"Honestly, I don't see much difference between him and Democrats. From CNN:

"But Castro's defenders in Cuba point to what they see as social progress, including racial integration, universal education and health care.""
Castro was from the Old Guard of socialism, a proponent of Soviet-style communism, and the very last face of Marxism. Even those who call themselves socialists wouldn't touch Marx with a 10-foot pole. Look at António Guterres, for that example. The difference between Castro's ideologies and those of everyone else (especially American political parties) is magnificent. To put the two together as the same is a great display of the death of Marxism.

The difference between nominal and PPP per-capita GDP is substantial. That's most likely where the discrepancy between Jamie and civwarbuff is coming from.

Anyway, re: civwarbuff's GDP graph, it's worth noting that Cuba's economic issues had a lot to do with being on the side of the Soviet Union. The large drop in the early '90s is directly tied to the loss of their biggest ally and trading partner, which kinda matters when no one else is selling you oil. And the US responded by *expanding* economic sanctions in '92.

Just to butt in on the data issue - in general, research into Soviet Bloc countries comes with a large grain of salt due to the unreliability of the data sources. Similar to China today, where more reliable figures for output are based off of energy consumption and port traffic than the government released GDP figures.

Second, on the comparisons, an equivalent to what you all are saying is "Japan isn't that bad. It has higher GDP per capita than its neighbors, better healthcare, etc etc" but nobody would say Japan has performed to potential over the last 25 years. That's why economists use potential GDP figures to find the output gap with a nation. If you truly want to compare Cuba to its neighbors, you have to take that into account - because it started off on such a higher level

Good fucking riddance. Now it's his brothers turn to keel over.

The guy wanted to incite the Soviets into nuclear war against the US. Healthcare doesn't matter when everyone is dead.

he wanted that when the US threatened Cuba invasion and prepared Playa Girón

*bay of pigs

@bosx I'm certain it was just out of a pure desire to provide radio-oncological treatment to everybody.

no, it just happens he was evil

@civwarbuff what was the point of having an "advanced and successful" economy when an overwhelming population of the people had nothing? I'd prefer a decent education and healthcare rather than live in filth while my government is doing great with its "advanced and successful" economy.

No, principians, he did not threaten that before Bay of Pigs. After the invasion, and after it was pretty well known that both Kennedy and Khrushchev were looking for a peaceful solution, he sent a direct letter to Khrushchev suggesting that the USSR should launch nuclear missiles on the United States so that they had the first shot. He thought he was living in some apocalyptic nightmare to the point that he holed up in a bunker for some time. He literally had no idea what was going on around him.

X3n0n?
It's been a while since we've seen you around here.

and it'll be a while again very soon :)

@principians :My Head of State, the President of Ireland, respectfully disagrees

http://www.president.ie/en/media-library/news-releases/statement-by-president-michael-d.-higgins-on-the-death-of-fidel-castro

@bo "I believe the imperialists' aggressiveness is extremely dangerous and if they actually carry out the brutal act of invading Cuba in violation of international law and morality, that would be the moment to eliminate such danger forever through an act of clear legitimate defense, however harsh and terrible the solution would be," He had been already received an invasion attempt. Bay of Pigs did happen before that.

@Orothaic, spare me the read by telling me first, disagree on what? I may note that one of my comments above was rather sarcastic, so I'd like to be sure

Yes, principians, Bay of Pigs happened before he asked the Soviets.

@ora ... your Head of State contradicts himself:

""Fidel Castro will be remembered as a giant among global leaders whose view was not only one of freedom for his people but for all of the oppressed and excluded peoples on the planet."

"The economic and social reforms introduced were at the price of a restriction of civil society, which brought its critics."

He should pick one narrative.

My grandmother is so happy. She escaped as a 6 year old girl from cuba

Fidel should be saluted for the enormous strides Cuba made in healthcare and education despite the US blockade. Some libertarians and Reagan-worshippers forget that having good standards of education and health actually improve your satisfaction in life.

Nothing says fairness and respect for the people quite like a dictators who pass the burden of of power from one family member to another. The thought occurs that if Cubans were so satisfied then Castro wouldn't have had anything to fear from elections.

People aren't meant to stay in power for that long. People remember the bad far more easily than the good (see: 201

6 US Presidential election). /endpost

201 what?

2016 Presidential Election..... as what? Evidence why Cuba is no less democratic than the USA?

In actual fact the evidence of the most recent US Presidential election is that Cuba is considerably more democratic than the USA, for what it's worth.

Evidence that "people remember the bad far more easily than the good." Reading comprehension, Jamie.

@Principians, the evil comment.

These threads are always useful to help us remember, when far lefties such as Jeremy Corbyn and our very own Jamie make the occasional comments that sound reasonable, that underneath it all is an arrogant belief in their philosophy so overwhelming that they would not hesitate to impose it upon the people if they thought they could. Thank god for democracy and the ability of the people to stop this madness in its tracks.

"In actual fact the evidence of the most recent US Presidential election is that Cuba is considerably more democratic than the USA, for what it's worth."
Ruling a country for 40 years then handing it over to your brother as the sole beneficiary is clearly more democratic than a republican system which transfers power from one party to another.

But they had "elections" in 2008!