The Cuban Left

Although I do not consider it one of the current critical issues, I think it is important to set out some opinions about the Cuban left. Today we talk about an old and a new left. I believe that, in the Cuban case, the left as such, whether old or new, is discredited by five decades of political, economic, and social mistakes, dogmatism, and inefficiency, manifested in all aspects of its practice. Holding power, or allowing it to be held in its name for over fifty years, the Cuban left has not been able to do anything important or lasting, and has only rolled back the country to a situation of poverty and subordination to the outside, like never before, not even during the most incompetent and corrupt governments. This disqualifies it morally from purporting to offer solutions and projects in the immediate term at the end of the current “model,” or from even being considered.

I understand that the left may play a temporary role in the transition, but it will take a number of years before another left, stripped of the dogmatism and inefficiency that have characterized the current version, can earn some respect, credibility, and space in the Cuban political landscape. Undoubtedly centrist or even center-right thought will prevail during the early days, without anything close to leftist thought: a logical response to the leftist saturation of more than five decades. Those on the Cuban left should understand this, if they are intelligent and learn from their mistakes, and not try to occupy positions of authority, which would introduce an element of confrontation into the process of change.

If all these elements come together properly, and if, as the saying goes, these fifty years have provided a vaccine against all the “isms,” then the Cubans will be able to return to the Republic — battered in part in 1952 and completely destroyed after 1959 — to restore it, perfect it, and make it our common home, where a real democracy, strong and efficient institutions, and a free economy, ensure to us the peace and prosperity we need in order to insert ourselves into the world and rejoin it.

May 31 2012

The New Cuba

Recently, in the face of the decline of “the model,” many political scientists that deal with Cuba have been given the task of preparing projections for the new Cuba. As should be true, the opinions are varied, depending on the ideological and political slant of the speakers. But one thing is clear: the new Cuba will face several critical issues. Among these are: achieving a peaceful transition, without winners or losers, avoiding violence; establishing a democratic system with broad participation of all political and social viewpoints; creating a new state with all its institutions; and building an efficient economy.

The demolition of the ruins of the model such as it is, built on the base of volunteerism, is not a very difficult task, because by now it has practically been carried out in all material respects. The difficult task at this point is to make sure that the majority of those who have been part of it, with varying degrees of commitment, are able to understand and accept that change is absolutely necessary to insure that the nation survives. And also, that the victims of the model (here I include the exiles), marginalized and repressed for years, do not place revenge or settling accounts as priorities at the negotiating table. A compact, setting aside special interests before national, is the smart thing, which does not mean forgetting, or that those responsible for the national tragedy remain unpunished, but this should be achieved by public consensus, in the short term, and within laws enacted for that purpose, without witch hunts and mass purges. All of us, to one degree or another, for over five decades, have been involved in what has happened, and we have different degrees of responsibility, if not material at least moral. What would be impermissible and suicidal would be a fratricidal fight.

The full participation of every citizen in the political task of the nation should be a respected and protected right. This will lead to establishing the freedom to join together and form organizations of different political and social stripes for developing and proposing government projects capable of pulling the country out of the economic, political and social chaos into which the current model has sunk us. Therefore, the establishment of full democracy is an inevitable foundation.

It is necessary to create a new state. This is probably the most complex and difficult task. The existing model, with its institutions and organizations created on the fly, was built by systematically dismantling the existing democratic state in the Republic, and was conceived with purely ideological interests for maintaining power at all costs. For this reason, the Constitution, laws, institutions, and organizations all settled into the socialist straitjacket, inventing ponderous control apparatuses and propaganda at all levels, and even parallel governments within the government, superseding or multiplying their functions. A completely new, modern, and efficient state is required, with new laws and institutions, which continues and perfects what existed before 1959. For this new officials are needed, who are more professional than political, with a different ethic. This is not the task of a day or a short time, but must be tackled at an early stage, otherwise the rest is doomed to failure.

