Why Cuban cab drivers earn more than doctors

In Cuba, cab drivers are the one percent
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Cuba’s economy works as a central planning model, where government ministries dole out resources and set everything from prices to inventories to salaries. The fact that a taxi driver can make so much more than a physician is a reflection of the Cuban government’s heavy focus on tourism. For years, the central planning apparatus has valued tourism as a key mechanism for both bringing in revenue as well as propagating the idea that Cuba is thriving. Many pesos are collected by the high prices on everything related to the tourism industry.
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[@beanzattacobell1128]

"Yeah, the engineer thing is just a side gig"

[@randawg357]

@kr tu It's so sad isn't it...my parents are the topic at hand and I'm glad for me and them that they left when they could together.

[@MrTonymontana3039]

@@randawg357 i hear you brother, I myself am a refugee from Mexico, all thanks to my mother

[@presidentzeus2359]

- Mark Rober

[@chba5569]

My good friend

[@Caribbeanbaklava]

They get free education that's why everyone study.

[@mr.magnificent3237]

Doctors hate him! Find out how this cab driver makes more money than any doctor with this one simple trick!!!

[@emilson0395]

Mr. Magnificent HAHAHAHAHAHA GENIAL

[@putikeswarasudarsono]

squeeze foreigners, voila

[@daylow6901]

Good one😂

[@zfern3881]

Lmfao

[@bbamyaa]

Im you’re 1000 like

[@kamozazimba1228]

I studied medicine and lived in Cuba for 7 years. I can confirm this video is totally true. Great place to study. Great education systems. Terrible place to work.

[@tribopower]

can't you just move and practise medicine in another place? like the U.S? you would be receiving 6 figure salary minimum, you would come back being one of the richest in cuba

[@kekwnet]

@@tribopower you can't just leave like that

[@adindzidic7504]

Doctors are in need at the United States (especially in rural areas where you can get a Green Card if you agree to work there). It is not as easy as it sounds, but it is far cry from being impossible.

[@noakinn]

@@tribopower Brain drainnn

[@Dasanie]

@@adindzidic7504 not that simple. You can’t practice medicine In certain countries unless you’ve went to medical school in that country. And or take an exam for the license

[@chuforeichi]

Lol if I visited unknowingly, I would have thought cubans love ham sandwiches.

[@JustAPintOfMilk]

@Tater Tot but ham is good tho

[@tutyhasbi9032]

fun fact : the original cuban sandwich was made in america by cuban immigrants in florida

[@PurooRoy]

Well technically they do, they could have anything else that costs around the same or less, including bread and ham separately.

[@ourcumrade3939]

Ahahah

[@davinlarson8099]

They’re very popular in Miami’s Cuban neighborhoods

[@klotildapremtaj6255]

America: when i grow up i will be a doctor Cuba: when i grow up i will be a TAXI driver

[@karloseduardo7176]

Tragic.

[@beastmr919]

Why chose america other than another country ?

[@DoseOfMaine]

Ghkjdf Hbjhffh why choose another country instead of America?

[@zaria_treasuress]

choppa grizzly Because it’s widely known that most Americans want to be doctors, depending on which state you’re in tho

[@tinlopena4535]

America isnt a country its a 'CONTINENT'

[@Shave-ice]

If you have $300 in your bank account, you are part of cubas 1%

[@XY2Moroccoball]

lol

[@BrickHouseGaming]

900$ means ur top 3% of Cuba

[@iliketurtles8505]

Damn I don’t even fall into Cuba’s 1%

[@n3gi_]

I have 22k currently in my bank account. I would be top 0.1%

[@Shave-ice]

Anonymous DAMN MAN!! Wow that’s amazing good for you! I hope you are investing in stocks and not keeping it in the savings. You should invest in Coca Cola they give out quarterly dividends. Right now the stock is valued at $46.30. If you invest 22k you will get 475 shares and the dividend pay out is 40 cents a share. 475x0.40= $190.00! Now if you add that 4 times since they pay quarterly meaning every three months $190x4=$760.00! That’s an extra $760 in your pocket. Keep it and it will grow. Build wealth slowly dude.

[@nathanfowler2835]

I’ll just join along. As someone who has been with a Cuban 5 years and visited multiple times, this is 100% true. Even the doctors have to make more so they will accept money to see a patient at the back of the line.

[@christianfournier6207]

Im from Cuba 🇨🇺 and this video is very Good and explains the real situation, here in Cuba there is a giant “Side Market “

[@jaylovestesla1099]

Imagine working 9 to 5 being under pressure while theres a guy casually driving around the town and makes money more than you do

[@aramisortsbottcher8201]

Imagine building bridges and skzscrapers and having a broken back with 60, while there's a guy chilling in his bureau and getting x-times more money...

[@jurassicthunder]

this basically what communism is

[@Jack_X075]

Just one correction, there is no "pressure" as such. As the salary is "guaranteed" there is no need to do actual work. Just show up, clock in, clock out, get your pay

[@8is]

@@Ahmad-lc1ln Colleges cost so much just because there is such a high demand for it. Whatever the supply and demand are, the free market will always balance it out.

[@8is]

@@aramisortsbottcher8201 It's no one's fault that the guy chilling in his bureau is more useful than the bridge builder.

[@Albanez39]

Most Vox videos: People criticizing Capitalism in the comments. This video: People praising Capitalism in the comments. Lesson: People have no idea what Communism or Capitalism is...

[@toiky9476]

smh

[@cookiedove659]

Maybe we need a balance like Thanos told

[@Albanez39]

@@cookiedove659 Who is Thanos?

[@cookiedove659]

@@Albanez39You got to be joking everyone knows Thanos Infinity war , Endgame remember anything.

[@Albanez39]

@@cookiedove659 He's one of the Avengers, right? Sorry, I don't watch Marvel movies...

