How Democracy Works in Cuba

[@johnherrera5261]

Imagine how good Cuba would be if the US actually let it run itself

[@clairofan01]

*places massive sanctions and embargos* damn lol why does socialism suck

[@indianshrek4299]

@@clairofan01 Yeah, it's a complete mystery, socialism sure does suck

[@Discotekh_Dynasty]

When the US does a Yugoslavia in 20 years the Cubans will take miami

[@alpharenz1329]

Is anyone here a Cuban??? Oh wait I'm... Cuba sucks! My grandfather owned one grocery store and one farm land. When Castro came to power the government removed his business. Killed him in front of his daughters for speaking against the communist party. The atrocities this regime has done is massive. Millions of stories look at sinking of tugboat 13 de Marzo. The embargo is and was self-inflicted.

[@joeybattlefieldv2641]

It would still be shitty.

[@tequestaorangejuice6673]

I am proud to be Cuban. Long live the Cuban Revolution, Long live revolutionary socialism, Long live internationalism

[@bertieclayton4865]

Acre ! Do u live in Cuba comrade

[@tequestaorangejuice6673]

Unfortunately, no. I live in Miami. My father is Cuban, and he ''escaped the dictatorship'' when he was a teenager in the 1970s via a raft. I was born in the United States by chance: My mother, pregnant with me, and father were on vacation in Cuba, visiting my fathers family. This was near the end of her term, and according to her she was about to give birth and the Cuban officials wouldn't let her leave because being on the brink of birth while on an airplane is not safe at all. Regardless, she put up so much of a fuss that they let her go, and I was born in Miami. This is one of the things I hate most about my parents. I could've been born in my homeland. But I was stripped away and taken to the imperialist US, and the chances of me having a developmental problem because of the place ride was high. They risked my life and robbed me of my birthplace. Regardless, I have gained Cuban citizenship and have visited Cuba many times Viva Fidel! Cuba Libre!

[@Only.D.G.]

Acre ! if you love Kuba then go and stay there, moron

[@tequestaorangejuice6673]

D G I do love Cuba and I have gone and stayed there, many times in fact. If I were able to stay, I would've. However, I was unfortunately too young and couldn't make legal decisions on my own behalf.

[@Only.D.G.]

Acre ! you can emigrate now

[@The80sWolf_]

In Cuba, your next door neighbour who makes pizza for a living can come into political power. In USA you vote for the one with the most money and its best friends.

[@diagorasofmel0s]

if the pizza guy is good enough,

[@chilli1472]

Diagoras of Melos I don’t see how the baking skills of the pizza guy is relevant here

[@briannab4037]

No, they cannot. This is blatantly false.

[@josecamargo8685]

The 80's Wolf i wonder why only castro would run for president then

[@luispnrf]

@@josecamargo8685 In reality Cuba's president is Miguel Díaz-Canel and, contrary to USA's president, his parents where regular working people.

[@internetisinteresting7720]

This is one of a few videos on youtube that is very acurate about Cuba, i´m Cuban and i live in Cuba. NICE VIDEO!!!

[@internetisinteresting7720]

@@yakutyakutson8719 ok anytime

[@Kayclau]

@@internetisinteresting7720 is it OK if I look you up in Facebook too?

[@internetisinteresting7720]

@@Kayclau lol, ok no problem

[@Justme-fz1ng]

Are u a communist or a supporter of the revolution?not nessesarily part of the party but a supporter?

[@internetisinteresting7720]

@@Justme-fz1ng i´m a cuban, that know good stuff that the comunist goberment have done, but also know that A LOT of stuff in cuba have to change, including a lot of politicians that haven't done a single hit in the economical way of our country in years.

[@DanovYT]

It's a shame that even with detailed explanations and a massive amount of sources to support them, some commenters *still* deny the existence of the Cuban democracy. If you're not willing to learn the truth, then why bother clicking on the video in the first place?

[@lethos8811]

Danov im cuban and i lived there all my life until recently and I deny it. Communism is a hoax, deal with it

[@DanovYT]

Alain Dulon Anecdotal fallacy.

[@lethos8811]

Danov ok, go live there, they will welcome you as long as you have money. Is easy to advocate for communism from the 1st world capitalist comfort.

[@DanovYT]

Alain Dulon Burden of proof fallacy.

[@lethos8811]

Danov nope, wrong this time, I did not say you should proof anything. I just stated that if you like communism that much and believe in the cuban communism you can go live there and find out for yourself if what you think you know is true, you wont be convinced by me so all thats left is for you to learn on your own.

[@pab9720]

The model of implementing Democracy in a socialist country like Cuba, should be an example for future socialist states

[@ufodeath]

There is also the Libyan jamahiriya which was a highly direct form of democracy that existed during Qaddafi's leadership.

[@ufodeath]

"lol" what?

[@ufodeath]

Why do you believe any of that stuff you claim about Libya?

[@ufodeath]

"you live in it" for one, anyone can make that claim. Two, your personal views inside your own country is one opinion out of many; personal accounts are very unreliable, especially on hot button issues. Three, the overwhelming majority of people in Libya disagree with you. Four, the "rebels" were created and funded by the CIA in the first place. Five, all the Libyans i know want their Jamahiriya system of participatory democracy back. six, Libya made massive improvements that dramatically improved the standard of living for Libyans - back when it was still an independent country, now the country is in complete ruins and in complete neglect. Seven, there is no way a decent Libyan person could support the destruction of their country, the whole-sale degradation of their society by the west, and a political system over Libya that is controlled by and for western interest.

[@richneuro6121]

The Cuban political system is copied and pasted from the Soviet political system...

[@melon_man_dan6888]

Ew I got a prager u ad

[@fun_ghoul]

Ads...so weird! My ABP isn't working now for some reason. I'm gonna have to sort that shit out soon. The ads make my brains turn to marshmallow fluff.

[@fun_ghoul]

Also, Prager U should demand their money back! Don't think they'll be selling much fascist dog whistle training or whatever on this channel...

[@infinitasalo472]

Same lol

[@HenkdeYouTubesteen]

Conspiracy Fearist prager u is actually a good Channel. Go watch

[@fun_ghoul]

_"prager u is actually a good Channel. Go watch"_ You're stupid, Henk. Lemme guess, you're a teenager with no friends.

[@MassDynamic]

this seems more democratic than the two-party bs

[@fun_ghoul]

I'm from Canada, and I can tell you with certainty that more political parties does not make for increased representation for workers in government. In Cuba, all candidates are essentially independents, despite all personally belonging to the Communist Party; this is akin to a registered Democrat who runs for office as an independent. Sorry, I guess that last part rehashes the video. Cheers.

[@tropinnka]

Yes one party that you can’t vote against, much more democratic

[@fun_ghoul]

@@tropinnka You're stupid, kid. STFU and enjoy your easy-ass life in Miami.

[@teaxor4392]

@@tropinnka He literally explains that parties are irrelevant watch the fucking video

[@dragnell1348]

@@teaxor4392 I have some concern, if the goverment forsake the people over idiology how the hell they change that ?

[@utopiaboardsandwheels9755]

I was in Cuba and followed an electoral event. It's just like you explained.

[@davidstrelec610]

But shhh gusanos are being butthurt they say it’s a Holocaust there

[@ronniehopper2726]

@@davidstrelec610 Said the person using an ethnic slur said the person

[@MrTaxiRob]

@@ronniehopper2726 it's not an ethnic slur, it's a political slur

[@ronniehopper2726]

@@MrTaxiRob it's an ethnic slur by every definition

[@MrTaxiRob]

@@ronniehopper2726 no, it isn't. It means "worm," it doesn't refer to ANY particular ethnicity. You can pretend at being offended by it, but that's probably because you're a worm with nothing better to do than start an argument.

[@joelfaustino7846]

So basically Cuba is pretty dank

[@xavierrodriguez2463]

>50 million dead in China, 20 million dead in Russia. >Both Countries experienced massive growth in population. Pick one

[@itamarreina4234]

Extremely dank

[@thefirstprimariscatosicari6870]

Free Helicopter Rides Most of the death in China were not directly related to communism, but more to the fact that they had just exited a civil war and were under embargo by most West Countries.