The establishment of a democracy is inextricably linked to the creation of an efficient economy. We must understand that without democracy there is no economy, and equally that without the economy there is no democracy. All current attempts to address these two categories have failed. A free, competitive economy is only possible in a democratic regime that respects the rights of all social entities, and where there are no obstacles to the free development of individual initiative. Similarly, a free and efficient economy strengthens democracy, facilitating the exercise and implementation of laws and social programs that provide real answers to the needs of the population.

May 28 2012

Tinkering at the Margins

Photo: Rebeca

Several friends, honestly worried about the future of Cuba, firmly declare that they do not want capitalism, but a Swedish-style socialism. First, it is worth clarifying that Sweden is not a socialist but a capitalist country, with a monarchy and a democratic parliament, and with a solid economy and outstanding social services. The tendency of the ruling party at any given time, which sets a certain tone, should not be confused with the socio-economic model of the country. Spain is a capitalist country with a parliamentary monarchy, whether the government is from the Spanish Socialist Workers Party or the Popular Party. So it is in most countries, each with its own distinctive characteristics.

Linking the ruling party with the socio-economic model is unique to socialist countries, where a dogmatic and closed scheme establishes a set of so-called principles, applicable to all of them: one party, invariably communist (when others are allowed to exist, they are small and are controlled by the ruling party); state ownership of the means of production, with a centrally planned economy (if some small private enterprise is allowed, it is in rural areas, or in the service sector); only state health and education systems; only official culture; the justice system fully subordinated to the state; state-run media; government unions and social and other mass organizations, and so on. Those who violate these principles or deviate from them, are accused of revisionism and are isolated (Tito’s Yugoslavia, and the Soviet-Chinese dispute, in which each side accused the other of being revisionists, even to the point of armed confrontation, are good examples). This model is airtight, the same for everyone. That is socialism.

With capitalism, each country applies it according to its own historical, geographic, and national characteristics. Thus, although the general principles (private ownership of the means of production, and a market economy) are the same, the forms of its application differ. France’s capitalism is not like that of the United States, or of Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Canada, Russia, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, etc. Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador and Nicaragua, whatever their governments say, are capitalist countries, even if some are more left-leaning than others. North Korea and Cuba, both in perpetual economic crisis, are the only existing orthodox socialist countries. China and Vietnam, socialist politically, are capitalist economically, in a strange marriage, enabling them to develop, something never achieved with the socialist model.

We should take this seriously, and consider all these facts and alternatives before we propose what Cuba should be in the future. I think it will have its own characteristics, taking the good and positive from the entire accumulated global experience. Not doing so would be a big mistake and a waste of time. What we should not do is try to invent another national monster. One is more than enough!

May 25 2012

A Too Slow Updating

When in 1959 it was decided to change everything that had been legislated for the fifty-six years of the Republic, the changes were “at the speed of a pauper’s burial,” in an accelerated way, overnight without entrusting them to God or the Devil.

Now — the colossal blunder having been demonstrated for years, responsible for the the poverty and backwardness of the nation — with the the so-called update of the model update, or, and it’s the same thing, trying to amend the many mistakes committed, they are marching “at the speed of the burial of the rich,” slowly, crawling, two steps forward and three back, wanting to pray to the Devil, Shango, Allah, Mohammed and even the babalawo Guanabacoa, before deciding to approve something.

Also, what is approved today is changed again tomorrow, removing or adding details, which shows a lack of seriousness.

A recent case is the so-called carreterilleros (“cart pushers” or traveling street vendors of agricultural products), who earlier this year filled our streets with their products and hawking, and now have practically disappeared, overwhelmed with prohibitions and persecutions, unfortunately for the citizens who, although at a higher price than that of the depressed state markets, were able to acquire better quality products at the doors of their homes.

It seems that dspite the many guidelines discussed, re-discussed, approved and re-approved, those who have the responsibility to apply them just can’t grab the bull by the horns.

The most striking example is announced and then postponed immigration reform. It’s suggested that it is a very complex and needs many studies and coordination, to be able to take it to implementation.

They have been so many regulations and prohibitions established over 56 years, that now those who established them and their followers, don’t know how to untangle the mess they created without losing the existing tight control over citizens.

