[lbo-talk] Kerala and Cuba

[Michael McIntyre]

Let's do a thought experiment starting with Kerala's experience. 
There's some debate about why Kerala has such better HDI indicators than
the rest of India, but a review of the historical trends makes it clear
that the divergence didn't begin until the early 1970s, the same time
that Communist (or, more precisely, "Left Front") governments began to
win roughly every other state election.  So, periodic rule by the Left
in Kerala seems to be, if not a sufficient condition, at least a
necessary condition of the progress that has been made.

But, in fact, the Communists first won state elections in Kerala in the
1950s, whereupon Nehru (yes, that scion of the "Democratic Left") seized
upon the flimsiest of pretexts to shut down the elected government in
Kerala and replace it with centralized and undemocratic rule by the New
Delhi-appointed governor until "free elections" could be called to
certify a suitable replacement.

Let's imagine that the Keralans, instead of accepting this imposition,
had fought India tooth and nail for independence in the late 1950s,
winning against great odds.  Imagine further that Kerala had to maintain
constant vigilance, first against invasion by the rest of India, and
later against state-sponsored terrorism by India.  Imagine that, against
all odds, Kerala maintained its independence, and managed immense
improvements in the standard of living of its people - but at the cost
of repressing the Congress Party and its allies in Kerala and suspending
democracy there.  Would you still sneer at their accomplishments, Brad?

What's the difference between this mythical Kerala and Cuba?  Only that
India finally permitted Kerala to elect a communist government and craft
innovative policies to better its people's lives.  Not something the
U.S. has ever been prepared to tolerate among its clients.  Nope, we'll
be quite happy to turn Cuba over to the next Aleman as soon as it takes
Brad's advice.

Just be glad Castro isn't prepared to declare the right to make
unrelenting war on terrorists and those who harbor them, and the power
to make good on it.  Miami would never survive, nor would Washington.