[@chippypills]

He means that they died naturally from overpopulation.

[@xavierrodriguez2463]

'Because growth justifies mass killings and ethnic cleansing campaigns' Because these countries can somehow grow by killing millions of people.

[@rubenlarochelle1881]

Just a little remainder to some of the commenters here and other people who might read: Please, don't talk about Cuba as being democratic _despite_ being socialist: real socialism is *inherently* democratic, way more than Western liberal "democracies". On the opposite, talk about those other bad examples of "big bad evil commies" as being non-democratic _despite_ claiming to be socialists, which is a lot more accurate.

[@rubenlarochelle1881]

@@JohnSmith-mc2zz You are literally repeating liberal propaganda. That's a bold accusation you're making there, and pretty much out of nowhere. Do you have anything to prove it? If you ask me, for example, the US is a non-democratic one-party oligarchy.

[@rubenlarochelle1881]

​@@JohnSmith-mc2zz Your first comment is still there, I can see it, but KZbin has bugs once in a while. Anyway. Cuba. Cuba has a non-partisan democracy, where every citizen can run for elections and no one gets to rule on anything if not elected by the majority of the people, who by the way can also revoke the mandate prematurely if they wish so. The almighty evil party you have been told about and blindly repeat literally does not exist. There are no parties in Cuba. There is one organisation that has "party" in the name, the one you refer to, but it's a symbolic remnant of the country's history and holds literaly no power. It's the Latin American version of the Japanese emperor. Anything you're attributing to "the party" is simply to be attributed to the government, like in any other country. And no, the "evil restrictions" are only towards the fascist scum that cries about being oppressed, just like it's happening in Europe or the US. The US only having one party is insane? Why? How many parties are there? What differences do they have? Did you know Trump was a Dem candidate once, do you? If «a one-party state is a state that operates with one party (...) and it's not allowed to be disregarded, voted out, overthrown. The people are in essence forced to have this party», like you just said, then how does this not describe the US?

[@rubenlarochelle1881]

@@JohnSmith-mc2zz And what non-elected or in any other way non-democratic powers is this "party" supposed to have, again?

[@rubenlarochelle1881]

​@@JohnSmith-mc2zz Is it a "party" just because you choose to believe to the name ignoring any context? As I said, the existence (and name) of the "party" is only a symbolic remnant of the country's past: they overthrew a dictator and are rightfully still proud of having done that. This doesn't mean the people who did are still seizing power. Cuba is governed by democratically elected citizens, without any interference by anyone. The whole mechanism is completely non-partisan. "Communist Party of Cuba" is basically the formal name of the institutions, and they act much more neutral than lots of other countries. Do you perhaps have any example of a Cuban citizen who wanted to legally change the government but was not allowed to?

[@rubenlarochelle1881]

@@JohnSmith-mc2zz Your mind is fascinating.

[@Silverwind87]

USA: Communism will always destroy itself in the end. Just look at Cuba. Cuba: Quit telling everyone I'm dead!

[@historyeditz8326]

Bro socialism is right word none of the countries which are claimed Communist described themselves as Communist they describe themselves as socialist also socialist countries are not as simple to be ruled because since the day 1 of any socialist government the imperial powers are on the mission to destroy socialism.

[@Silverwind87]

@@historyeditz8326 Yes I'm aware. Countries are socialist, leaders are communist.

[@historyeditz8326]

@@Silverwind87 yes.

[@GiorgosTube]

or communist, Cuba is socialist, there has never been a communist country, they've all been socialist, yes even the ussr, communism might be the end goal but none have reached it

[@doodles4funo569]

Lol

[@layschipsmarketing8562]

Wow this is incredible to learn about. As a student in the American education system, we are rarely told the truth about anything. This really opened my eyes.

[@rawrthorne9577]

Just like the students in the Cuban educational system. Growing up in Cuba, you are taught that living in the US is too dangerous. Going to your local grocery would be too dangerous because citizens will shoot you down. You are also taught that the US is very racist and divided ( which is true to an extent) meanwhile Cuba has a higher African population but having lower representation of Africans in government than the US. Brainwashing is their main goal.

[@aram69420]

​@@rawrthorne9577 It is told everywhere that walking anywhere at night in the US is dangerous because anyone can own a gun and you never feel safe walking in the US. Also lower representation of African doesn't mean Cuban citizen as a whole are more racist than the US or any other country lol, it's more complicated than that.

[@alpharenz1329]

Basic life is simple in Cuba. Government is your abusive daddy. He gives you a roof over your head, gives you a job, gives you basic food, healthcare and education. You owe your entire life to the government. You can't escape it. You are not allowed to want more. Because it will be taken away, all of it if you oppose it. It's too late for the Cubans. They have settled being subjugated. Thier 👑 is el comandante.

[@jpspillz9218]

@@rawrthorne9577all of that is true tho. Walking outside at night in the US is very dangerous. And we are incredibly divided and racist.

[@heyman6087]

@@aram69420to a extent yes mainly in the school environments though

[@libzbond]

When a communist country is more democratic than KZbin's community guidelines

[@atastypineapple9296]

Ok that made me giggle a little 😂

[@sovietbot6708]

Businesses run as dictatorships

[@Scrappi]

socialist*

[@1308HK]

Communist never stand for dictatorship. Communist is far more democratic than you think

[@vibings.]

@@1308HK Communism is an economic system in which the means of production are owned by the state. They stand for an authoritarian government and a classless economy, which will make sure everyone has an equal opportunity to make the same amount of money. Sounds pretty dictatorial and un-democratic to me.

[@roguelobster4278]

"But Castro stole my plantation and took away my family's status and overthrew Batista and his thugs with this democracy bullshit."- every Gusano ever

[@missZoey5387]

My grandfather grew up middle class and my father was poor back in Cuba, or at least, didn't have much. Not every exile who came here was a fan of the Batista regime, and some even fought against him

[@demetriosk3650]

@@missZoey5387 cope

[@demetriosk3650]

@@missZoey5387 “middle class” was pretty elite in a country with 25% unemployment and where almost a fourth of the population was illiterate lmao

[@missZoey5387]

@@demetriosk3650 Yeah I suppose lol

[@missZoey5387]

@@demetriosk3650 Nah, cope is wack

[@ComradeRhys]

Modern Cuba is a workers' democracy. Ordinary Cubans have a level of democratic participation that we in 'these countries' can only dream of. However, the Cuban state is set up to firmly suppress any person or any organisation attempting to send Cuba back to the old Capitalist/Neo Colonial order when the people of Cuba were being oppressed by the US sponsored butcher, Batista. Cuban Socialism is firmly established, but the Miami Mafia and the US government are actively trying to subvert the revolution; this could definitely explain the dozens of assassination attempts on Fidel Castro when he was the leader of Cuba. Therefore, the Cuban state cannot afford to rest, indeed, with the growth of tourism, which was introduced to aid economic recovery, the Cuban state has to keep its eyes peeled. Excellent video, comrade!

[@infinitasalo472]

Comrade Rhys Very well put. Many people don't understand that in order to protect general freedom, you have to take away the freedom to attack freedom.

[@compuguy123]

You can't assassinate the entire electoral roll lmao

[@Blod1998]

By dozens of assasination attempts I assume you mean hundreds?

[@briannab4037]

This is hilarious considering that Cuban workers are treated like garbage and that modern Cuba is essentially a state capitalist oligarchy.

[@Dave102693]

So, freedom is bad when it's not your freedom? Wut?

[@logangagnepain7154]

The fact that you must win smaller stages of government before climbing to larger stages, all with completely open ballot reads, is tremendously democratic Edit: While I am politically similar to as I was when i wrote this, I no longer think this is democratic.

[@DavidWestwater-vq6qy]

You can vote for anything you want in Cuba except to get rid of socialism

[@logangagnepain7154]

@@DavidWestwater-vq6qy i look back at what I said with sadness. Im still a socialist, but yeah, Cuba ain't a full democracy

[@saophhire]

@@logangagnepain7154 More democratic then America. There is no full democracy anywhere.

