[March 5, 2020] Much has been written about the fall of Communism in the Soviet Union and elsewhere in the world. Coming on the heels of a concerted effort throughout the world to expand the reach of Communist ideology, some may have thought this fall not possible. Cuba is one country that adopted it when Fidel Castro took power in 1959. Yet, the lies about Cuban-inspired Communism continue unabated by reality.
American politicians have lined up to praise Cuba. U.S. Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders is the most recent to lecture us on the good things done there, like the fact that Cuba established literacy programs. Maybe the real reason behind these programs was that it would be easier to indoctrinate them is pushed aside as a non argument.
Cuba is a decrepit country. Communism has been tried in 28 countries and each of them failed economically. They also failed socially and politically, but that is up to the historians to tell that story. In each of these countries the population starved, propaganda ruled all literature and media, the secret police were everywhere, dissidents disappeared, and militarization was imposed on the poor population. Likewise, the creative heart of each nation adopting Communism was destroyed.
Cuba is a third world country but it has not always been one. Prior to Castro, Cuba was a relatively prosperous country, with beautiful cities, devoid of shanty towns or crumbling buildings. Pre-Castro Cuba was no paradise but it ranked fifth in the hemisphere on per capita income, third in life expectancy, and had the fourth highest literacy rate at 76% in Latin America.1 Corruption of its dictator Batista, led to the nation’s decline that has not stopped.
If Bernie Sanders is right and Cuba is such a wonderful place and a workers’ paradise, then why are so many people leaving? We are told that they are leaving Cuba to “seek better economic opportunities.” No, they are leaving because the government is corrupt, arbitrary arrests, a lack of basic necessities, bread lines, and all those things regularly associated with Socialist/Communist countries.
Great leaders are not swayed by ideology because they can see reality with a clear vision.
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Thanks Gen Satterfield for a timely article. Cuba is the closest thing to full-blown Communism near us here in the USA. It would be to the benefit of all to visit Cuba so we can all SEE it for what it is.
Hey guys, looks like Bernie Sanders (running for US Pres) is falling behind. I didn’t think Democrats in the US would be rejecting him so early. Of course, he is a classic Marxist but has morphed into a neo-Marxist. That is the problem with communism, it tends to morph and adapt to make it ‘appear’ more attractive but its basic, underlying philosophy is always to oppress.
Good point, Max and well said. Will America reject socialism? Will the people see that there is a difference in a democracy and a autocracy? That question is yet to be answered.
I’m no socialist fan (or communist for that matter). I do believe there are some benefits to socialism in its focus on everyone and not letting the bottom of society fail. But the inevitable conclusion that everyone must be forced to be equal is a non-starter. The forcing will inevitably be from the government and often at the end of the barrel of a gun.
Yep, something most of us know and are willing to openly admit. Why doesn’t Bernie Sanders say so? Because he wants POWER! Just like any old communist.
Hi Nick, good point.
If colleges and universities would get together a big, multi-day field trip to Cuba with many of their students and let them experience Cuba for it really is, then I think we would have a big pushback on the socialism on campus.
I will add to what Dale wrote below. I too got the chance to visit Cuba – two years ago roughly. For the tour with about 15 American and Canadian adults, we saw things that would never be tolerated in our countries. But going around Havana you would not necessarily ‘see’ the problems right away. The place is SLOW. Things don’t happen quickly; problems are not undertaken with speed or thoughtfulness in mind. It’s all about the communist revolution and the ‘good’ is has done. Insidious.
A different culture in a time warp of the past. Creativity is unacceptable, for example, if it doesn’t fall in line with the propaganda of the govt. How very sad.
Hi Len, I don’t suppose I will ever go there because I don’t want to support that nation. Their government exported terrorism for many years while being helped by the USSR. Now we see how that worked out. Just a bunch of dead people.
Good article today, Gen. Satterfield. Thanks. A few things I didn’t know and got me to thinking about the Marxist Bernie Sanders. ?
I visited Cuba early last year with my wife. I just wanted to see for myself this “quaint little paradise” that so many of my liberal friends had touted as a wonderful place to grow up and live. I saw such poverty that Americans would have been shocked. I also saw their soldier/police force at every corner and heard the whispered tones of the “working people.” There is no incentive to better yourself or you will be seen as a counter-revolutionary and imprisoned (if you are lucky) but more likely, you will simply disappear. This is what socialism and communism is about, not the individual but the state.
Wow, powerful commentary on what you saw. I never visited there and never will do so. I read a bunch about the country and what you wrote, Dale, simply confirms what most people know – communism will not work.
Communism = take from the people and give to the elites (because only the elites know what is “good” for the country). It should not be a big idea that this type of system will not work. Equality is a great ideal but when attempted to be achieved thru communism, it will inevitably fail. Just look at China.
I agree Gil. You can modify communism all you like but if that is the underlying dogma, the masses will suffer horribly.
Some big ideas do fail. The big question is why is communism so attractive to so many people?
Hi Nancy, good to see you back on Gen. Satterfield’s leadership blog. Missed you for a few days.
Communism and its silly cousin Socialism always fail when tried. The reason is simple, the corruption of the human soul cannot be checked when one group of people as the elite see themselves as morally superior to everyone else.
Spot-on observation, Doug and well said. There will always be folks who see themselves as better than others but as long as they don’t have a way to make that stick with power, we are all okay. But whenever they gain political power, then look out! Things will then go from where they are to worse. That will always happen.
Good discussion today on the failures of communism and socialism. I know that Gen. Satterfield has occasionally demonstrated the theme of the failure of such ideologies and I thank him for that. We are wholly lacking that education today in America.
That is why I keep reading https://www.theleadermaker.com.
I think America will reject Communism and Socialism. But I’ve been accused of being too optimistic in the past.