[@rachelcookie321]

My parents once went to a wedding in Cuba many years ago. I think it was in the late 90s. I remember they told me how the tourist guides were some of the best paid people in the country and how everyone wanted to be a tour guide. Because the tour guides can get tips on top of from the tourists on top of their fixed salary and the tourists can be very generous. I was very shocked when I heard about this from them as a kid.

[@flyingbasketballman]

The craziest thing about Cuba when I went there was the lack of crime, I was asking my cousin where I could go for a run and he told me I could go literally almost everywhere wearing whatever I want and nobody would do anything to me because the way the government punishes crime is so ridiculously bad.

[@RodovalPTY]

Or maybe ridiculously good?

[@platonymous]

Wait what does running have to do with crime? I’m so confused

[@ilikespacedinosaurs]

​@@platonymous You don't run in/visit dangerous areas

[@barbadolid5170]

I am sure the USA blocking Cuba from importing or exporting things has nothing to do with this situation

[@jayfaisa6016]

The USA doesn't import any Cuban products into their own country. They don't block any imports or exports from Cuba.

[@ittotaq]

Not anymore...

[@william97able2]

they used to, until recently..

[@barbadolid5170]

+JT Faisa you are right, no blockade has been imposed since the Castro brothers took the power 😂😂😂

[@burtonl7239]

What difference does it make? There is no private sector to do the importing and exporting for the populace. Any better goods or profits that comes into the country goes straight to the elites.

[@gx0ct]

*illegal popsicles* Hey son want some icecream? Yeah sure dad *ENEMY OF THE STATE*

[@thekhans2823]

m3mes by dolan 🤣🤣🤣

[@big-boy9716]

Basically me when I started selling junk food when the school replaced it with healthy alternative snacks and diet drinks

[@ColeLPeltier]

.. Hey Dad, want today's paper? .. Sure, Son! *CRIMINALS DETECTED.*

[@jadenyuki3138]

Lamamafiao

[@raymondqiu8202]

I don't get it, someone pls explain

[@noob-ennings5316]

The absolute ingenuity and pride these people have.

[@T-Spoon-of-Old-and-Gold]

We have a same situation in Kyrgyz Republic (Former Soviet Republic). People study just for papers. We have got tons of cool lawyers and doctors but they own shops in big markets or just move to other countries.

[@chuckmcdougall7905]

This channel is so much better than buzzfeed

[@CocoaBananas23]

A better comparison would have been vice, not buzzfeed. These are two different channels.

[@roxylalondes]

+AmandaShuNN81 Vice and Vox are 10x better than Buzzfeed.

[@CocoaBananas23]

+Perpetually Bored ok but... Vice and Vox is like for education purposes and Buzzfeed is like pass time and entertainment purposes. So there shouldn't be a comparison.

[@no508]

even using them in the same sentence looks really odd

[@DGCastell]

buttfeed is cancer, not even good as a time-waster

[@faithshihui6508]

Mom: don't be a doctor, be a taxi driver. Me: OK mom

[@binomanners6343]

Not funny didn't laugh

[@NoName-nf5xl]

Ez

[@binomanners6343]

@Ludd Zarko didn't laugh

[@binomanners6343]

@Ludd Zarko really funny, did laugh

[@binomanners6343]

@Ludd Zarko Hgual did, ynnuf yllaer

[@rosshardy4724]

Interesting how they conveniently avoid talking about the embargo..

[@Ashley-1917]

Yep

[@shauncameron8390]

Just like how they conveniently avoid talking about the seizure of the foreign-built and funded businesses that caused it.

[@mercuryfillings8576]

They're not avoiding it. It simply isn't an issue for them. It's illegal for them to even do the most basic of trades. They're more focused on what's actually causing their issues. They don't have the luxury of beingIndoctrinated because they saw a couple titles of articles

[@danielcuevas5899]

Cuba is allowed to trade with any other country of the world besides the USA how is it the US fault for choosing not to do business with them?

[@lordheadass8310]

Vietnam used to be like this before our economic reform

[@FirstLast-gm9nu]

Vietnamese economic reform occurred concurrently with the lifting of us embargoes. an end to the longterm ideologically justified economic warfare being responsible for the change in Vietnams economy is equally plausible to the Change resulting from economic reform

[@uchennanwogu2142]

@@FirstLast-gm9nu the reforms happened when they realized that communism doesn't work. BTW Cuba tariffs all business into Cuba, this makes it hard to do business there. Because Cuba believes that free trade is exploitative.

[@Legendofzedia]

@@uchennanwogu2142 yeah just forget about the embargo that the U.s placed on Cuba because Cuba wanted freedom from the U.S

[@uchennanwogu2142]

@@Legendofzedia and we gave it to them, enjoy why do they want to trade with capitalist usa

[@shauncameron8390]

@@Legendofzedia And they got it. Only to become Russia's sugar-baby.

[@franklantic]

that private restaurant meal looks so good. 👌

[@cerice2000]

Yep im cuban and i can tell you that taste like heaven

[@runupgang7606]

Ur fat not surprised

[@bleh6232]

Cheesey Beats lol jesus

[@XxxXxx-yh5gz]

cerise 2000 may i ask, how much does it cost in US $

[@apdroidgeek1737]

What is it

[@lBluePhoenixl]

thats a fresh ass cut though

[@modielheloo6]

IdkFckIt ha ?

[@jesusruiz3454]

Modi Taha he got his haircut in the video around like 2-3 minutes into the video

[@Mootsey]

ass cut

[@jackyliang7173]

They're decent at medical research though. They've eliminated HIV transmissions (mother to child) and also developed a vaccine for Lung Cancer. Given their undoubtedly low levels of research funding, that's pretty impressive

[@Herlastserenade]

IdkFckIt hi

[@stg.fooley2520]

Cuba: has difficult economy . Venezuela: finally, a worthy opponent.

