--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, akasha_108 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "shempmcgurk" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > wrote: > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, akasha_108 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > I am not at all a fan of other things that he has done, but education > > and health is one area that I have heard he has done relatively well. > > > > > > You've heard wrong. > > "Relatively well" refers to comparision with Castro's other > initiatives. I was under the impression that his health and education > policies, while perhaps deficient in an absolute sense, were better, > more effective than his other programs.
Two issues: 1) Education; and 2) Health care. We can immediately do away with education. In the totalitarian regime that Castro's communist dictatorshi oversees, there is no freedom of expression, thought, or press. This extends to the universities and schools. Therefore, we can all agree that without that very basic freedom, education -- no matter how many PhD's or doctors Cuba puts out -- is on the very lowest levels. Health care. Your life expectancy figures are skewered for one very important reason: abortion is used as a means of contraception in Cuba and is very frequently used. This will greatly increase life expectancy amongst those that get to be born. As for health care, up until the fall of the Soviet Union, Cuba got about $10 billion a year in aid from the USSR. This artificial boost to the economy (used as propaganda in the western hemisphere) was used to aid areas that Cuba couldn't by itself tend to, such as health care. Once the USSR stopped its subsidies, Cuba experienced a dramatic fall in health care and basic nutritional levels (Castro, of course, continued to eat like the multi-billionaire he is). Ironically, it was the allowing of U.S. dollars to flow to Cubans by their U.S. relatives AND the opening up of limited capitalism (much of it tourism) that saved Castro's butt. > > Cuba ranks 55th in life expectance out of 226 countries. Given > statistical error, its about a dead heat with the US at 48th. Of > course the US is beaten by counties such as Greece, Spain, Puerto > Rico, Hong Kong, and Malta. So you seem be indicating that While you > feel Cuba has failed in its health policies, so than has the US. > http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/rankorder/2102rank.html > > You imply that, relativly speaking, other of his programs were more > effective (since in relative terms his health and eductation programs > arelowratedcomparedtohis other programs). That would imply that some > of his other programs are as effective or more so than those in the > US. What programs were these? > > In terms of literacy, out of 67 rankings (many more countries -- due > to lots of ties) Cuba is tied for 7th place (94%), compared to the US > at 4th place at 97%. Of course the US is bested by Poland, Russia, > Jamacia, Hungary, and Tonga. So we probably have a lot to learn from > those coutries. > > It appears that you feel the 3% difference between the US and Cuba > representsa dismal failure of Cuba. I wouldn't be so harsh. They did > better than Mexico, Greece and Hong Kong. > > http://www.theodora.com/wfb/1992/rankings/literacy_pct_1.html Go compare Cuba's situation relative to the rest of Latin America to their position today. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Get fast access to your favorite Yahoo! Groups. Make Yahoo! your home page http://us.click.yahoo.com/dpRU5A/wUILAA/yQLSAA/JjtolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