[@zixiv3144]

@@logangagnepain7154 how

[@zixiv3144]

@@DavidWestwater-vq6qy this is like saying america isnt a democracy bc no one wants to go back to feudalism

[@missyrivas8623]

People are going to be seeing this now because of the recent attempt at a color revolution there by the US- it would be awesome to have a video covering how the criminal justice system works there (how the people are directly involved, lay prosecution, lay judges etc, how it's a true example of community policing even down to regular reexamination of laws and sentencing, often leading to reducing sentences for many crimes or decriminalization all together)

[@coopergates9680]

If content on Cuba's sane incarceration embarrasses the divided states of America even more, with, say, its "War on drugs", how much worse will the DSA's sanctions and other restrictions on Cuba get?

[@playedtoomuch5259]

It was an astro-turfed movement it never had broad support only support from the small percentage of people who they gave money to

[@kaiserwilhelmii1827]

Something anti-communists fail to realize is that the ideal communist state is always democratic. Also, communism doesn't breed authoritarianism

[@ronniehopper2726]

Then why is every attempt at your shitty ideology devolved into authoritarian genocide

[@redbassist5590]

"B-but a vanguard party will always lead to totalitarianism!"

[@chippypills]

That's an opinion, not a fact. Go read a dictionary.

[@atm1947]

lmao, these hot takes are tremendous

[@chippypills]

atm 487 What?

[@stephenowen3383]

I mean I would add that there was horrific persecution of homosexuals. It is also somewhere with a near entirely state controlled TV, crackdowns on political dissidents according to Human Rights Watch, and a having had over 200,000 political prisoners across its socialist era, with the second highest number of journalists imprisoned. That and also generally the huge state controlled nature not being totalitarian sure, but not exactly final stage communism. It isn't totalitarian, and whilst I am someone who dislikes revolution, Cuba is definitely close to a very good example of revolutionary socialism, even if it definitely hasn't become a communist nation like it intended.

[@Kolokommouna]

Commander Red I think he is being sarcastic

[@MrReco12]

True Democratic Socialism!.

[@tequestaorangejuice6673]

Democratic Socialism, as in achieving socialism through democracy, will never work. The bourgeois own the state and the democracy is never a true one, always won by a member of the bourgeois. Thats why 20 years after Castro came to power violently, Cuba was prospering. Thats why 20 years after Mao Zedong came to power violently, China was industrialized. Thats why democratically elected Salvador Allende was able to be overthrown so easily by a US-backed fascist. Thats why democratically elected Chavez and now Maduro were/are struggling to build socialism in Venezuela and why the bourgeois Opposition is still around. Democratic Socialism is a cancer to the internationalist socialist global proletariat. But democracy in socialism, that is absolutely necessary. Democracy like that of Cuba, the USSR, China, or the DPRK is what is correct. Democracy in socialism? Absolutely crucial. Democratic Socialism? Absolutely disgusting. Make the distinction clear.

[@chippypills]

...or you could achieve communism like Bernie Sanders, oh, he lost the election... :(

[@chippypills]

I still believe that democracy in socialism is democratic socialism.

[@justanothergamer9570]

Acre !: I actually had this misconception until very recently. It turns out that democratic socialism does not mean the achievement of socialism through democratic means. It refers to a form of socialism, typically achieved through revolutionary means, but which implements democracy as part of its system. Sometimes, the term "democratic socialism" is used synonymously with our general understanding of "socialism", but with the intention of distancing ourselves from non-democratic socialist states.

[@chippypills]

Ah...

[@fntatn]

For the past year or so, I started getting into politics, history and geography, and it honestly breaks me to find out stuff like this, I was taught to think Cuba was evil, I was taught to think that it was a broken communist hellhole. But thankfully I don't just blindly take in what I'm told to by my surroundings anymore, best choice ever.

[@nopenotme3373]

Well you should go back to you previous position, Cuba is indeed a totalitarian hellhole.

[@fntatn]

@@nopenotme3373 I'll think about it

[@historyeditz8326]

@@nopenotme3373 yet Usa witness raid on Capitol not Cuba.

[@spongeman6559]

@@nopenotme3373 lift the terriffs on the small island nation and watch as your views fall apart. If Cuba had land to grow its own shit it would likely be a global super power.

[@cozmoknot]

“And by these countries I mean this country” XD Love from the “democratic” US Also long live the Cuban revolution🇨🇺

[@ericstone4444]

Wait, what’s the role of the Castro family (specifically Roul and the deceased Fidel) in Cuban politics, since they talk about them so much on the news as the “dictators”

[@sumcate8168]

Eric Fager am interested as well

[@sinthoras1917]

Fidel and Raul Castro both are/ were committed revolutionaries back from 1959. That Raul followed Fidel as the leader of the country is not nepotism, how it often is portrayed in western media.

[@ericstone4444]

sinthoras yes, I’m following that, but my question was really about what their role as “leader of the country” meant what powers do they have over the state?

[@sinthoras1917]

ah ok. Now I myself am no expert on Cuba, so I just hope someone else with more expertise will answer you then.

[@2CheKapone]

My understanding is that the old guard revolutionaries like Fidel and Raul have sort of a moral authority within the system, as they were the ones who made and led the revolution. They are elected by the National Assembly into the Council of State where they administrate the revolutionary process. The head of state can make proposals to the National Assembly, which the NA tends to approve most of the time, but not in all cases. The head of state cannot rule by decree.

[@itamarreina4234]

But what about human nature?????

[@chippypills]

No, Karl Marx hated totalitarianism, Stalin is a traitor, not even George Orwell liked him. (He was a communist.)

[@tpgslmth4252]

Chippy Pills U sure George Orwell was a Socialist? I got a Compilation of his writtings on relevant topics and in it he is rather pessimistic about socialism and doesn't associate himself with it, though he is fairly fond of socialist ideals...

[@chippypills]

He lived in a time where socialism was frowned upon, what did you expect? "I'M GEORGE, AND I'M A SOCIALIST!!!!!!!!" -The last thing Orwell said before he was executed.

[@stephenowen3383]

Well that is as ever the weakness of socialism. The denial of human nature, or at least heavy subversion of it, is one of the prime reasons for Stalin and Pol Pot like atrocities. Of course the fact that Castro is massively wealthy is just another example in favour of the notion that people are self-interested, no matter what economic system people live under.

[@stephenowen3383]

He was. Read The Road To Wigan Pier. A hero of the left and of humanity. One of those people, like Tony Benn in the UK and imo Noam Chomsky in the US who we should all respect.

[@arthurofalsen2110]

All of this is true and all of it happens but it doesn't do anything. The national assembly has no executive power and neither does local government. The cdr isn't what this video makes it out to be, the cdr is more like a neighborhood watch/secret service police. The commander in chief is the only real part of the government that has any executive power and ends up being the only one that has any power. The national assembly has most of the legislative power, but it doesn't really have any power to enforce any laws. The biggest problem in Cuba is lack of resources. Like you said, the delegates will call on you at all hours of the day, but you will never have the resources to actually help them. I remember the concrete benches of the park in front of my house always being tore up and broken, they would be fixed every few years and then they would go back to being broken (the committee isn't to blame for this though, people are just assholes and they would break oof pieces for themselves). I also remember a pothole forming in the street at the front of my house when I was seven years old and to this day it has not been repaired. People are really poor in Cuba, you can't advance past local government and get to the national assembly unless you're corrupt or you're part of the party, you can technically do it, but no one has the time or the resources and only militants get to be a part of the national government. Also, said that secret service won't throw in jail for voting against someone they don't like, but the cdr will and does break protests and manifestations. They won't throw in jail but they will beat tf out of you and make sure you never do something crazy again. It happened to "Panfilo", he did a video saying that Cuba needs food and he got in trouble with the government. The way Cuba was set up was the true way socialism should be carried out, with a weak central legislative government so that when the revolution came to be, the government would eventually run its course and not be needed anymore so the nation could be truly communist. But the only position that has any power is the commander in chief. I'm not saying that was necessarily bad for Cuba, but it has made Cuba less democratic at points.

[@arthurofalsen2110]

I speak from personal experience, I lived in Cuba with my parents, the my very militant grandfather and my very capitalist grandmother. (Whose bookclub was shut down for some really shade reasons). I'm not saying that the government actively sensors people, "Vivir Del Cuento" is a good example of the government not censoring dissidence, but the media is state controlled and the government is very cynical, paranoid, and generally shady when it comes to "dissidence".

