[lbo-talk] Cuban HDI

[Brad DeLong]

>Brad, you are not talking to an SWP defender of Castroism. I am a 
>critic of Castro's tyranny and repression. However, I also think 
>that the Cuban revolution has some significant accomplishments, and 
>has done better for the Cuban people than any likely alternative the 
>US would install. I have challenged you to explain why this is not 
>so. What I get from a Berkeley social scientist is overheated 
>rhetoric.
>
>The Cubans should adopt the American Bill of Rights... I'd like to 
>see that, but there is is the concern that the US would abuse an 
>open political process to swamp Cuba with right wing consultants, 
>propaganda, media spinmeisters, dirty tricks, and well-funded pet 
>Gusano or "dissident" candidates.

In other words, you would like to see the Cubans adopt the American 
Bill of Rights, but you wouldn't. The argument that 
democracy-is-a-good-thing-but-must-wait-until-the-next-crisis-is-surmounted 
was already hollow back at Kronstadt more than 80 years ago.

Brad DeLong