[@shauncameron8390]

Zimbabwe has just entered the chat.

[@priyankuhandique7058]

@@shauncameron8390 Zimbabwe has the world biggest national debt crisis

[@sumeetkumarsangma]

It's vice-versa in India. Everybody's mad for government job here.

[@mazharalibaig8548]

We have a free and open market in India, don't see how you could relate the Cuban situation with India.

[@igwananana]

@@mazharalibaig8548 vise versa means other way around

[@mazharalibaig8548]

@@igwananana Correct me if I'm wrong, vice versa would mean the other way around and not the opposite, like "I don't like A and vice versa" would mean that A doesn't like me either and not that A likes me but I don't like him.

[@igwananana]

@@mazharalibaig8548 yes i will correct you. You are wrong

[@abhirajarora7631]

@@igwananana *Doesn't mention how the other is wrong.* Zayan Rocks, Mazhar shocks

[@atomosa7664]

Imagine going to university for 7+ years only to have a cab driver make more than you, XD

[@gwendolyngonzalez-montero6237]

@@rowanwilliams6557 They were probably talking about 7+ years for being a doctor. Different majors take different amounts of time.

[@kevray]

Being a doctor is a great job. You could always move to another country

[@Albanez39]

Imagine going to university for free...

[@rajadhirajmaharaj]

@Keshav Sundar imagine pursuing science because u love science, not because u wanna earn money from dying people.

[@SlideGD]

That’s socialism

[@Snarfindorf]

Holy shit $60 on his worst day? Sign me up!

[@rigoramirez9105]

Are you dumb?

[@yaqz.n]

+Rigo Ramirez How is that dumb?

[@Snarfindorf]

***** He's too stupid to realise that i'm talking about money and not living as a poor Cuban taxi driver for real.

[@ChiccinTendies]

+Snarfindorf I think he thinks that's dumb because $60 a day really isn't that much

[@rigoramirez9105]

$60 pesos depending where you live varies but in the US it's about $4 a day

[@Daveliuhk]

guess what, here in the UK a junior doctor is earning less than a cab driver as well

[@gabrielbaruck9152]

But in UK they studied like 5 years to do so.

[@chopinfrederic5040]

@@gabrielbaruck9152 they need to remember every street in London .-.

[@quackingpanda8466]

and also cab drivers are self employed and own their own cabs which mean higher risks.

[@chocolateontoast]

@@gabrielbaruck9152 15 years to correct you.

[@0xE]

@@chocolateontoast No, just 5 years in uni till they become a Junior Doctor.

[@mihrpsah]

Finally a country where my favorite profession makes good money

[@lucygirl4926]

$2 per day for a nurse!!! US hospitals charge 10 times that for 2 advils!

[@bogdanzivkovic8711]

I would rather live in a socialist country where I can enjoy my time, than live in a capitalist country, work for 10-12 hours a day, and still have no time for things I enjoy. Also most of the stuff in Cuba is provided by the state, so they dont need such high salaries. Thats a good type of economy because everyone has food, water and a home, but if it was a capitalist society and they had higher wages, the rich would control everything while the poor would starve.

[@Feex92]

@@bogdanzivkovic8711 Onda idi na Kubu, ko ti brani.

[@bogdanzivkovic8711]

@@Feex92 Sto da ne. Humanim ljudima je bitniji zivot drugih nego sopstveni profit. Kada su svi jednaki, nema bogatih i siromasnih i ljudi ne razmisljaju o novcu i vremenu vec se posvete duhovnom zivotu, samim tim zive duze i opustenije. Kuba ima veci prosecni ocekivani zivotni vek nego SAD. SAD ima 78,69 godina, a Kuba 79,74 godine. Kuba ima jedno od najboljih zdravstava u svetu, bez obzira na to sto lekari primaju manje od taksista. Prvi razlog za to je taj sto njihovi lekari, kao i svi ostali radnici, primaju mnogo toga od drzave pa im ni ne treba visoka plata, a drugi je taj sto su daleko humaniji ljudi od onih na zapadu, pa im nije bitniji profit od ljudskog zivota.

[@bogdanzivkovic8711]

@@Feex92 Jos nesto, kao sto su oni koji su se zalagali za kapitalizam ziveli u socijalizmu i borili se protiv tog sistema, tako i mi koji se zalazemo za socijalizam mozemo da zivimo u kapitalizmu i borimo se protiv tog sistema.

[@Feex92]

@@bogdanzivkovic8711 Ne znam koliko imaš godina, ali neke ti izjave zvuče kao izjave djeteta koje je odraslo na bajkama, a neke su jednostavan odraz neupućenosti. Kapitalizam i slobodno tržište su najbolji alat koji imamo za postizanje bogatstva. A jednom kada se postigne bogatstvo, onda čovjek može "uzeti vremena za sebe" kako ti kažeš. Ljudi nisu jednaki, razlikuju se po svojim željama, marljivosti, obrazovanju, volji i potrebama. Nasilno izjednačavanje toga kakvo se želi postići socijalizmom je čisto zlo. U redu je da neki imaju manje, a neki više. Profit također nije zlo. Želja za profitom je najbolji alat za pokretanje svijeta. Mesar se ujutro ne budi sa željom da tebe nahrani jer mu je stalo do tebe. Mesar se budi da kupiš njegovo meso kako bi mu donio profit. Ljudska humanost dolazi do izražaja tek u bogatim nacijama, a ne u siromašnim, socijalističkim, jer nitko neće dati drugome ako nema za sebe. A što se tiče rada po 10-12 sati, toga nema u bogatijim zemljama kao što su Švicarska, Njemačka, Švedska, Norveška. Tamo o ljudskim potrebama brine tržište, a ne država. Tamo gdje je zdravo tržište i tržišno natjecanje uvijek će biti više posla nego radnika, što prisiljava poslodavce da budu humani prema svojim zaposlenicima bez da ih država ma to prisili, jer će radnici u protivnom otići. A što se tiče kubanskog zdravstvenog sustava i njihovih falsificiranih podataka, mogu ti se samo nasmijati.