[@CDexie]

@@arthurofalsen2110 I think paranoid is excusable, when you have the strongest empire in right above your head and they have very good reasons to hate you~

[@arthurofalsen2110]

@@CDexie eh, paranoia is not a valid reason to limit human rights

[@CDexie]

@@arthurofalsen2110 Nope, never meant to say it is. Forgive me, not excusable, understandable would be more apt.

[@arthurofalsen2110]

@@CDexie ehhh still

[@fadhil3596]

Oh Cuba, what a loveable country.

[@thefinnishbolshevik2404]

Great work

[@GustavoRodriguez-qr5po]

TheFinnishBolshevik cuba 🇨🇺 has a new President Miguel Diaz-Canel

[@kuba2ve]

Does it help if I tell you that I am Cuban and I have lived there for most of my life? Do you know that a Cuban earns around $25 a month? Do you know that the Cuban economy is a HUGE mess and there is no incentive for the people to work and everything always fall apart? Do you know that for the most part, all industries in Cuba are just what was inherited from the Capitalist past, businesses that were expropriated from owners in 1960s? Do you know they created a hierarchical bureaucratic apparatus, where all local decisions have to be risen up to a central government, creating an extremely clumsy and inefficient way of governance that has destroyed virtually ALL industries and perpetuated a culture of mediocrity and corruption at all levels? Do you know that whenever they open the doors a little bit for small business to flourish, right on their faces they can see small businesses do things more efficiently and with better quality than everything state-owned? Then they start attacking the small businesses, with stupid taxes and regulations that nobody can comply with, and everybody knows it is just them trying to close doors again? Do you know that all youth wants to get the hell out of there? Do you know that about 70% of all people that studied with me, I have found them in facebook all across the world? They leave Cuba for USA, Spain, France, Germany, Brazil, ... anywhere but that place without future. I am Cuba and I had enough of those fucking communist pricks. If this is not a valid evidence, then I'm sorry, since you can't rely on the evidence provided by the Cuban government, since they manipulate information, in an attempt to present an image that is not real.

[@orlandoluispardolazo]

Please, add your signature pro-Cuba at www.CubaDecide.org Thank you!

[@montagekurt8531]

@@kuba2ve Nobody cares about your western lies.

[@kuba2ve]

@@montagekurt8531 Nobody cares about your delusion either. You wanna keep thinking Cuba is a vibrant democracy? Go on, it is you the one who is lying to yourself...

[@SinisterSi718113]

I love Cuba

[@chippypills]

That's Stalinism, I'm not a big Stalin fan either. I like the original ideas of Karl Marx.

[@chippypills]

Stalinism is a certain type of communism, it has the disadvantages of communism, but not the advantages. It's also totalitarian, George Orwell was a communist, but he didn't like Stalin.

[@chippypills]

First of all communism is a vast definition, not all communism is totalitarian, only some. The first nations were communist, and they lived happy until capitalism showed up! Second, socialism is like communism, but less extreme; the only reason why George Orwell wasn't totally communist was because he believed that there should be a little reward for work, you can go too far with anything. :)

[@chippypills]

Bobby Lawson is a brony

[@chippypills]

Bobby Lawson The First Nations equally distributed wealth, like in communism! I’m also brony.

[@adamgray2060]

This is a great video! I'd love to see more on similar topics in this style, on on historical topics, like democracy in the USSR.

[@DrCruel]

Kinda like Jewish welfare programs in Nazi Germany.

[@conorshannon444]

Nobody is going to lie and say that the USSR had democracy

[@DrCruel]

@@conorshannon444 You'd be surprised. I wouldn't.

[@jpspillz9218]

@@conorshannon444guess what! They did! I know, shocker. I lived my whole life thinking it was a dictatorship, but turns out that was Cold War propaganda 😅

[@dirtydirtyshisno7284]

@@conorshannon444it actually had a lot of similarities to the Cuban system lmao

[@josephstalin6492]

00:06 A map with Norway highlighted but Sweden is grey. A strange yet wonderful thing to see. (Is it the map over NATO nations?)

[@trooper9013]

Truls Skogli Fosshaug it is

[@farenhite4329]

Lmao that’s an amazing joke.

[@cakeisyummy5755]

He is swedish.

[@despa7726]

I think so yeah, as NATO is literally THE Western imperialist military organisation.

[@despa7726]

(don't be fooled, though. sweden is as imperialist, if not more than norway. we have more well known companies originating from here.)

[@BreezeTeam]

Only a matter of time till this video gets removed. The "Red Scare" is strong in America once again.

[@outofideas42]

Thank you so much for this. As a monolingual Englishman, with the censorship imposed by the US, it's incredibly hard to access this kind of information. Your citations are incredibly helpful. I've always known Cuba is democratic, but the exact mechanism was difficult to find - turns out they run their democracy exactly as I would like my country to. Easy subscription. When I'm less broke, an easy patron sub.

[@caiovalenca8447]

That's a very informative video, congratulations, man, it's hard to find accurute stuff about Cuba! Um salve do Brasil 🇧🇷🇨🇺 #HastaLaVictoriaSiempre

[@antonioscendrategattico2302]

Cuban democracy sounds very similar to early pre-capitalist conceptions of democracy, except it has managed to not get overthrown. And I think we should hold it up as example and let it spur us to go back to the drawing board and actually do the work of figuring out how to scale a similarly democratic model to bigger nations and even possibly supranational organizations. I'm convinced that in my country a similar system would be applicable. And I think a lot of people, even ones who identify as right-leaning, would love it. Can't see it working out for countries like the USA, China or India, sadly.

[@DrCruel]

The pre-capitalist form of democracy you must be referring to is feudalism.

[@antonioscendrategattico2302]

@@DrCruel Nnno, feudalism is what imperial conquest turned those local democracies into. A good example would be the city state of Novgorod that, before being subverted by the Duchy of Moscow, was an independent democratic city state. Democracy existed before the 18th century.

[@dylian_]

The thing is that Cuba is not democratic their leadership doesnt listen to their people, to the point where they are in the top 20 worst dictatorships in the world according the World Democracy Index (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy_Index) . The Communist Party there has banned and oppressed the other parties and are oppressing their citizens. Countries like the United States and Britain have flawed democracies, but reform is already taking place there where it isnt in revolutionary Communist states. Athens, the 'pre-capitalism democracy' (only free men were allowed to vote), was not truly a democracy either, but it is still better then the North-Koreaesq Cuban 'Democracy'.

[@antonioscendrategattico2302]

@@dylian_ Athens being better than Cuba is... not a great take imo. Athens had literal slavery. For all the flaws Cuba might have, it's still better than a system that includes slavery.

[@antonioscendrategattico2302]

@@dylian_ And I'd also say that European and American democracies aren't getting reformed for the better. If anything, they're getting worse.

[@Bellocks1]

Very interesting video. Thank you for uploading.

[@AfroMarxist]

Great Video

[@PentaSquares]

Cuba don't sound too bad of a country. It seems like a nice place, but then again it's pretty close to the equator.

[@rbxless]

Better visit before climate change catches up!

[@jangurschler8095]

Can you also make a video about the problems in Cuba, because this unironically looks like paradise

[@daseapickleofjustice7231]

While there are some problems those are regular problems any country faces. Just because Cubas socialism makes them a more humanitarian country than all others doesn't mean they have problems because of it. It's not a paradise it's a normal country except the people can feel better about themselves knowing the bourgeoisie doesn't oppress them and do what they want in their lives since no capitalist system holds them back

[@marxismfeminismmaoism9408]

Well due to their centrally planned economy sometimes people aren't able to get the food they want. Doesn't mean they can't not get food, but sometimes the food you want isn't available. Their cities also has some walls which are a bit chipped and cracked. However they still have great education system, a great medical system and their central economy works wonders even with it's issues

[@justanormalyoutubeuser3868]

They lack many products because of the economic war imposed by the US so many people don't have access to luxuries but all basic needs are guaranteed. The economy is growing at a decent pace despite the embargo so we may see things improving there but it is likely going to take a long time.

