Partial Elections Begin In Cuba (Sunday 4-25-10)

[Mika]

Partial Elections Begin In Cuba
http://www.ain.cubaweb.cu/idioma/ingles/2010/0425partialelectionscuba.htm

HAVANA, Cuba, Apr 25 (acn) Cuba offers another lesson to the world today in matters of justice, democracy and transparency especially those in the U.S. and Europe, who doubt, question or misrepresent its political system and the popular support to the Revolution.

From seven in the morning until six in the evening when the polling stations will be open to accommodate over 8 468 000 Cubans, the island will experience a civil and patriotic day, and this election will be reaffirmed as a people’s event, given its massive size and scope.

They will elect the 15 093 delegates to the Municipal Assemblies of People's Power, but, for those constituencies where the candidates draw or no candidate obtains more than half of the valid votes cast there will be a second round on May 2.

Though a high turnout is expected, the most important issue in this partial elections is to guarantee quality voting, which translates into the citizen voting for a candidate , who meets what people consider the merits and capacity in order to represent them before these local government bodies, be a woman, a youngster, a worker, a farmer, a soldier, a student ...

It is then a Sunday of civic engagement in the designs of the country for the millions of Cubans who, without exception, have the right to education, health, work, food and security and social assistance, against all odds, whether it is the US blockade, the global crisis, and media smear campaigns.

Even this time can also be memorable for the tens of thousands of pioneers who will guard the ballot boxes at polling stations, and 325 464 young people who vote for the first time after becoming 16.

During the last hours many people went over and over again the voters list, to correct any errors, review the biographies and pictures of their candidates.

Mari Ana Maria Machado, president of the National Electoral Commission reiterated in statements to the press “the most distinctive part of this election is the massive and active participation of our people.”

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[Mika]

1. Cubans Make Decision Sunday at Municipal Polls

Cubans Make Decision Sunday at Municipal Polls
http://www.periodico26.cu/english/news_cuba/april2010/cuba-elections042510.html

Havana, April 25, (RHC).- Over 8.4 million voters are registered to elect today, April 25th, the delegates to the Municipal Assemblies of People’s Power (or local governments).

As announced by electoral authorities, polling stations across the island opened at 7 a.m. local time and until 6 p.m.

Also, an online tool was launched in recent days about elections on the island that will also provide updated information about today’s process and run-off vote, slated for May 2nd.

For the last couple of days, local press has featured articles about preparations ahead of Election Day, including the painstaking work carried out by local electoral commissions in concert with grass-roots organizations, in the revision and update of electoral rolls in every district throughout the country.

In comments to reporters in recent days, vice president of the National Electoral Commission, Ruben Perez, described polls in Cuba as a free and democratic act.

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[protocol rv]

2. Mika, Cuba is a dictatorship ruled by an oligarchy

Those elections are a sham. When the government is overthrown, I'm pretty sure the Cubans, who have such good humor, will tell endless jokes about these communist run "elections". Let's hope the change is peaceful, and all they do is laugh at it.

[Bodhi BloodWave]

6. There are times i wonder why you even bother.

Do you seriously think you have much credibility on this subject and other LA subjects?

[Judi Lynn]

8. Many agree with you, Bodhi BloodWave. Most of us do work to provide real information

with, among other conscientious DU members. We aren't going to give up regardless of what visiting clown squads do to disrupt the flow of information.

http://www.boston.com.nyud.net:8090/sports/columnists/pierce/clown%20car1.jpg

[protocol rv]

9. I enjoy this, my friend

Why do I bother? Because I enjoy this. As for credibiliy, I live in Latin America, I was born here, and I'll probably die here. Not too long ago, a friend (Dutchliberal) reminded me there's something called "cognitive dissonance". I was wondering how come there are people whose mindset is so closed they can't see facts for what they are. He explained to us here in DU there's something called cognitive dissonance, a mental condition we suffer (all of us homo sapiens suffer), which leads us to ignore facts when they don't fit a reality we have built.

I believe this is the theme of films by the Wachovsky brothers, "The Matrix" and "V", watch them if you can.

So you see, my credibility lies in the eyes of the beholder. This morning it's mostly sunny in Caracas, there's a tropical haze, but their smells good. Traffic is moving well in the city, I hear no sirens, and the most controversial subject in the news is the arrest of 25 butchers by the communists for selling meat above the controlled prices. This has many people worried, because whenever the government cracks down on people selling above the controlled price, there's a shortage. So everybody is going out to buy whatever meat they can this morning. Since I don't eat that much meat, and I have been buying fish, I'm ok. What else can I tell you? Last night a friend called me and said he's leaving the country. He has a small business, but expects it'll be stolen (aka "nationalized") by the government any day now, because a Chavista (meaning a boligarch or a communist fascistoid hidden within the chavista ranks) is eyeballing the whole block where he has the business. He is tired of the working conditions here, doesn't think he'll be able to sell it, so he plans to junk it and go to Europe. I suggested he tried to pick out his best workers, take all the equipment, and start a business in a friendlier climate, say Panama or Santo Domingo, but he says he's too tired to ran that gauntlet. He has three children, all of them very good students, and they will likely never return. So the smart educated people keep leaving Venezuela, and there's little we can do about it now. Even if the people were able to get rid of the communists, the country has been dealt a massive blow, and it's never going to recover.

What can you tell me about your day?

[Billy Burnett]

11. No cognitive dissonance re Cuba on your part.

How could there be?
You now nothing about Cuba. Period.
No cognitive dissonance in that area of debate for you - as your vacuous dark fantasies are resolute.

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[Judi Lynn]

12. I just remembered there's a scumball gusano Venezuela oligarch living in South Florida

who dug in here a few years ago, attached himself like a lamprey eel to the forum and came here every day to shriek about his hatred for both Hugo Chavez and Cuba's government. His name was Wind and Sea, or something. Or maybe it was "Whole Lotta Hot Air."

Sometimes it seems as if he's still here, doesn't it? Ah, mememories.

http://wupcenter.mtu.edu.nyud.net:8090/education/Ecology_of_the_Great_Lakes_03/13lamprey_hickey.jpg

[naaman fletcher]

3. So the Castros might lose? nt

[Mika]

4. Um. You're simply spamming DU too, I see.

You know these are the Municipal elections. Why would you even say that, other than for simply spamming this forum?

I hate to think of the alternative answers to that question, especially considering some of our dialog of the Cuban election systems. :dunce:

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[naaman fletcher]

5. Oh I see..

So when are the presidential elections?

[protocol rv]

7. Naaman, you are being cruel

These elections are for toothless consejales. They have no power whatsoever. And even these are rigged. The Cubans don't have presidential elections. Didn't you notice a Castro always wins? They have what is called the Confirmation and Adoration of the Leader. It's like the old Baal Cult, but without the golden calf.

[Billy Burnett]

10. 2013, following the parliamentary elections of the National Assembly.

Each term is for 5 years.

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