[@windskm]

many people can guess but it would've been nice to include that cab drivers are driving tourists, so they have access to foreign money, which is why they're able to make a lot more than cuban domestic economy would allow.

[@markwitt5510]

Google

[@windskm]

@Lucio Centurión no one asked you

[@annja5683]

maurice o they mentioned it in the video

[@windskm]

@Lucio Centurión what you think about travelling to Cuba

[@gothboishxt5107]

exactly, this seems like it was framed so disingenuously. they brush over the collapse of the soviet unions having a major impact, and they completely ignore how the embargos cause most of these issues.

[@bladeog4285]

*Neglects to mention the 60 year embargo* lol

[@gerardanderson9665]

And that ham sandwiches are basically free

[@queenceeandjayvierd.awitan7804]

Us government to be exact

[@frangkymind5260]

China and Russia still trades tho

[@Anverse-14]

@@frangkymind5260 Is it a good thing that your neighboring counry with an incredibly-high economy and a major geopolitical force chose to enact an embargo for 60 years even after the collapse of communism?

[@frangkymind5260]

@@Anverse-14 don't depent on neighboring country There's litterally countries who still trade with Cuba. And why depent on US?. Even with the embargo ended does it gonna change? I likely doubt that

[@andresvanzini2520]

I have a cuaban friend and I love hearing his stories. It makes you appreciate life more than you did before

[@lucaswiese]

cuban cab drivers make more than cuban doctors. should be the title

[@RKWWWW]

The title should be "Capitalist Cab Drivers Make More Than Commie Doctors". The Cuban government allows taxi services to be ran as private enterprises.

[@solortus]

That's the socialist utopia for you!

[@RKWWWW]

***** Exactly. The answer is "free market"

[@GingerJoberton]

w w It's stressful when the title is misleading, ey?

[@antiquarian1773]

w w looks like you don't care for learning.....what a waste of a mind.

[@Joh1002mm]

LOL when uber arrives

[@PubFuze]

Lmao

[@zada2423]

..... that's pretty arrogant to laugh about seeing as everybody in this country is selling whatever they can just to make ends meet. It's a beautiful but sad country.

[@mickeynotmouse]

Yeah it won't be funny. It'll be violent. In mexico we see taxi trivers smash uber windshields, ambush cars, and even beat up both drivers and passengers in an attempt to scare uber away.

[@siZeDcuBe]

There is no internet in Cuba, so no uber.

[@mickeynotmouse]

***** parece como que esa fuera la unica solucion. Los carros de uber estan completamente intimidados y ya no se paran en zonas para taxis.

[@FUZZYnow]

It’s kinda funny that we all forget that doctors get more “respectful” money by the patients as they do in al post-USSR countries. No patient goes to the doctor with no money to pay as a way of paying “respect”

[@frocwin]

This is corruption and it's been fought in most post-USSR countries since its collapse. You won't see this in a lot of European post-soviet states

[@dr.kodeen1705]

“You better study so you can become a cab driver dear!”

[@poochie49]

As a Canadian I visited Cuba in 2017. Believe me this is all 100% true. Highly educated but totally underutilized. They still have signs all over the place "Viva la Revolution". Like they really need to be reminded of this economic disaster.

[@marcusrees5364]

Almost like their largest trading partner has had an embargo (declared illegal by the UN) with them for fifty years, and then their second largest collapsed And even then. Everyone in Cuba gets food, that's more than you can say of the US

[@sal_strazzullo]

True. I was there as a kid a few times, my mother is Cuban. Also, I don't know if this changed, but all the 4 TV channels are state owned, they constantly remind you of la revolución.

[@sal_strazzullo]

@@Rand3mAnclrew In fact it's not totally true. They do get some state food but it's completely insufficient. That's why they do stuff on the black market.

[@JaKingScomez]

@@marcusrees5364 hmm when was the last time you heard of anyone starving to death in the US. It's nearly impossible you're most likely going to get donations, begging, etc.

[@christacortez7720]

@@marcusrees5364 Yes, you can say that everyone in the US gets food. Taxpayers put out nearly a trillion (yes, a trillion) dollars a year to support the poor. The malnourishment in the US is from obesity, not starvation.

[@cerice2000]

I cuban and i can say that this vídeo is the most accurate i have ever seen about cuba, everything in here is sadly true . Thanks for making such a good video

[@nasifshadmanchowdhury5023]

Hey just wanna ask, if Cubans earns average of 20-25$,how they send their kids to school and other stuffs!? Is it that cheap there!?

[@mohammadbintamim4831]

Nasif Shadman chowdhury communisim, free school, free hospitals ....

[@billieolesiewicz7229]

@@nasifshadmanchowdhury5023 school, food, and housing are free

[@cerice2000]

@@billieolesiewicz7229 university yes , but súper bad everything

[@cerice2000]

@@nasifshadmanchowdhury5023 with a lot of work and seeling stuff aside even if sometimes is ilegal to make any extra money posible

[@makohrr]

In Cuba, Taxis and hair dressers make more than nurses and engineers...

[@celam5761]

Yeah that’s what the video was about mostly lol you don’t have to point it out

[@brandonk1097]

We know, we just watched the video

[@PU8698]

Thats basically what the title and the video said

[@BadEconomyOfficial]

Only in Cuba 🇨🇺 man

[@intricateentity2360]

Things have changed significantly since this video was uploaded. State eateries have almost disappeared and have been replaced by private ones. State workers like doctors earn even less now, because there is very high inflation, and rations have been mostly phased out.