[@trygd100]

@@daseapickleofjustice7231 a one party police State is not to be compared with regular States. Cuba is a socialist dictatorship. No free speech

[@daseapickleofjustice7231]

@@trygd100 something makes me feel like you haven't watched the video especially when he mentioned many people run independently and how the party is just a remnant of the revolution. Also yes there is free speech in Cuba. Without criticism the state wouldn't change but it has and will probably in the future too.

[@olbluelips]

Cuba has managed to build a great and caring society! A shining example to the world

[@cuetoaa7074]

Where did they build it?? Cuz it definitely wasn't on the island

[@blackchrysler]

@@cuetoaa7074 keep copingg

[@nerothos]

@@cuetoaa7074 I didn't know you could outsource entire societies. Very cool!

[@basedcomrade1595]

It is like Soviet democracy, really.

[@fnutarf2085]

it really isn't about capitalism or communism but rather authoritarianism and liberalism (In my undisputable opinion)

[@RafaelSantos-ef6gv]

@@fnutarf2085 its more about socialism vs democracy in capitalism. In socialist societies the means if production are owned by the people or worker co-ops and the state is democraticly governed by the people. The manifestation of socialism can be seen in the representation if workers in the government. Its for workers by workers.

[@fnutarf2085]

@@RafaelSantos-ef6gv yes, the workers right to partake in politics, I think that was missing in the soviet union, could be wrong. Nice catch :)

[@LogicGated]

It's always interesting to hear people perspectives of life in Cuba, I suppose it is just testament to how powerful the US media apparatus is.

[@lexdekker2403]

Thank you for this video! Yesterday I was thinking When is the Cuba democracy video coming (I think you talked about it in a q&a video a long time ago). So, good timing!

[@boon1204]

I love Cuba 🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺

[@hollin220]

Recently found your channel. Wonderful work. Its amazing to me how as an American, Cuba is our 3rd closest neighbor. Its truly disrespectful that the American education system does not teach us ANYTHING about Cuba, let alone this neat in depth look at their electoral process. Thank you

[@limsalalafells]

How can it be a democracy if people have a say and money doesn't?

[@DanTheMiddleagedMan]

Very well made video! Seems like a pretty good system

[@seriousalphabet3276]

Why are your videos demonetized?

[@Nicolas1909_]

bc KZbin employees are classcucks

[@thelightofourdawn3813]

Screwlogy because they know socialism is a treat to their website that they will never fix...

[@xavierrodriguez2463]

He probably demonetized them

[@itamarreina4234]

Xavier Rodriguez No KZbin did

[@HuntingTheEnd]

Because we hold him to his standards or socialism

[@user-rt8sh7xt1d]

Yes i have been waiting for this

[@CenuPwny]

thank you. i really enjoyed hearing much about the assembly of people's power, and to hear that the people of cuba would rather elect those experienced in organizing and labor while addressing the matters of constituents, rather than business men or politicians

[@Aracelerii]

being a Cuban American (2nd Generation), I honestly fell that Cuba has good parts (Such as who can run in elections and healthcare) and bad parts (such as their questionable human rights record), and i think that the US should take notes from the good parts about Cuba, and vice versa

[@arcraz5226]

“Questionable human rights record” That’s a light way of putting it...

[@anuman99ful]

I'm not saying Cuba doesn't have that questionable human rights record (which I actually don't know), but I do know that the US for sure has a REALLY questionable human rights record.

[@farenhite4329]

*LGBT camps intensify* Although I think this is not a fault of socialism but rather a fault of just bad civil rights at the time.

[@anuman99ful]

@@farenhite4329 yeah that's awful but as you say is not a consequence of comunism. On the other hand, to give an example, the US has helped overthrow democratic governments in the most wicked way, think about Chile and what happened to president Allende and who replaced him...

[@drowldr]

Nothing is black and white. Every country has good things and bad things, though some of them have a lot more of one than the other.

[@Firstea1899]

Can you explain why in the latest elections 26,000 opposition presented themselves for nomination and yet only 1 was allowed to appear on the ballot? In one instance a person with 70% of the vote of t he or community was just barred from leaving their house. Thanks, would help a lot in evaluating Cuba’s democracy!

[@AbstractTraitorHero]

Would you bother proving that this is real by showing your source? Widespread lies about Cuba are fairly common.

[@m1ch3lr0m3r0]

"Political parties are permitted in Cuba..." that's false. I am Cuban, and I wish all those things actually worked as described. In any case I don't think voting directly for your president is something that makes other electoral systems better than ours as many argue.

[@petunia9106]

what about the Partido Demócrata Cristiano de Cuba

[@rbxless]

Then why does your bio say you're from Argentina 🤨

[@m1ch3lr0m3r0]

@@rbxless it doesn't say I'm from Argentina, it says I'm in Argentina.

[@rbxless]

@@m1ch3lr0m3r0 True. But there are still political parties there

[@pablomeneses1633]

@@petunia9106Su directiva está exiliada, su presidenta vive en Madrid, y son contrarios al régimen, están constituidos pero no se les permite hacer nada en la isla.

[@o.que3333]

I really wanted to go to Cuba and live there, it seems to be such a beautiful place. love to cuba 🇧🇷❤️🇨🇺

[@mauroroldan1315]

idk if you're kidding, but I'm Cuban and I live in Cuba, and I can tell you that this is not a good country to live, currently 85% of the population wants to emigrate.

[@Redsky973]

@@mauroroldan1315 no wonder, the US blockade is starving you

[@mauroroldan1315]

@@Redsky973 Your comment is so wrong that you simply ignore the fact that the meat we eat here comes from the USA.

[@LittleAl016]

@@mauroroldan1315 Gusano.

[@mauroroldan1315]

@@LittleAl016 thanks, If someone like you who only listens to propaganda says it, I'm flattered

[@RandomHandle120]

Cuban here, born and raised. I was waiting for a punch line by the end of the video, but no, you truly believe this is how things actually work in Cuba. I am shocked!

[@Svea_LifeGuards]

Another Cuban here; yep, I am also shocked. Here's a story my dad told me around the end of the 1990s when he was in a class training to be a police officer in Cuba. They were talking about laws and government, and then the instructor says, "Cuba is a democracy." Then my dad, with a genuine question, stood up and asked, "If we're a democracy, then why does the president never change?" Officer Cadets looked around, thinking, and the instructor says, "Well, because we don't vote for the president. We vote for the people that vote for the people that vote for the people that vote for the president." Then my dad says, "Oh, so they all just eventually pick the same guy to be president?" The instructor responds, "Yes." My dad tells me to this day, "I don't know how we were all not shot.

[@hajihajiwa]

@@Svea_LifeGuardsthe same argument works for the US, which has the electoral college. do you believe that the US is not a democracy?

[@raemmio2761]

@@Svea_LifeGuardsthat’s literally how the US’s democracy works. Does this mean the US is a dictatorship? Should I be worried that I’ll get shot at for saying this? Then again 1000+ people die by police in the US each year.

[@muha0644]

gusano

[@RandomHandle120]

@@hajihajiwa Actually, the US is not a democracy in a technical sense. The US is a Federated Representative Republic. What the US is definitely not, is a dictatorship, which Cuba definitely is; and that's ultimately the point here.

[@logans3365]

this is the most pure democracy I have ever heard about in my life. as an American I was beginning to question if democracy was actually really bad, but seeing this has given me hope that with a proper education system, and removal of propaganda, people really are capable of governing themselves.

[@elpi2804]

I am getting mixed messages, here i get the impression that cuba is more democratic than the US, while the cencorship in cuba is insane.

[@k0mentator507]

In poland also censorship exists, nothing special

[@elpi2804]

@@k0mentator507 Yeah but the extent in cuba is insane, you know almost nothing of the outside world. Only what the government wants you to know you know.

[@k0mentator507]

Elias Piirainen do you have government-"supported" (I mean controlled) TV?

[@elpi2804]

@@k0mentator507 ...It was the first news station in finland, yes...

[@lordkekz4]

@@k0mentator507 So you're saying because there's censorship in Poland it's fine if they do it in Cuba? I don't think censorship is acceptable at all, and just because something isn't "special" doesn't mean it's bad. If every country is a dictatorship that doesn't make dictatorships any less bad!

