| No, it shouldn't. Trade isn't a capitalist thing, its a human thing, neccesary for any state, as no country of Cuba's size can do everything it needs to alone. It is profit making (going to an individual or small group of individuals, ie the owners of a business rather than the workers) that socialism objects to.
And he's right about the poverty and crime. Very near poverty perhaps, but good educations and ensuring everyone has the neccesities of life is all there in Cuba. This means no-one has to turn to crime. Except the terrorists there of course. But happy? I doubt it. Many may be content, but more will be apathetic about their life. In a poll reported in the Guardian most of the population didn't care either way, while those that did were split roughly 50/50 into supporters and haters of the system.
I'd hate to see Cuba collapse. Then all those evil socialist things like sending world class trained doctors out to slums around the Americas and Africa would end. And I'd like to point out again that Cuba has more doctors working around the world than the UN, and that would stop if Cuba became a Western, liberal democracy.
Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.
Winston Churchill |