People & Power - Reforming Cuba's ailing economy - 14 Mar 09 - Part 2

People & Power looks at the effects of Cubas economic reforms. Fifty years ago, Cubans embraced his socialist principles. But now, after almost two decades of economic hardship, an increasing number of Cubans, especially the young, no longer believe in the socialist dream their grandparents fought for.

Castro's brother Raul, who now leads the country, has embarked on a series of social and economic reforms that embody the principles of capitalism more than they do socialism.
Among the reforms, the change in the agricultural sector and salary system have been the most ambitious. Raul's new system gives Cubans who earn a typical salary of just $17 a month an incentive to work hard and make more money, allowing workers to earn performance bonuses. The concept itself is astonishing to generations who have been raised in a hard-line Communist Party doctrine emphasizing equality in all things, including wages.
The hope is that the reforms will kick start the ailing Cuban economy, but for many young Cubans, this is too little, too late. When the Soviet Union ended its financial support for Cuba in 1990, the shortcomings of Castro's socialist experiment were exposed, persuading many young Cubans to try and leave the country, risking everything to reach the shores of the world's most capitalist country, America.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Castro
• Cuba
• Aljazeera
• Al Jazeera
• Raul
• Cuban Reforms
• Soviet Union
• Samah El-Shahat

[deeznutzsun]

there's worser countries in latin america than fucking cuba man!!!!

[DukeAlba]

Cuba used to be a country people emigrated to. Now people leave Cuba... Only when the old generation in government dies will there be change in Cuba.

[Mailb0x1]

@rednemesis88 I hope that the socialism in Cuba gets better and that Cuba life standards will get better. Because that will prove that communism is not that bad after all.

[rednemesis88]

Fidel is not a dictator. Dictators don't teach the poor literacy. Dictators don't arm the people from the threat of invasion. Dictators don't provide free medical care. Dictators don't ration the food products among the people. Dictators don't cut off diplomatic ties with Israel over the mistreatment of Palestinians. Dictators don't organize teams of doctors to go and provide free medical care to the poor in third world countries. If Castro is a Dictator then he is the strangest one there is.

[chingatumadreex]

Great Cuba reporting!

[asnazarov]

The person a least sympathize with is the guy trying to leave... Of course what this whole report fails to mention is that Cuba has a higher standard of living than any capitalist carribean or central american nation, and that it has the highest Human development index of any nonwestern nation... The revolution was the greatest thing that happened to Cuba, and if it is defeated, then cuba will turn into another banana republic, with no health care, education..

[superduperboyx]

Anyone think this guy will ...for the most part forget about his family and makeup likes to them? I mean serously.. this guy was desperate to leave and he mentions a lot about taking care of himself first, then his family. I'm thinking he'll work a lot in Texas.. but will screw around with other women, somehow whatever reason becomes a US Citizen by marrying someone or does something and stays in the US + start a new family... OK if not he'll get deported back to square one.. lol.

[MrKillien]

did anyone see the mason sign at 4:27? it's on top of the globe.

[mrshutter77]

If there is anyone that has not been to Cuba I would highly recommend you go, IT WILL SURPISE YOU regarldess of where you stand on the issue, it has changed many people, it turned revolutionary romantics into anti-castro exiler supporters, it turned anti-castos into pro-revolutionaries, but for 80% of the people who visit it their views (be on the right or left) usually end up in the middle because they stop Cuba & so much black & white terms & more in the gary terms that it is. 

[mrshutter77]

If you are gonna give Cubans an adjustment act, you might as well give that to all Latin Americans. Regardless of who is in power in Cuba, the fact is Cuba with a population of 11 million people and growing, can only sustain so many people because it's an Island, people will continue to immigrate from Cuba to North America & Europe no matter who is in power because Cuba is in the end an Island.

[mrshutter77]

This video is further evidence that- this Economic Blockade needs to be lifted, Cuban government needs to make it easier for people to travel freely, the United States as well other "wealthy" nations, be Canada, Spain, France or whomever must be much more flexible in granting Visas to Cubans. Hopefully a Ferry connecting Cuba with Mexico, Jamaica, Haiti, Bahamas & the US would establsihed soon No prefrencial adjustment act is worth risking ones life for. All sides need to give in & compromise!