[@user-sd6lg8lf5c]

This is exactly how my parents describe their life in the Soviet Union.

[@user-sd6lg8lf5c]

@@youtubeconsumer22 Yes.

[@user-sd6lg8lf5c]

@@youtubeconsumer22 Well they were happy since socialism was finally over and the crisis in the 90s didn't really affect them because they were living in the US.

[@FriedRice3519]

I bet they were right...

[@user-sd6lg8lf5c]

@demoaxas It's just yob tvayu mat'. But please don't ;)

[@a.ortega4505]

perfect

[@richiericher9084]

The main reason why the taxi drivers earn more than doctors is that they get paid in foreign currency, mainly dollar. The national currency is aligned with the countries economic and social system. But you need foreign currency to trade on the black market.

[@skeley1546]

At least someone in the comments was smart enough to notice this.

[@barbarictearemedy]

Someone said the Cuban dollar is worth 1 cent *more* than the US dollar

[@luisangel141000]

That's factually incorrect. Cuba has a dual currency system. They have pesos or cup, and "convertible" pesos or cuc. The cuban government pays its people in cup mostly, however in stores it's all basically sold in cuc. Btw 1 cuc=25 cup, almost every video about the cuban economy is made using cuc to simplify things and avoid the confusion that comes with buying and selling 2 kinds of currency at different rates within the country. It's also ok to attribute 1usd to 1cuc since that's sort of, kind of the value of cuba's cuc for this video. PS I'm Cuban, lmk if you want something else clarified

[@rayyankhan3696]

+Cadence That’s weird. When I looked online it said that $1 (USD) = 26.5 Cuban Pesos

[@quanbrooklynkid7776]

@@rayyankhan3696 damn

[@estycki]

I went to Cuba, stayed in a resort, full of workers that were trained doctors and engineers.

[@TonezOhh]

One question lingers in my mind which I think you (Vox) could have addressed for the viewers. What is the cost of living for the average Cuban? I see that they get rations for certain items (which I assume they don't pay for, do they?) but do they pay for rent etc? What's the pricing of that like? I find it odd that the government would set wages but not regulate the cost of items & things like rent without considering the average salary. If they do regulate, is it then that Cubans want the increased amount of money for other things? Did you find out any info on that? Would be nice to know, thanks!

[@MrHav1k]

Just rename this video to "Why Communism doesn't work."

[@balanced2482]

@@Sun-Tzu- big difference is that capitalism actually have examples of massive success

[@Sun-Tzu-]

@@balanced2482 And so does Communism, both China and Russia became industrial superpowers over night, and it let to both the Cubans and the Vietnamese to bring much bigger powers to their knees.

[@balanced2482]

@@Sun-Tzu- are they still communist?

[@Sun-Tzu-]

@@balanced2482 All of them became much worse off after Communism, Cuba went from taking on the US, to cab drivers earning more than doctors. Russia went from the largest, most powerful nation on Earth, in military, land mass and science, to whatever the hell it is now. China is the most Communist one left and they are arguable the most powerful country on Earth. Communism is the dream, but selfish Capitalist always ruin it in the end.

[@controllerhead47]

I hope you realise that the Russia is seriously conservative. The Russian Federation isn't "communist", and China isn't either in the sense that financial restrictions and government practices are enforced like they are in Cuba. Having known the USSR it was far from glamour, and the military was only powerful in numbers not capabilities.

[@incrediblej.9762]

I feel pretty rich with my 8 dollars an hour.

[@mirofin]

how much u work per day?

[@justarandomguy3969]

i made over 20$ an hour and im under 18 XD

[@brayansontakampire2468]

just a random guy what do u work as

[@justarandomguy3969]

well it was a summer job, and i was working at a vehicle repair shop

[@yournemesis192]

I made 15 when I worked at Amazon's warehouse and I thought I got ripped off

[@alejandrorodriguez3376]

I lived in cuba since birth to 9 years old and saw this every day of my life

[@GeniusLad32]

I get paid the same whether I serve one sandwich or fifty. My boss takes the rest.

[@thomasharris9854]

Not stating my opinion, but this is the most conservative vox video lol

[@maylsonmartinez7825]

Hopefully we get to see more of them, I just saw some commies getting trigger in the comments

[@quanbrooklynkid7776]

Smh

[@TheEagleofSteel]

A typical left wing American is very conservative compared to Cubas system.

[@supremeleader9440]

Anti statism is not conservative

[@smaanuel]

It makes sense, despite what conservative media may tell people most liberals are highly against any kind of complete socialism. There's a massive difference between thinking that some elements of the economy such as health care might be better managed publicly and thinking that the state should take over the entire economy. Right-wing commentators just act like there isn't so they can have something to shriek about.

[@chaitanyagupta7786]

Illegal Popsicles

[@williamwickline3657]

Lol

[@devlkid19882002]

and newspapers...

[@SunnyBear]

that's a killer band name

[@EloraCaistina]

I want me some XD

[@MinecraftMasterNo1]

That's what happens when you seize the means of production my comrades.

[@brimmed]

Wow didn't know any of this. Glad this popped up in my recommended. As an engineer myself, found it interesting

[@Edward_Gonzalez_777]

Cuba is so weird about how people make money just imagine “I want to be a cab driver when I grow up”

[@Nathan-jh1ho]

It's I want to be paid by foreigners when I grow up. Because their own economy is so laughably bad

[@epain]

my grandparents were all doctors in cuba and they worked crazy hours well into their 70's to stay afloat

[@eliah7079]

Just move to Europe and you will be rich lol, doctors salary is among the highest in the country, you get here between 80-400k euro a year. After 10 years you are a 100% millionair :P

[@jasminej4090]

Eliah move to Europe with what money

[@eliah7079]

I live in Amsterdam, thats Europe...