[@raulsantos892]

First video I saw on the channel, I really liked the information and the quality, it's important to demystify the lies about Cuba even more in Uncle Sam's land. Forgive for the translator's English, hugs from a viewer from Brazil!

[@pedropinho2575]

Amazing work comrade!

[@lunkenris8284]

Great video 👏👏🇨🇺

[@LinkDemonwing]

Man Cuban democracy sounds pretty good, coming from a country with 10 parties and with one of them almost having a century of control, this system really sounds like a better way to do it.

[@xavierlauzac5922]

It sounds appealing until you realize that all the candidates have to be loyal to the communist party.

[@mauroroldan1315]

The first thing you should do is talk to several Cubans, most of them will tell you that there is no democracy in Cuba, and that they do not want communism.

[@chrisgaming9567]

@@mauroroldan1315 I've spoken to several Cubans, they've all said the opposite.

[@alpharenz1329]

@@chrisgaming9567 Cubans have different opinions on this. The ones that stay behind. Most stand with communist policies. Imagine you grew up given a job, rice, basic food, home, healthcare. Propaganda of loving and *needing* the government. Would you be negative of that government? Your not allowed to want more for yourself or for your family. Or you have to be very good at hiding those urges.

[@mauroroldan1315]

@@chrisgaming9567 yes? And what they told you?🧐 im very curious about it

[@GamerKiwi]

Very relevant now, thank you

[@flashlight4380]

Great video and a really well explained. You definitely deserve more subscribers and viewers!

[@MikesBigBand]

Thank you so much for this video, I have visited Cuba twice, the last time with a Southern Cross Brigade in 2019 and we shown farms, hospitals, schools and much more and your video is going to be so good for me to use in conversation with people who won't believe how democratic the governing system is. On return to Australia it was a shock to see how crass [difficult to explain] life here was compared to the love and respect that was everywhere in Cuba and that's before you experience the peoples music, dance [we were taken to their world class ballet too] and sense of safety and friendliness of everyone. Cuba is a living example of how humankind and nature just might survive if only we would listen.

[@DrCruel]

_"Cuba is an authoritarian state with former president Raul Castro serving as the first secretary of the Cuban Communist Party, the highest political entity of the state by law, and Miguel Diaz-Canel serving as president of the republic. A new constitution ratified in February 2019 codifies that Cuba remains a one-party system in which the Communist Party is the only legal political party. Elections were neither free nor fair nor competitive._ _The Ministry of Interior controls police, internal security forces, and the prison system. The ministry’s National Revolutionary Police are the primary law enforcement organization. Specialized units of the ministry’s state security branch are responsible for monitoring, infiltrating, and suppressing independent political activity. The national leadership, including members of the military, maintained effective control over the security forces. Members of the security forces committed numerous abuses._ _Significant human rights issues included: unlawful or arbitrary killings, including extrajudicial killings, by the government; forced disappearance by the government; torture and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment of political dissidents, detainees, and prisoners by security forces; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary arrests and detentions; political prisoners; significant problems with the independence of the judiciary; and arbitrary or unlawful interference with privacy. Freedom of the press functionally did not exist. Criminal libel laws were used against persons who criticized government leadership. The government engaged in censorship and internet site blocking, and there were severe limitations on academic and cultural freedom. There were severe restrictions on the right of peaceful assembly and denial of freedom of association, including refusal to recognize independent associations. There were severe restrictions on religious freedom. There were restrictions on internal and external freedom of movement. Citizens were unable to change their government through free and fair elections. Political participation was restricted to members of the ruling party. There was official corruption; trafficking in persons, including compulsory labor; and outlawing of independent trade unions._ _Government officials, at the direction of their superiors, committed most human rights abuses. As a matter of policy, officials failed to investigate or prosecute those who committed these abuses. Impunity for the perpetrators remained widespread."_ www.state.gov/reports/2020-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/cuba/

[@nerothos]

@@DrCruel Ah yes, the completely unbiased reports from a country that has spent the last half a century actively trying to annex Cuba and pissed their pants over their abject and perpetual failure. Who gives a shit how many parties you have? The US literally has two political parties and they both peddle the exact same economic policies. Hella choice, that.

[@DrCruel]

@@nerothos _"The Cuban government represses and punishes dissent and public criticism. Tactics against critics include beatings, public shaming, travel restrictions, short-term detention, fines, online harassment, surveillance, and termination of employment._ _In October 2019, Miguel Díaz-Canel was confirmed as president of Cuba, with nearly 97 percent of the votes of National Assembly members. His presidency has seen little change in the government’s human rights policy. Arbitrary detention and harassment of critics continue. Under his government, Cuba has used Decree-Law 370/2018, which came into effect in July 2019 and severely limits free speech, to detain, fine, and harass critics."_ www.hrw.org/world-report/2021/country-chapters/cuba

[@DrCruel]

@@nerothos Before 1960: "We as Cuban socialists must band together. No more capitalist exploitation. US out of Cuba." After 1990: "Cuba is poor because the US capitalists refuse to exploit us." Fidel Castro: “The Cuban model doesn’t even work for us anymore.” "Hella choice" indeed. You're worse than an ex-girlfriend.

[@carlosramos5256]

mike: pepe, YOU ARE A PERFECT LIAR !

[@kristiandobias5533]

Great Video Glory to Cuba 🇨🇺 🇸🇰❤️🇨🇺

[@iotheyare]

that's a very informative vid.

[@MeredithAvila]

Please make a version of this video that doesn't mention Cuba or the Communist party at all. Make it sound totally nonpartisan, place it on a fictitious country and I bet a whole bunch of people would be on board with this

[@rubenlarochelle1881]

Me, before watching the video: "I know, Cuba is not perfectly the best system I'd like, but it's still a thousand times better than the US" Me, after the video: "Holy fuck, how is it that every little thing I thought about an ideal government is somehow present in Cuba, one way or another?!?"

[@rowbot5555]

Almost perfect, but not quite ™

[@charlestonianbuilder344]

Socialism.

[@davidgjam7600]

It seems perfect because this is literal leninist propaganda?? Like lol

[@tomasrocha6139]

A one party state is ideal?

[@rubenlarochelle1881]

@@tomasrocha6139 It's literally not a one-party state

[@biskitpagla]

Thank you so much for all these content, comrade. We really appreciate your work.

[@Pboy8clipmaker]

Great video, but Ive heard that in Cuba there is a restricted freedom of press/censorship of the internet, is this true? Was it a popular decision and will it last do you think? Thanks comrade.

[@thefirstprimariscatosicari6870]

Eyvind Eternal Internet is difficult to acces in Cuba for three reasons. First Castro feared the Cubans would be tricked by the US citizens into believing that Socialism/Communism is bad, but now that he is dead the Cubans may get a much freerer Internet. Second because of the need to censor "inappropriate" things, normal even in most Western countries. Third because most places in Cuba lack the infrastructure necessary.

[@Pboy8clipmaker]

Sergente A thanks, so was it decided by the national assembly? Also does the state interfere in the press?

[@Pboy8clipmaker]

Thats good to hear, thank you comrade for the detailed reply and Ill definitely check out Pat Sloans book ^^

[@filmNFX1]

I've heard a lot of sites that can't be accessed are not accessible because American companies don't allow Cubans to access them in order to comply with the US trade embargo

[@Jorbz150]

​@@thefirstprimariscatosicari6870 "Fidel feared cubans would be tricked by the US citizens into believing Socialism/Communism is bad" No intelligent leader seeking to oppress people would say "I'm trying to limit freedom of speech because I'm evil and want to force people to like me." So instead they make up some moderately believable reason. Generally speaking, these reasons are self-evidently false. People, whether rich business men, presidents, or any other powerful person, seek power for its own sake and lie about their motives.

[@diddymelone2265]

Thank you for all your work! I am new to the whole topic of socialism and I Just read socialism101 I feel Kind of enlightened, before I only knew I wanted Something to change, but when people Said "communism is Bad, Look at russia or eastern germany of old" I wasnt able to reply with much compelling evidence that its actually good, since I didnt much understood it myself. Thanks for helping me to educate myself

[@mateynine4230]

Just keep in mind democracy and freedom are not the same thing. You can be very democratic but oppressed if the majority are voting for oppression of the minority, and you happen to be the minority. That's why protected rights in a constitution is so important.

