Cuba approves economic reform plan

[naaman fletcher]

Source: Al Jazeera

The Cuban National Assembly has approved Communist Party proposals to overhaul the country's state-dominated economy and lift some restrictions on citizens' personal lives, according to state-run media.

The plan, which includes more than 300 points, was first approved at a Communist Party congress in April and would end the socialist society built under Fidel Castro's leadership.

"The Cuban parliament today supported and approved the economic and social plans of the Communist party and Revolution" state news agency Prensa Latina said.

Cuban President Raul Castro and other senior party and government officials presided over Monday's session to which foreign journalists were not invited.

Read more: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2011/08/20118243132157532.html

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much more at link (Al Jazeera had the habit of posting one sentence paragraphs, making excerpting in a meaningful way difficult).

[robcon]

1. Let's hope they at least adopt the Chinese system.

I think asking for democracy in Cuba might be a little too much to expect, but a system where there is a possibility of a significant middle class would be a great improvement.

The current system, impoverishment for all, finally has a chance to be changed.

[cstanleytech]

3. "impoverishment for all"?

Even the higher ups in the government including Castro?

Anyway as for the changes themselves I hope they do help the people of the country to have a better living standard, so good for the government to take this first step.

[Proletariatprincess]

2. It seems to me that the Communists countries are making progressive changes

while American Capitalism is moving more toward feudalism every passing day.

[Imajika]

4. You mean the communist countries are basically dumping communism?

These are definitely progressive changes in the sense they are dismantling a basket case communist system, and replacing it with a more market driven approach. This is basically Cuban communists conceding their system sucks and doesn't work.

What they are introducing is privatization, firing upwards of a million government workers, etc. They are moving towards a free market system.

[cstanleytech]

5. I wouldnt say they are dumping it, China still strickly controls the content

for what computer games can show people as well as they still repress peoples speech and censor the news.
They are moving towards a more open market but they are also having problems with things like some products that companies over there make being contaminated with lead not to mention the environmental problems with pollution from said companies.

[Imajika]

6. Yes, the Chinese ruling class is still hanging on to political power...

..and using the examples (censoring games, news, internet, etc) in your post to maintain it.

China realized their socialist, command and control economy was a complete failure so they are in the process of dumping it (the process is mostly complete now). What they did not want to do was lose power, so they continue the coercive policies of their communist past to restrict personal liberties to that end.

Cuba will look to do the same thing. Retain the political oppression, but move their economy in a free market, capitalist direction.

Communism simply doesn't work and Cuba is finally taking steps to move away from it - at least economically.

[Proletariatprincess]

7. American Capitalism doesn't work either...

but the only changes we see now are making it worse, not better. Atleast the Commies are willing to challenge their own systems.
I think Kruschef was right. They will bury us in the end.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

8. Yup, and we gave them the shovel.

[Vidar]

9. Nicely put.