[@jasminej4090]

Eliah Bruh I was talking about how you said they should've just moved to Europe. Not you lol.

[@doobick1898]

S. M. C. If they worked crazy hours, that means that a lot of people got sick. Other wise, I doubt their would be a lot of hours to work

[@Zombii]

You never know how blessed you truly are until you dont have it anymore.

[@MoneyMan28]

I have life unlike 150 Billion people underground

[@SUB2D]

Moms in Cuba: If you don’t do your homework you will end up like those guys. The those guys: A doctor.

[@iamthinking2252_]

I have nostalgia for this video. Not because I have any connection to Cuba, but just that I saw it suggested again 7 years later

[@tomoya0650]

Cuban lady: we live in a country with only one party. Chinese: hold my beer

[@parlino5375]

North Korea, Vietnam, Laos: Are we a joke to you?

[@plutofloats]

Al 72 Then, are European countries with multiple political parties multiple times more advanced than the USA?

[@isaacb5968]

@@plutofloats They certainly are. Name one thing that the U.S. in number one in the world at besides incarceration rates, homelessness, or military spending.

[@abdullahalzabi6906]

*OUR beer

[@usmanyounas5181]

@Ali Syed But, what’s the point of having a big GDP number if it’s citizens don’t have their standards of living increase when that number goes up?

[@saminyasaranabil920]

Wait $40 a month!!! Why do they study then!!! *I N S A N E*

[@blacklyfe5543]

Its terrible

[@brandonla4348]

@@princevaldym7606 you are the dumbest person I've seen in awhile

[@chrishendricks1736]

thunder king gaming *google medicines* 🤣r u serious??! Who will diagnose you to know which med to take?😬

[@sal_strazzullo]

Because education is mandatory.

[@cerice2000]

Because thats what they teach us from the moment we are born, that if hoy want to be someone you have to study

[@pmahcgop]

kids in cuba: when i grow up i wanna be a doctor! adults in cuba: im gonna drive a taxi and sell popsicles

[@kuzguxxi]

The time when this video was released, i was living on $20 a month which I used to basically spend on ciggarettes. I was a college student. My hostel/dorm fees and cafeteria charges is not included in the $20. I can only imagine how a person manages to "live" in such a short amount of cash.

[@Rohit-tp7qx]

Meanwhile in India even with captalism we have engineer graduates working as taxi drivers

[@mr.gullible2506]

That more has to do with tourists from higher income countries willing to pay more money for a taxi ride because a lot of money to someone in India is very little money to someone in United States

[@jailos10]

Ghnan Rohit but do you have toilets?

[@kshitijmahajan1058]

u need to work hard to get into a good University if u get admissions into paid unis with false reputations that person deserves to be unemployed. I am graduate engineer but I haven't seen anyone go unemployed in my University. work hard instead of whining 😊

[@Rohit-tp7qx]

You make 50k rupees as taxi driver with no tax but you make 45k as an engineer from iit and also have to pay tax

[@kshitijmahajan1058]

@@Rohit-tp7qx that's really strange can u tell me which branch ?

[@FikriKawakibi]

When i clicked this vid i was like, "boi im gonna be a cab driver." But then i was like, "nah too bad this wont work in ma country..."

[@doobick1898]

Muhammad Fikri Kawakibi Huda the title says cuban. Did you not read

[@jasonvoorhees8899]

Ayham 003 look at his God damn bio , he's from some autistic Asian country which has nothing to do with Syria.

[@Prezma]

Humam Slayer didn’t know country’s can be autistic thanks for the advice

[@MegaMementoMori]

Then move to Cuba ;)

[@jjtly123]

I work the oilsands when theres work as a pipefitter , but when im laid off , i drive taxi in NL Canada . Its all cash and ive seen $100 days and $300 days ... average 600 a week .

[@syncMixer]

I find it quite strange that neither the video nor anyone in the comments mentions that the country is poor because of US sanctions for the last 60 years. The UN General Assembly voted for the 30th year in a row to condemn the US embargo, 185-2, with only the US and Israel opposing.

[@514MJAY]

went to cuba multiple times amazing people ❤️

[@MetaGMAN]

Thanks for opening the world's eyes with respect to Cuba. These series are extremely accurate and to the point making it easy for people that never had to deal with any of this crap, understand why Cuba is not the socialist/communist resort paradise they visit every year.

[@GlogloMunster]

I agree man, this very well done and it exposes the reality of what cubans go thru to earn money to live.

[@mofo9886]

+Gloria Acosta No it shows the abject failure of big governments...

[@BernardoPatino]

+Hector Alonso “M031192” This is true. Nowadays, in Venezuela, a lot of people are becoming "bachaqueros" (food traffickers) just to make enough money for a living. I think the problem is not socialism, just false socialism. The guys in the government are drug traffickers, and two nephews of the First Lady are arrested in the US. They took 800 Kg of cocaine there, with diplomatic passports.

[@mofo9886]

Bernardo Patiño Socialism has failed everywhere it was applied ONLY Government goons get rich...

[@BernardoPatino]

Mo Fo What about Norway?

[@artificialidiot1654]

Doctors become taxi drivers Electric engineers become barbers and Acountants become cooks

[@putikeswarasudarsono]

Education has never been such a waste

[@vinny9868]

It should be the other way around

[@harshitmadan6449]

Crooks, murderers and thugs become leaders.

[@greenleafyman1028]

So that's why we should go trade school instead of college because with trade skill you are able to survive in both capitalism and communism.

[@generaldelasmontanas2699]

momento argentina

[@falakgurnani]

That’s it!! i am flying to Cuba post Corona and driving taxis there!

[@jrrtoken9474]

This is some high quality news Vox is putting out. Keep it up!