[@CowmanCowman]

The main problem with this system is that only one candidate is permitted per seat in the national assemby (voters choose yes or no to this candidate). In half the cases, the single candidate is selected by the Mass Orginizations, which are largely affiliated with the Communist party. The result is that a true opposition is never possible - Every President of the Council of State in Cuba has also been the First Secretary of the Communist Party. Political dissent is often surpressed by the state - for example, the leader of the dissident organization UNPACU was imprisoned for 8 years. Political dissidents are also generally denied the right to freedom of assembly. Jorge Luis García Pérez is a democracy activist who was jailed for 17 years. His initial sentence of 5 years was for spreading “enemy propaganda” i.e. criticizing communism and Fidel Castro. I could go on with more examples, but I think it is clearly wrong to call Cuba a truly democratic country. It may have frameworks which appear democratic, but in practice these exist to maintain a single repressive regime, guided primarily by the communmist party. It is a shame that many socialist youtubers willfully overlook this fact. As socialists, true democracy should be one of our guiding principles. Let's advocate for consensual systemic change, and not waste time defending authoritarian states.

[@DrCruel]

In Cuba you are free to enthusiastically agree with and fully support the regime in power. If you would prefer not to, punishment is swift and brutal.

[@anthonyiglesias1221]

Thank you, as a leftist whose family is from Cuba, leftists blindly defending Cuba is unbelievable.

[@markusklyver6277]

Thank you!

[@josebohorquez2439]

Cuba doesn't exist in a vacuum. The international burgueoisie is making great effort to revert Cuba into a neoliberal country. If the Communist party didn't actively suppress pro capitalistic, anti communist organizations, it would gain a quickly and antidemocratic hold of Cuban politics, aided of course by the USA and the like.

[@CraigKeidel]

So here's my thing, I've tried looking into these political prisoners from Black Summer and I keep running into the same issue: so many are listed as "journalist", but no writings to be found. In fact, the cited source for nearly all of these claims just links back to no longer existent pages from Human Rights Watch or Amnesty International, all written after the arrests. Surely if they were *just* advocating for democratic reforms and human rights improvements, the US and other western capitalist interests would be plastering their work everywhere - so why crickets? *75* people were arrested after a *several year* undercover operation where government agents tried to dissuade these people from the views the Valera Project was pushing for. It sounds like they may have *actually* been advocating for a very unpopular, counter-revolutionary overthrow of the existing government, and the capital-aligned outlets are trying to whitewash the movement by claiming "oh they just wanted political freedom" Because, frankly, they already had that, as you will see by the disparity of when they became known dissidents and when they were arrested; Omar Ruiz Hernandez worked for the government until being fired in 1992 for his views. He was independent for 4 years and then founded a dissident press agency in 1999. He was not arrested until 2003. Manuel Vazquez Portal, expelled from his union in 1995 for dissident views. That same year, he founded an independent dissident press, and joined Omar Hernandez in 1998. Again, not arrested until 2003. Jorge Oliveira Castillo, left his government journalist job in 1993 to write for Radio Marti, a US funded anti-communist station. He also founded his own press in 1995. Was not arrested until 2003. Alejandro Gonzalez Raga, 12 years following his release, signed a far-right Spanish "Madrid Charter" that, among other things, proclaims left-wing groups as enemies of their stated ethnonational worldview and that Cuba is actually pulling the purse strings of all these parties. In other words, Spanish QAnon. Ricardo Gonzales Alfonso worked for independent Cuba Press in 1995, and Reporters Without Borders by 1998. He also published for foreign press. He was arrested in 2003. Oscar Espinosa Chepe was demoted at his National Bank job in 1992 and was fired in 1996. He wrote critiques of the government overseas and had a radio program with the aforementioned US-funded Radio Marti. He was found with $13,600 USD sewn into his jacket the day of his arrest. Mijail Barzaga Lugo was an independent journalist who, among many others on this list, published on anti-socialist sites CubaNet, Cubaliberal and Payolibre. The last on this list, I might add, appears to have not been touched (but is still online) as of 2020. Notably there is an on-site section to access a (likely illegal) sex market. Oscar Elias Biscet, 1997 founder of still-extant dissident organization Lawton Foundation, was labeled by the government in 1994 as "counter-revolutionary and dangerous". He was arrested in 1999 and again in 2002 one month after his release. Many more were or still are members of the Democratic Solidarity Party (1992-2014) or the Christian Liberation Movement (1988-present). Sure seems like there is plenty of room to be parts of dissident organizations without getting arrested. Are the measures perhaps a bit draconian? Absolutely. Were the conditions of their imprisonment unacceptable? 100%. Do the Cuban people not have a legitimate voice in their government? Well, I'm not sure I'm seeing enough here to be convinced of that. And I'm no ML, I'll gladly tell you the conditions of totalitarian abuse in the USSR started not with Stalin, but with Lenin and Trotsky. I'm no fan of a repressive government constraining the voice of the people. Do not mistake "the country is poor" for "the country is repressing its people", and do not mistake Cuba's lack of wealth for its own policy when that hand was dealt by the US and other capital interests globally.

[@captain-chair]

Where has this video been my whole life? This is gold.

[@carlosramos5256]

captain: No, it is pyrite, fools' gold. Faithful to its name. You thought it was legitimate.

[@mauroroldan1315]

this video is a lir, talk with cuban people please

[@captain-chair]

@@mauroroldan1315 Are you Cuban out of curiosity? Feel free to tell me. How are things?

[@mauroroldan1315]

@Dennis The Red Menace well, right now u are talking with a cuban who still living in cuba, that’s the problem of all the people like u. Ill give u an advise, u can be Communist or socialist or whatever but u can’t be blind. And yes talk with cuban people that’s the best that u can do to know the reality

[@Kuvina]

They have a cool system! But it's important to note the elections and democracy do not mean the same thing. Cuba is a one party state (in their constitution), and experts agree that their elections are not free and fair. Even though what you've said is true, you completely glossed over the fact that the party has firm control over who the candidates are. Much like soviet elections, there's only one candidate and people can only vote yes or no. Furthermore, campaigning is an essential part of democracy because it allows people to vote based on what they want in government.

[@fredericktheturkeyvulture]

You seem to have missed all of the Cubans in the comment section claiming this he described it perfectly.

[@Kuvina]

well of course if you look at the most upvoted comments, they will say that due to the audience of the channel, but sorting by new gives everyone an equal voice. I scrolled for like 10 minutes and found at least 14 comments from cubans saying this video is wrong, and not a single one saying it's accurate. besides, my point is that he did describe it well for the most part, he just skipped how it's a one party state and how candidates have to be approved by a government committee to even run. Elections and democracy do not mean the same thing :)

[@throwfascistsintopits3062]

@@Kuvina Are those "cubans" the same people who say "want communism? go to cuba"?

[@amirehosseyni]

It's just awesome and informative, damn one can learn a lot!

[@procrastinatingpuma]

Democracy is when you can vote for one candidate approved by the sole legal political party in the state

[@xavierlauzac5922]

Which is inherently undemocratic, no matter what economic system that party chooses to implement.

[@rbxless]

Democracy is none of those things, it's when you elect your municipal representative and join a Mass Organization, which then elect the President and the Head of State

[@scottdavis3571]

No. Democracy is when there's a Congress but NO PRESIDENT.

[@shapeless6755]

Wow this is awesome! In germany we be like... "Yeah democracy is like the best ever... Hang on you don't like the party mix consisting of -Neoliberalism with Conservativism and "Christian Value"(let's participate in War) -Neoliberalism with EVEN WORSE Conservativism, also catholic -Neoliberalism but we were a social party once yay -Neoliberalism + Neoliberalism let's "smoothen out" the state some more -Neoliberalism with hating Immigrants and good german values (very popular now) -Neoliberalism with supposed care for environment (yes I buy organic OWNS TWO CARS AND OFTEN FLIES TO VACCATION) also help manspreading -half Neoliberalism,left but torn apart and still pro NATO, social democracy etc. ... I like my choices, such a FREE COUNTRY 😓😓😓 Now shut up till the next election when we spoon feed you PR crap about stuff we're gonna do that we haven't done in 12 years in power. Have faith in the market 🙏🙏🙏

[@fun_ghoul]

We just had a federal election in Canada...same shit. I feel ya, comrade. Total garbage.

