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Someday I'm going to work up the nerve to hop on a raft and get myself to Cuba.
I hear they got free internet and cable there too.
By PAUL HAVEN
The Associated Press
Thursday, March 25, 2010; 12:11 PM
HAVANA -- It perhaps was not the endorsement President Barack Obama and the Democrats in Congress were looking for.
Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro on Thursday declared passage of American health care reform "a miracle" and a major victory for Obama's presidency, but couldn't help chide the United States for taking so long to enact what communist Cuba achieved decades ago.
"We consider health reform to have been an important battle and a success of his (Obama's) government," Castro wrote in an essay published in state media, adding that it would strengthen the president's hand against lobbyists and "mercenaries."
But the Cuban leader also used the lengthy piece to criticize the American president for his lack of leadership on climate change and immigration reform, and for his decision to send more troops to Afghanistan, among many other things.
And he said it was remarkable that the most powerful country on earth took more than two centuries from its founding to approve something as basic as health benefits for all.
"It is really incredible that 234 years after the Declaration of Independence ... the government of that country has approved medical attention for the majority of its citizens, something that Cuba was able to do half a century ago," Castro wrote.
The longtime Cuban leader - who ceded power to his brother Raul in 2008 - has continued to pronounce his thoughts on world issues though frequent essays, led "Reflections," which are published in state newspapers.
Cuba provides free health care and education to all its citizens, and heavily subsidizes food, housing, utilities and transportation, policies that have earned it global praise. The government has warned that some of those benefits are no longer sustainable given Cuba's ever-struggling economy, though it has so far not made major changes.
In recent speeches, Raul Castro has singled out medicine as an area where the government needs to be spending less, but he has not elaborated.
While Fidel Castro was initially positive about Obama, his essays have become increasingly hostile in recent months as relations between Cuba and the United States have soured. Washington has been increasingly alarmed by Cuba's treatment of political dissidents - one of whom died in February after a long hunger strike.
Cuba was irate over the island's inclusion earlier this year on a list of countries Washington considers to be state sponsors of terrorism. Tensions have also risen following the arrest in December of a U.S. government contractor that Havana accuses of spying.
In Thursday's essay, Castro called Obama a "fanatic believer in capitalist imperialism" but also praised him as "unquestionably intelligent."
"I hope that the stupid things he sometimes says about Cuba don't cloud over that intelligence," he said.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...032501309.html
If castro is for it ....I'm not
Someday I'm going to work up the nerve to hop on a raft and get myself to Cuba.
I hear they got free internet and cable there too.
In other more advanced socialist countries, where humans and morals are more important than "Christian" USA's $$$, they are also applauding US's commitment to care for its own people.
Last edited by boutons_deux; 03-26-2010 at 01:42 PM.
why leave for tomorrow something you can do today?
Fidel Castro, possessor of motives pure as the driven snow, becomes the arbiter of quality healthcare.
They should send Obama a box of cigars.
I'll gladly take the job of Healthcare Arbiter for a nice supply of Romeo y Julieta Coronas.
On second thought, better not. Last dem president with a cigar shoved it up some interns .
I saw it more as Fidel commending the trend of the class struggle in the USA. His brand of communism is after all internationalist in emphasis.
For the same reason people ask questions when the answer is already the quote.
Did anyone bother to read this part?Cuba provides free health care and education to all its citizens, and heavily subsidizes food, housing, utilities and transportation, policies that have earned it global praise. The government has warned that some of those benefits are no longer sustainable given Cuba's ever-struggling economy, though it has so far not made major changes.
In recent speeches, Raul Castro has singled out medicine as an area where the government needs to be spending less, but he has not elaborated.
And of course Fidel kind of forgot the blood letting it took for Cuba to arrive at Nirvana.
Gee, is Cuba's economy somehow negatively affected by outside forces?
Certainly not -- it's only their health care system.
I can't believe anyone on either side is trying to kick this football.
You could always go to Cuba and blog back to us on what Cuba's really all about.
PS: N Korea
I was referring to working up the nerve
So could you, dip .
PS: dip .
I think you need help...better get it while the economy is still good.
No thanks, dip . Doing quite well.
Ahh, that explains it.
it's simple really. if you're for health care, you're in agreement with Castro. If you're in agreement with Castro, you're in disagreement with the US given the fact that Castro is a sworn enemy. If you're in disagreement with the US, you need to leave the US. If you're going to leave the US, you may as well go to Cuba to be with your boyfriend, Fidel, because you love him soooo much.
If you want the government responsible for it you are.
That actually does makes sense doesn't it?If you're in agreement with Castro, you're in disagreement with the US given the fact that Castro is a sworn enemy.
More like if you want to espouse lefty Utopias you ought to first go live in one.If you're in disagreement with the US, you need to leave the US.
When I'm trashing one I don't have to do that...I can just ask the guys that took the rafts to get here
Hmmm...If you're going to leave the US, you may as well go to Cuba to be with your boyfriend, Fidel, because you love him soooo much.
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