The solution is very easy, if they simply reinstate Article 30 of the Constitution of the Republic of Cuba, 1940, which states:

Any person may enter and remain in the country, leave it, move from place to place and move residence without a security card, passport or other similar requirement, except as provided in the immigration laws and powers of the authorities in cases of criminal responsibility. No one shall be compelled to change his domicile or residence except by order of the judicial authority and in such cases and under the requirements stipulated by law. No Cuban may be expatriated or be prohibited from entering the territory of the Republic.

These realities seem to corroborate that the updating of the model is pure political theater* — making changes so that everything remains the same. In short, the facts show that it is much easier to prohibit than to authorize, and it is easier to destroy than to build.

*Translator’s note: The original word is not “theater” but “gatopardiana” — a reference to the book “El Gatopardo” (The Leopard in English) by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, a novel of intrigue in 19th century Sicilian politics.

May 22 2012

One Hundred and Ten Years

Photo: Rebeca

Tomorrow, the 20th, will mark 110 years of the establishment of the Republic. Over here there will be no official celebrations and, if the date is spoken of I’m sure it will be to discredit it, as has been happening over the past half century.

However, the Republic, with its deficiencies, excesses, problems and complexities, but also with its achievements, represents fifty-six years of work and dedication of generations of Cubans in the task of building a nation still, unfortunately, unfinished.

Fifty-six years of the Republic were dismantled and thrown overboard in January 1959 with improvisations and absurdities and, also unfortunately, without replacing them with something valuable and enduring, in the last fifty-four years.

Today, in the government sphere, the word of the day is “to recover.” In practice, everything must be recovered but what is significant is that this recovery doesn’t refer to things from recent years, but rather from the Republic.

The railroad that must be recovered is that of the Republic, and not that of Socialism, always inefficient and disastrous. The productivity we want to recover is that the Republic and not that of Socialism, which never existed. The discipline and morality that we aspire to recover are those of the Republic and not those of Socialism, which have been conspicuous in their absence. The list could be endless, but a small sample is sufficient.

If this is so and constitutes an undeniable reality, although officially they don’t want to recognize it, it means that in the years of the Republic much more was achieved than in those of Socialism, and more serious work was done to build a prosperous and modern nation.

Ultimately, the values that exists come from the Republic and it is those that have been maintained and could not be destroyed during these years, despite multiple attempts. If we made a tour of the city of Havana, we would find that most of the avenues, streets, parks, buildings, hospitals, schools, museums, cinemas, theaters, shops, etc., are due to the Republic. In addition, they were so well constructed that, despite the neglect and lack of maintenance, they survive.

The same is true in other towns and cities. The Central Highway and the Capitol building, built more than eighty years ago, are two fine examples, compared to the disastrous National Highway and Conference Center in a permanent state of being repaired. And this, according to official propaganda, before being robbed blind! It seems that now, in addition to “the diversion of resources,*” it was badly built. Examples abound but don’t bear repeating.

The Republic is an unforgettable milestone in the history of the nation. Congratulations on the hundred and tenth anniversary of its establishment!

*Translator’s note: the “diversion of resources” is the phrase commonly used to refer to the theft endemic in Cuban society where people steal from their jobs, in many cases for bare survival, in others for self-enrichment. A similar term in constant use is “to resolve,” which means getting by however one can, that is with recourse to the black market and other illegal activities. As, for all practical purposes, it is impossible to survive in Cuba — to have a roof over one’s head and food to eat — without at a minimum trading in the black market, the system forces everyone to be a criminal.

May 19 2012

Simple Human Beings

Archive photo

Chauvinism has been an evil that has always accompanied us, exacerbated in the last 50 years, with the objective of making us forget our small, medium and large problems, on altars of resolving those of humanity, as the different and chosen people that we are.  This aims to explain and validate our direct or indirect participation in dozens of countries, as much in times of war as of peace, at the cost of human lives and material resources.

Nevertheless, if we review our history, in spite of being rich in facts and important people — like any other country — this strange self-valuation has not contributed much.  Not because of caprice did Spain place on its shield its famous phrase: The always loyal Island of Cuba, without forgetting that we were one of the last colonies to free ourselves, when all the rest had already managed it.

