healthcare for anyone at the right levels of the party or government that is similar to any western healtcare you can find and it is all provided for free. Yep, that's right if you are a member of the nomenclatura, the one that doesn't allow minorities in it's ranks or just regular members of society, you can get free healthcare.
The third level is everyone else. What kind of care do you get? Bring your own supplies. Yep, you heard it. BYOMS, bring your own medical supplies. Healthcare at the bottom rung of anything you can find anywhere on earth. Ironic given all we hear about the wonders of Cuban healthcare.
Infant mortality rates in Cuba? Among the best in the world. Yes, that's right...the best in the world.
Ohhhh, but wait a second. That child died 23 hours after birth so it doesn't count. Yes, thats right. If a child dies within 24 hours of birth it's not counted as an infant mortality. It's like a miracle of nature. Death doesn't actually happen within 24 hours of birth.
Ohhh and guess what else. Forced abortion if your child has a health condition or you are considered a high risk for giving birth. The good news though is that this is part of that healthcare system everyone keeps talking about and the government provides all the supplies for this one. Abortion rates in Cuba.....7 out of 10 pregnancies....yes, 7 out of 10 pregnancies, among the highest in the world.
BUT BUT.....Life Expectancy is very very high in Cuba, that shows healthcare is good!!
Well, let's take a look at that shall we?
Suicides don't count against life expectancy in Cuba, (Cuba is ranked 28th in suicide rate, where Canada and US are ranked 41st and 43rd respectively)
Remember that child that died right after birth...oh yeah, that also doesn't count.
Remember 7 out of 10 abortions all those people with congenital defects or high risk pregnancies, they get killed before birth, so they don't count!!
Michael Moore, while being a talented film director is a complete and utter moron, played like a fiddle at the hands of the Castro's.
President Obama, Justin Trudeau and other leaders across the world are all a bunch of fools pedaling a false narrative of the benefits and ideals that Cuba brings to it's citizens and the world.
Forget about the over one million people that have fled the island since Castro took over, forget about the well documented atrocities that have occurred at the hands of the Casto's. Look at the hypocrisy of our western leaders in wiping this information aside and attempting to paint a narrative that shows there is somehow some romantic benefit to the disctatorship on the island. It's utterly ridiculous.
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