Evil capitalists call Castro rich!

[techumseh]

The Forbes methodology is completely bogus. Obviously, if their first method was to assign an abitrary percentage of the Cuban gdp to Castro, they have no evidence that any of that accrues to him personally.

Their second methodology is no better. In order to demonstrate that Castro is rich, they must prove the money produced by these state owned corporations flows PERSONALLY to him, rather than being reinvested in the corporations or being transferred to the state.

And Imran, you know better.

[Agathon]

The best part about this is he's considering suing Forbes.

I hope he does.

[Imran Siddiqui]

And Imran, you know better.

What, that dictators don't personally profit from their totalitarian regimes? Come on now. Yeah, Castro is really living like a pauper while all the money is just being reinvested. Pleeeeease.

[Kidlicious]

I believe he doesn't live much better than most Cubans. He isn't materialistic.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Yeah, and the Pope is Protestant.

[Kidlicious]

Do you have any basis for your judgements at all?

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by techumseh
The Forbes methodology is completely bogus. Obviously, if their first method was to assign an abitrary percentage of the Cuban gdp to Castro, they have no evidence that any of that accrues to him personally.

Their second methodology is no better. In order to demonstrate that Castro is rich, they must prove the money produced by these state owned corporations flows PERSONALLY to him, rather than being reinvested in the corporations or being transferred to the state.

So if I reinvest money from dividends it's not part of my wealth? Please tell the IRS!

[Imran Siddiqui]

He's a brutal dictator. That's enough basis for me. People don't become dictators because they 'want to make a change'. They do it for power and money. People that want to make a change liberalize their holds. Lenin, for example, started to introduce the NEP and allowed others into the process, such as Stalin and Trotsky.

If Castro was so non materialistic and so looking out for the welfare of the people instead of his own pocket, he'd have reliquinished some power and allowed democratic elections to some extent. The fact that he hasn't indicates that he's raping the country barren and doesn't want anyone to stand in his way.

[Agathon]

Castro lives about as well as most leaders of countries that aren't bent. Compare him to the Prime Minister of Canada and you have it about right.

He has a very small office and he obviously doesn't spend much on clothes.

He has a private movie room. But so does Bush.

[Kontiki]

Paul Marin is the second richest leader of a G8 country, and far ahead of Bush. His personal net worth is in the C$300 million range.

[Agathon]

Yes, but his offical PM perks and residence are not all that. Same goes for most leaders of democracies. Shrub has a huge and luxurious house compared to most.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Aggie got PWNED!

[Kidlicious]

You don't seem to know much about Castro Imran. You're just using your world view to make generalizations about people and not bothering with particulars again.

You might say it was part of some overall plan to rule the world or something, but I imagine that you didn't know that when Castro was a lawyer he mostly took cases of people who couldn't pay him. He could have lived a life of a wealthy man, but he chose to fight for what he believed was right. He's very moral, and not materialistic.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Shrub has a huge and luxurious house compared to most.

Well he's also the Head of State. I think the British Head of State (who, IIUC is also the Canadian Head of State) lives in a pretty luxurious house .

[Imran Siddiqui]

You don't seem to know much about Castro Imran.

I do know that he is a brutal dictator that has not loosened the reigns on his people for over 50 years. Why, is he afraid they'll find out that he's been pocketing a lot of cash? The Soviet party bosses lived like Kings. You don't think their little brother Castro took something for himself? Come on!