[@xxy5757]

I am committing my first crime of the day by buying a newspaper 😂😂😂

[@lifelife5339]

What is funny about that. My goodness

[@Bariom_dome]

Sad, isn't it? And yet oddly funny

[@usdjxavi]

Id take her in for some questioning

[@davyddocarmocabral2989]

@@lifelife5339 Absurdism.

[@Reddblue]

Major: Selling popsicles and newspapers Side hustle: Engineering

[@manf1sh995]

"Yeah, I do astronaut things as a side gig."

[@shyamtaneja4046]

Another eye opening video.. Thanks VOX team🙏👌👍💯

[@sheriffsaliu9872]

Good video, but one of the things you conviniently fail to mention is that $20 in Cuba has a different purchasing power from $20 in the US.

[@andrews9719]

O, stfu. 20$ month salary is therefore justified? Admit it, Cuban socialism is an utter failure. You really think that the makers of this video didn't factor in for that?

[@sheriffsaliu9872]

Andrew S keyboard warriors and insulting people they don't know. I said the video was good. I don't believe in communism. But as someone who has lived in a Third World country, I know that $20 can buy a little more in those countries than in America.

[@andrews9719]

Sheriff Saliu Lol, I didn't even insult you- I just got you to admit that you were wrong. I have lived in "third world" countries as well, and 20$ isn't enough for a monthly salary. Sure, the purchasing power of the dollar is stonger, but even then, just look at the peso/dollar exchange rate (it isn't that strong to justify such a low wage.)

[@JohnNettles11]

purchasing power is simply not higher in cuba than it is in the US, in most areas it is lower. You cannot compare Cuba to other 3rd world countries because its an island, there is an embargo, and there is communism. That's why they are forced to have grey area side gigs like in this video

[@skatersridge]

the point is driving a taxi is better choice than being a doctor

[@PixelBytesPixelArtist]

well fidel died

[@DanielSuarez-tt4jp]

his brother has been in control for a while now... So don't expect anything to change.... And with the obama cuba deal gone..... its gonna be a rough future for cuba...

[@aleondeck8463]

Pixel Bytes and yet that has nothing to do about it because fidel already retired from his position in authority

[@stanthonysfire6387]

RIP

[@somebodyelse5294]

Arywnn he should not rest in peace, may he be forced to do the exact opposite.

[@akwa2273]

Yeah Okay just wait til nobody there wants to be a doctor anymore. does North Korea rings any bell?

[@TUMAIN4]

We need a 10 year update

[@rem49]

What about the US embargo on Cuba? Surely that won't contribute to shortages of supplies in Cuba, would it?

[@hugoloven04]

I'm from a Swedish diplomatic family, my family is currently living in Cuba. I've lived here in Havana for a year now, and I can safely say that almost everything in this video is true. Good job Vice.

[@newfoundlover]

hahaha.. duktigt Hugo.

[@DV-zv4ox]

He said it on the internet so it must be true

[@insertfunnyname3478]

Vox*

[@mememeet4140]

Not sure if you wrote Vice accidentally or because ths video is so similar to vice stuff

[@jeddiecucumbers9887]

Havana oh na na

[@ronaldelchacal]

I'm cuban.. very good video it is all true congratss and keep up the good work !!!!

[@nekocekoBiHMK]

You're not a Cuban, you're a gusano.

[@mpampissougias3164]

I thought the don't have Internet in Cuba ...........

[@Sam-um1hw]

Mpampis Sougias there is, it’s just hard to get it

[@RJBeee91]

Yeah, because people who fled a murderous, totalitarian regime are "traitors".

[@thelocalmagictoaster4120]

vox is the better buzzfeed

[@miamidebirturk]

Same question for u : why tiktok users make more money than doctors in USA?

[@denispalushaj2932]

Through sponsoring

[@thecommander7552]

Because someone is willing to give them that kind of money. That's why it's called a free market, because the buyer and the seller are free to arrange the price between themselves. It's not a perfect system, but it's a thousand times better than arbitrarily enforcing a price. Case and point: This video.

[@arv7539]

@@thecommander7552 yep

[@tifforo1]

The other reason the cab drivers make more aside from their salary not being set by the government is that the number of licenses is limited. Even in the United States there are cities with a limited number of licenses that sell for high prices.

[@mariecoheng]

I’m from Venezuela and this happens there too. It’s so similar that’s scary. After all, our president was inspired by Castro. May God have mercy on us.

[@enea1751]

Cuba it's a rock under the most strict embargo ever, and it has one of the best education and sanity sistems for free

[@world.1818]

Wow .😯. Thanks for the wonderful information. First time I heard this type of news that a taxi driver can earn more wages than a doctor.

[@lionobama1397]

this sounds like those KZbin scams “Find out how i made $60 a month by watching the rest of this ad!”

[@squipy184]

damn, these Cubans needs some good ol' fashioned 'Murican democracy.*Eagle flies above*

[@jerichom11x]

+Squipy I couldnt hear you over the sound of your trillions of dollars of debt and horrible education and healthcare systems.

[@squipy184]

+jerichom11x you couldnt hear me at all. This is a KZbin comment.

[@johnbaker7102]

+jerichom11x considering the U.S. Debt is better than every other European country I think we are fine. Our INTERNAL debt is much less comparison to our GDP compared to every other major country. China is slowly fading while Europe is falling apart. While the U.S. keeps chugging along. Please learn basic economics before commentating on an economy. National debt is very different from personal debt.

[@jerichom11x]

John Baker No, Im fairly certain 16 Trillion dollars is the most right now. China isnt fading and Europe is a big continent with a lot of different countries and circumstances. The U.S is growing more irrelevant by the day.

[@johnbaker7102]

+jerichom11x you did not read what I just said right? Do you understand what debt even means? And what internal debt is? Please stop talking if you have no idea what you are talking about, it makes you look ignorant.

[@eyeonlife]

And yet no one mentions the 60 year old embargo against Cuba which is why all this is still happening.