[@Dave102693]

So basically a 2 party system cut up into many pieces?

[@Weromano]

Dave102693 yes and in the end you dont have a choice anyways

[@Dave102693]

@@Weromano pretty much.

[@a.n.l.aantineoliberalismas4504]

The soboseatly free countries are the most authoritarian and least free I see Espeasseally the US

[@UrskogTrolle]

That is amazing. People keep calling Cuba a dictatorship but it absolutely is not. Will you ever do similar videos with other socialist countries? I would be very interested in that.

[@croquetapro]

Cuban here, yes it is a dictatorship

[@UrskogTrolle]

@@croquetapro So you're saying that this video is not true? I'm not necessarily questioning you, I've never been to Cuba but the footages of people voting and the explanations seemed very convincing to me.

[@Workingatm]

@@croquetapro how is it?

[@Workingatm]

@Hussein what's a guasano?

[@iqqh]

@@croquetapro press x to doubt

[@RoterZwerg]

I have a head burning question: Why is Cuba authoritarian in the democracy Index?

[@RoterZwerg]

@@a.n.l.aantineoliberalismas4504 Well the index is scientiffically conducted of particular categories, so it's not right to simply assume it's lied.

[@a.n.l.aantineoliberalismas4504]

@@RoterZwerg wow that was a fast response time But I wouldant buy that crap its bits as all heck

[@a.n.l.aantineoliberalismas4504]

@@RoterZwerg call me bies but I would rather believe this video than some research conducted by the goverment or a private companie or institution whitch would gane a lot by lieing to us about this stuff

[@a.n.l.aantineoliberalismas4504]

Plus from what I say in this video I would call Cuba evain more democratic than most western countries like the US or Canada like the only western country that has this level of democracy is Switzerland or maby the Scandinavia countries Sweden, Norway ,Finland and Denmark

[@a.n.l.aantineoliberalismas4504]

Or I just thaught about this now I think since Cuba doseant follow the "normal" way democracy is done in the west the DI doseant class it as democratic......actually no I think the real reason is that ither the ID uses info gained through the US or others western countries E.G bies reashear or they deliberately lie to further the propaganda campaign of the US to portray all communism countries as "un democratic

[@ayohilary7744]

Thank you for bringing us this fantastic information.

[@BirdEgg123]

El pueblo unido jamás será vencido!

[@alejandrofuentes7597]

The best democracy is not the one who is perfect under ideal circumstances (e.g. assuming every citizens every moment cares about policymaking, every official is aware of is boundaries and never oversteps them, etc...) but the one that is more robust under reasonable worst-case and idiosincratic real conditions. Cuban "democracy" is engineered (ineptly or intentionally, one never knows) to buckle under those.

[@neumo5005]

Are you saying wikipedia lied to me?

[@codylujan]

Cuba is incredibly based. I wish to visit there someday

[@MysticMindAnalysis]

A very informative video, thank you :). I'd like to know, what powers do the elected presidents have once approved by the national assembly? What sort of decisions do they make, and what purpose do they serve? From what you've described here, it sounds like many of the day to day issues of community management are handled by the local elected representatives, while nation-wide issues are discussed by the representative assembly.

[@salomegarcia5868]

None, the Communist Party makes the decisions and the Ministers act accordingly. All of these "democratically elected officials" vote "unanimously" to confirm the laws. There is no space for disent.

[@liuliuliu3747]

I hope one day you get to experience Cuban "Democracy" in you own flesh.

[@erickstefany6429]

If you want to pay my trip to there I can go! I really would like to experience it.

[@maxsweetman6341]

Beats the cocked up system we have in Australia

[@darkportents9835]

Do one on the economic planning process and on workers rights!

[@darkportents9835]

I say this because I've studied chinese planning in detail and while Cuba seems to be more politically democratic than China from what you say in this video I am curious how their planning processes and workplace organization compare to each other.

[@Oilzilla]

This is a rare example of a genuine democracy, one in which the workers and peasants of a nation, acting in solidarity, seize both political and economic power. ¡Gracias Carlos Marx, José Martí, Fidel, Che y Raul! ¡Viva la revolución socialista Cubana!

[@trulle132]

That's it! I'm moving to Cuba!

[@melissareyesmartinez4731]

You will stay there for a month, see the actual conditions in which people live and regret going in the first place. As someone who was raised in Cuba, I can confirm that you will have no freedom.

[@trulle132]

@@melissareyesmartinez4731 Damn :( Now I'm sad

[@melissareyesmartinez4731]

@@r.e.2938 I was born in Cuba, I know exactly how everything is.

[@melissareyesmartinez4731]

@@r.e.2938 I mean I guess, sure you can go, but going on a 2 week trip won’t actually show you how Cuba is, stay there for like 4 years and you’ll see how it is, I honestly don’t have a reason to lie, or hate on a country for no reason🤷🏽‍♀️ I wouldn’t be talking on the subject if I actually didn’t know how it is to live there

[@melissareyesmartinez4731]

@@r.e.2938 kzbin.info/www/bejne/fKuZh32BaNKGZpo, maybe this KZbin video can help you a little more

[@noahsherwood2445]

I'm an anarchist but I cannot deny the successes of socialist Cuba

[@bigytutoshd5146]

wtf, success?? There are 0 cubans outside that bs country that would tell you that Cuba is a success, if you know spanish search, que piensan los cubanos de eeuu, even cubans living un Cuba say that usa is a success and that theyre scared of telling it loud

[@sp00ky_guy]

Yeah I do wish they'd decentralise even more, and get rid of the vanguard party, but it's a step in the right direction.

[@xylophone897]

@@bigytutoshd5146 Oh no won't somebody think of the gusanos?

[@mianfeng4406]

That's really funny. Democracy is a joke when you have an informer on every city block.

[@marko_g_korenski]

Great video and song at the end! 😊✊

[@JenxRodwell]

This is an excellent video! I have a question though - at 8:49 you say that "Political parties are permitted in Cuba", which by the use of the plural implies that parties other than the CCP are allowed to exist. If that is true, what other political parties besides the CCP exist? From the video it's clear there are various organisations in the country, like say the CDRs, but those are not technically parties, right? I'm curious about this.

[@Lydia-Chlamydia]

Just a random girl taking a guess on what he means so I’m not the best source, but what I think he means is that other parties do exist, however they’re much much smaller and are really only to try to persuade political views

[@carlosramos5256]

jenx: NO. It is a load of lies. Political parties are permitted in Cuba, as long as their members stay in jail. How you can be so naive ? Or, if they are out, the police is constantly watching them and the CDR.

[@carlosramos5256]

the CDR is an organization that WATCHES ( not to tell the time ) EVERYONE in the block. THEY ARE NOT PARTIES !

[@carlosramos5256]

@@Lydia-Chlamydia You are right. So sorry but you are right. You are not the best source.

[@carlosramos5256]

@Sp00ky Socialist M-26-7 NO. The left is ALL TOGETHER under the PCC. So you stop talking nonsenses, I know a case of a reunion of members of the PCC who were asked about different things ( in writing ) and somebody suggested that peludisky should leave his position and allow younger members to participate for it. Well, it looked like somebody released live grenades in the room or a group of venomous snakes. They were in the verge to call the state security to find out who had written that. POLITICAL PARTIES !

[@jword9961]

I love Cuba!

[@LaGGSBD]

FINALLY

[@missZoey5387]

Me, a descendent of a Cuban exile living in the USA: happy face at seeing the island's modern reality from a different prespective

[@captainclarky5352]

Great video mate! Very informative and interesting

[@theplasmapro8343]

Love this video. As an American, things like this can be hard to understand.

[@lucwarfel]

Cuba is the only democracy I've seen where leadership is seen as a responsibility as opposed to a luxury. :D

[@robertzaballa572]

Although: www.forbes.com/sites/keithflamer/2016/11/26/10-surprises-about-castros-extravagant-life/#383453406d76

[@therealpaulallen]

Activity for the algorithm.