Except that totalitarianism seems to be pretty compatible with economic prosperity, or at least moderate comfort. I'm sure the Chinese will make major investments in Cuba, too.
I'm not sure such optimism is warranted. The East Germans were divided from the West for only 40 years, they started from a much higher level, they completely abolished the old regime, and they reunited with the West under leadership determined to help revitalize them. Almost 30 years later, the East still lags far behind the West. Cuba has none of those advantages. It isn't just economic and technological deprivation; it's the whole culture that socialism creates that must be overcome.
Never mind, I must be wrong, Dayton agreed with it. I'll be away the next 20 hours while I bathe in scalding water, no, hydrochloric acid, to try and cleanse the taint.
Apparently the Right is now getting worked into an apoplectic frenzy and losing what's left of its mind over Obama being photographed in front of a mural of Che Guevara.
Che, Catro and all their ilk should be openly and frequently derided and reviled for the ills committed on humanity, both micro and macro. Basically they're sub-scum profiteers exploiting and reveling in the mistreatment of their own "subjects". Chavez too. Lowlife pieces of shit, all. [Dayton might prefer the sexual company of pigs instead of wife]
Reagan was giving talks to Soviet students on the miracle of the information revolution. He could pose with pictures of Lenin because he buried him. Bush was photographed in China because he was our ambassador.
Actually, he was president in the second photo. But keep dodging and twisting; I hear it's good exercise.
It should be noted that Bush was sent to China as part of an effort by his great enemy Donald Rumsfeld to get him away from Washington D.C. and cut out of the loop in terms of GOP politics.
Fair enough. Just remember I won't be the driver at any point if you want to reach your destination. Just ask @Larry, I could get lost going in a straight line.
Nobody, believe me, nobody wants me to drive. I am like, the worst driver ever. The worst. The absolute worst. You won't believe how bad my driving is. You have never seen such bad driving. Believe me. Believe me. It is bad. It is so bad. Nobody is worse than me. Nobody. Not anyone. I am so bad at it. I am a really, really bad driver. </trumpstyle>
Obama's speech in Cuba will go down in infamy. Everything is America's fault. Cuba built Miami. He did mention the attacks in Belgium for all of 52 seconds of a 40 minute speech that had the Castros cheering because it's the same anti-American hatred they've been preaching since their revolution.
I'm such a bad driver I had the all time worst record as a drag racer - I kept getting lost. Google it!
Has it occurred to anyone that if you have to go to Cuba to get laid then perhaps you should be looking into an alternate outlet for your energies in the first place.
I'm not sure such a simplistic comparison is warranted. For one thing, we aren't talking about trying to raise Cuba to West German or US standards. They are starting from an extremely poor position. Tourism alone could more than double GDP. That's a huge improvement, despite the fact that it means still poorer than Puerto Rico. But there won't just be tourism, so perhaps they can do better still.
In "the US sphere", Cuba will look a lot more like Guatemala or Peru than it will like Korea. Their economic success was achieved by radically violating all of the prescribed doctrines of market fundamentalism.
Are you referring to South Korea? IIRC South Korean prosperity was jump started big time by the Vietnam War. At one point during the Vietnam War the U.S. was purchasing fully 100% of South Korean steel output. Just as the Korean War more than a decade earlier had helped jump start the post World War Two Japanese economy.
Cuba needs the US to build a wall, paid for by Mexico. That will jump start the economy! By the way, we need some new politics smilies. All this stuff referencing Bush and Obama is pretty obsolete. Anybody have suggestions?