[@Leo-qr9je]

The major problem is the comunism not the embargo.

[@eyeonlife]

@@Leo-qr9je Obviously its one aspect but the main reason for this economic crisis which has lasted decades is a direct result of the embargo. If you don't think so go grab a book.

[@shauncameron8390]

Just like how no one mentions Cuba living off of Soviet handouts during that time to compensate for Castro destroying the domestic economy.

[@shauncameron8390]

@@eyeonlife No. The main reason for the economic crisis is the Cuban government's gutting of private enterprise and the local economy coupled with the loss of outside aid. The embargoes are of little consequence.

[@radekt.7843]

"yeah, communism will totally work" Only with underground black capitalism

[@erikoagalliu7104]

Its more likely to see a dragon there than a lamborghini

[@nunyabusiness7278]

Seeing a Lamborghini anywhere is not a sign of progress, but rather a sign of a sick, twisted economic system in which the pleasure of the rich is prioritized over the dignity for the poor.

[@bogdanzivkovic8711]

Would you rather live in a country where a 5% of people have lamborghinis, and the rest are poor, and you are among those poor people, or where everyone is equal?

[@EternalNico1]

Nunya Business lol you’re just jealous because you can’t ever afford one, it’s not sick that someone has a high quality car that they wanted and worked for

[@bogdanzivkovic8711]

@@EternalNico1 Its a waste of money. I understand rich people that buy family cars for far less money. But i dont understand those young adults in their 20s whose parents are rich and they just got their drivers license so the first thing they do is buy a lamborghini because they are sick, and want to show everyone how much money they got and then they marry some gold digger and never be happy in their life. No one is jealous here. I would never want a lamborghini. If someone gave it to me for free, the first thing I would do is sell it. I could buy 5 normal and common cars for that money. This is not GTA, this is real life.

[@jayaramj9630]

What pleasure do you get in seeing some rich kid driving around in a Lamborghini?

[@Morenitto89]

Really good episode, vox. Very informative.

[@GabyTeeMUA]

Amazing video. Thank you.

[@mikewatson1957]

When Johnny was at Vox, it was the best of times

[@marcustje]

I’ve traveled all around Cuba three times. The whole situation is crazy. The people eat using government provided rations, and the doctors make so little. The majority of the economy is made up of privately owned businesses working with tourists. The whole governmental system is extremely flawed.

[@basiclemur7823]

ikr, there all so well educated too

[@user-kh3nx3mg2f]

Sanctions? No? You heard of them before? 🤦‍♀️

[@basiclemur7823]

@@user-kh3nx3mg2f off u got im

[@st.altair4936]

Not flawed. It's been blockaded by the US for 60 years now. A country would normally be completely destroyed by that; the fact that it's still doing pretty well despite that speaks alot about its stability.

[@Domic462]

dude this is pre propaganda. Cuban money isn't equivalent to the US dollar in terms of purchasing power. The video does cover area of the Cuban economy in truth but does a poor job if providing accurate context.

[@Ricokz]

They wrote in the comments that they converted the currency to USD, so all mentions of money are of the American dollar, not the Cuban peso.

[@Domic462]

I understand but what I am referring too is the purchasing power.. $7 Us dollars in Cuba will buy you A LOT more than what you could buy in the US. From what I recall that was not included in the video.

[@killerfishfinger]

But the Taxi drivers can charge tens of USD to tourists because that's normal for a taxi in the US. That gives the taxi drivers huge purchasing power.

[@Domic462]

Good for him but that is not the point. The point is purchasing power various between Cuban and the us. And I would also argue there really isn't a lot of reason to be rich in Cuba because they lack luxury goods so there isn't a lot to spend your money on (beyond immediate needs).

[@svenpoigmichakov2063]

What Thomas is trying to explain is, for example, here in the U.S. A pack of Cigarettes might be $5 USD in cuba that same pack of smokes might cost $3. These are not accurate, however it provides a demonstration of purchasing power.

[@tadyfamily2625]

Together, we stand with cuba

[@Blarnix]

Johnny Harris is so insanely talented, oh my god

[@edgaraguila2203]

I'm Cuban and i thank you so much for making this video. The world needs to see what the Castro Regime has done to its own people. I hope everyone who sees this video can share it and make it go viral. The Cuban government MUST implement human rights and so many other things.

[@C.G91]

Would you rather live in Batista regime highly doubt it

[@thorsten8790]

What kind of question is this? I don't think he denies that the Bastista regime was horrible. But that doesn't change the fact that todays cuban goverment is horrible too. That like asking eastern germans that lived in the DDR if they'd rather want to life under hitlers reign. Stupid question and absolutely unempathetic at that.

[@videogamebomer]

The King That is a horrible argument.

[@videogamebomer]

Oriol cacafea nice strawman

[@MrDeadbweast]

In america i clean toilets but in el salvador im basically like buzz aldren

[@carlosaraujo9037]

Would you please explain your saying???, I do not know what do you want to mean...

[@EvelioPerez]

That's because a person that cleans toilets in America makes more money than the president of El Salvador. Also, there are no people like Buzz in El Salvador. The only moon they have probably been to is their honey moon.

[@isabela1960]

i’m really happy people are talking about cuba, it’s really sad

[@ethanmeaney1114]

are you forgetting that the us has placed cuba under an embargo for the past 60 years and any nation that tries to do anything diplomatic with cuba they are black listed?

[@Samuel-wl4fw]

Vox is very pro America. I certainly am not one for communism where the state own every production facility, but as you said the USA have put them on embargo since the cold war, so an American news outlet not mentioned it is very grand of them.

[@shauncameron8390]

Not really. Cuba's economy hardly recovered from losing its Soviet sugar-daddy support.

[@cuddlemuffin.9545]

Good, we dont want dictators