Our first armed uprising against Spain was organized and directed by a Venezuelan, General Narciso Lopez, on disembarking in Cardenas in 1850, with the majority participation of foreigners, principally North Americans, and only five Cubans.  No inhabitant of the place swelled his forces, and he had to re-embark, pursued by the Spaniards.

On his second landing, by Pinar del Rio, 10% were Cuban, but the Hungarian General Johann Pragay and North American Colonel William Crittenden formed an important part of it.  It failed, being captured by a Cuban patrol in the service of the Spaniards, and the majority were executed.

In 1868, in the uprising of Yara, Carlos Manuel de Cespedes commanded; Maximo Gomez and Luis Marcano, both Dominicans, participated, Marcano was second in command (substituted for Bartolome Maso).  Afterward they were joined by General Modesto Diaz, also Dominican.  The post of Chief General of the Liberating Army, on producing the division of powers in the year 1869, was occupied by the Cuban General Manuel de Quesada, who had fought in the Mexican war against the French, but afterward the North American General Thomas Jordan arrested him for a short time — in the Ten Year War, and General Maximo Gomez — during all of the War of Independence.

In these suppressed wars the brigadier Henry Reeve, North American, and General Carlos Roloff, Polish, stood out in addition to some other lesser known foreigners.  In more recent times, an important role in insurrectionist triumph belonged to commander Ernesto Guevara, Argentinian.

As can be appreciated, although I have only referred to the military and have not made reference to medicine, education, architecture, the arts, etc., on many occasions we have needed foreigners for the achievement of our goals.  This does not diminish the role of the Cubans, but it puts us in our just place, without nationalist outbursts of any kind.

Neither is the cowardice well founded that some attribute to us in recent times for not being capable of fighting for an exit from the profound economic, political and social crisis that overwhelmed us more than half a century ago.  Without a doubt fear exists in society, but it is an induced fear that has deformed a great part of the population, making it accept and even be complicit in a bad government, forgetting their most elemental duties as citizens.

Ultimately, like everyone, we have lights and shadows, good things and bad things.  We are neither different nor chosen, but simple human beings.

Translated by mlk

May 15 2012

A Meddling State

Photo: Rebeca (The menu board on the door is the type used by people selling snacks and drinks from their homes.)

The State, in most countries, developed or otherwise, tends to occupy itself with fundamental questions, facilitating the development and happiness of its citizens. To do this it regulates, through laws, and controls, through bodies and institutions created for that purpose, the harmonious relations of the various interests: economic, political, social, etc.

The Cuban State is unique unto itself and, therefore, different from all the others. First, in addition to insanely centralizing all issues considered fundamental, it also concerns itself, insanely, in innumerable trivial matters which, if it weren’t so tragic in terms of consequences, would be laughable.

Among these we find: the establishment of offices that allow citizens to work for themselves (professions not established are prohibited); the types of food and number of ounces per person that can be obtained (for a fee) monthly in the so-called “basic basket” which is subsidized; the style of clothes and shoes sold to workers in the state enterprise and the delivery schedules; the ounces of bread, cheese and ham that must be in a snack, a midnight treat or a sandwich in the State snack bars and their respective prices; the types of light bulbs used for illumination; the market and bakery where you must shop; the childcare center and school where you must send your children and teenagers, etc. The list could be infinite, but the same here is sufficient.

This mania of inserting themselves in everything, and trying to have the first and last word, have resulted in political, economic and social chaos in the country, enjoyed by most of us. The absurd interference in all aspects of society and the individual is such that the average citizen has been forced to devise ways, forms and methods to avoid so many regulations, norms, controls, regulations, guidelines and all the nonsense of this kind, establishing oneself in practice, in order to subsist: the black market, the double standard, widespread theft, the latter covered under the euphemistic name of “resolving.”

From a predominantly ho sent country, where only some politicians steal, we have become a country of criminals where, from dawn to dusk we are “resolving.” It would be desirable that in the update of the model, which they go on and on about, they were to pay preferential attention to this problem and realize the real solution is for the State to stop being such a busybody.

May 12 2012