Which nation most closely matches your politcs

[Fidel]

come to think about it, the topic title is all wrong. nations cannot match politics...but yawn, back to boring spain-s. africa game...

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by Sprayber


Oh I see, we have to keep things in the time frame you want. Talk outside the KH frame is prohibited.

Well in that case KH give me your stats on the over all income level of the Soviet Leader in the 70-90s and how they bravely stood in line with the rest of the citizens.

Sprayber, do you think US of 1935 was same country as US of 1990?

Right at the same time that communism was failing the citizens of the USSR, capitalism was doing a prety good job failing the citizens of the US and Europe too.

And then of course, there's the whole rise of Hitler, subjugation of Europe and genocides...

The 1930s were a very different time, and I'm pretty glad I didn't have to live through them in either the East or West...

[Carver]

Vive Fidel, Vive!

Originally posted by Sprayber

I'll be impressed with communism if a communist dictator actually delivers on the supposed ideals of the system.

Castro has delivered a succesful, socialized state. Free, quality education through high school, quality medical care for all, improved rural infastructure (water, housing, roads). Cuba has participatedin the liberation of other nations throughout the world, most notably by fighting apartheid South Africa in Angola and Namimbia and defending those peoples against the US supported attack. Cuba has trained thousands of doctors from other third world countries. So while the US engages in its vengeful embargo, the rest of the world laughs and Cubano Socialism thrives.

[chequita guevara]

The income disparity in the USSR was 7:1 at the worst of times, generally about 5:1. In the US, the income disparity between the top government position (Prez) and the average worker has been about 8:1. Party leaders in the US make substantially more than that (since the bulk of their income comes from non-party sources). The income disparity between the top income bracket and the average is something close to 500:1, but that only compares income and not the increase in wealth.

The reason why Cuba needs the embargo to end is not that the US has things they can't get elsewhere (with the exception of medicine), it's because it costs a lot more to import things from farther away. I believe it's seven times as expense to import grain from New Zealand to Cuba as from the US (as closer nations like Argentina won't sell to it because of the US). Europe is an importer of grain, and I'm guessing most of Canada's grain goes there.

Asher, you got proof that Cuba's air force was used for Castro to go duck hunting. That sounds a lot like BS anti-Castro propaganda, consdiering this is a guy who lives in a one room apartment.

[KrazyHorse]

The income disparity in the USSR was 7:1 at the worst of times, generally about 5:1

Yay. I'm glad somebody else provided this because I was trying to rack my brain for the source...

[chequita guevara]

Time magazine reported it in the 1980s. I think the idea was to be shocking, since the average Soviet made around $5,000 a year, while the party leadership was getting about $35,000, drving around in their excellent black sedans, having fairly nice apartments, and having special stores at which they could shop. Such ametuers compared to our elites.

[Clear Skies]

OK, who's the sick weirdo who voted UK...Blairites *vomits*

[Roland]

As for EU trade with Cuba: The US share of say Poland's trade is less than 5 %, that of the EU more than 50 %. Proximity simply plays a role. Cuba's trade structure shoul d be roughly the reverse of that.

Cuba has a quite good education basis and should do well with open US trade and some domestic deregulation. Democracy will follow. But since when would Washington care about democracy in Latin America....

"Europe is an importer of grain"

Castro should try CAP.

[The Viceroy]

ha ha ha .. although, it was not me .. i fail to see how the UK political system is blairite ??? just as it is not thatcherite *Vomit even more*

[TCO]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse


Patronizing the whorehouses of dozens of nations hardly gives you insight into their political situation.

Well, depending on who you happen to meet there...

I didn't whore around that bad. There were some guys in the service...

ANyway, you learn a lot about a place by going there, dating the women, drinking with the men, (reverse if preferred. I don't...and you'll learn less...but whatever.) Only thing better is to work there and/or marry there.

[TCO]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
Pop quiz, mofos: which of you voted for your home country?

Already said I did. All y'all that didn't...move! Carpe ****in diem. Go for what you want.

[Deity Dude]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
The income disparity in the USSR was 7:1 at the worst of times, generally about 5:1. In the US, the income disparity between the top government position (Prez) and the average worker has been about 8:1. Party leaders in the US make substantially more than that (since the bulk of their income comes from non-party sources). The income disparity between the top income bracket and the average is something close to 500:1, but that only compares income and not the increase in wealth.

The beauty of the American system is that the "1" in you're "500 - 1" ratio is way better off then the one in most other places.

[Fidel]

oh yes. every roman citizen was better off than a slave

[Boris Godunov]

Germany for me. Healthy respect for capitalism, but a strong social welfare system.

And I love sauerkraut, mmm-mmmm.

[Fiera]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
You seem so sure of the economic situation in Cuba, Sprayber, but here's a few facts: people don't starve on the streets there,

That's not what all my relatives and friends who have actually been to Cuba have seen, and told me. Even the Cuban establishment doesn't deny that fact, even though they blame the yankees and their embargo.

The truth is that the people starve, while Castro and their colleagues eat and live pretty well. Animal Farm anyone?