That quote sounds familiar. <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XJ7HZATMKBY&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XJ7HZATMKBY&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
I would disagree, US has one of the best medical care standards in the world. It is little expensive and even wasteful to some extent.
Oh, allow me to give you a taste of "healthcare" in the soviet union: One toilet per 76 patients. No hot running water. No medicine due to rationing and underproduction. When I was 4 years old, they ran out of anesthesia in the middle of my surgery. They had to finish up while I was held down - terrified and in pain. But, really, that's nothing. All this medical care was "free" except that NO doctor would touch you and the ambulance would arrive but refuse to take you to the hospital unless and until you paid them a bribe. If you died because of this, so what? Socialist life is cheap as you're all just a cog in the glorious state. As for variety of products - that's a laugh. We weren't looking for variety. We would have been happy with consumer goods. Full stop. We didn't lack variety. We lacked any kind of edible food, toilet paper, shampoo, etc. Central planning at its best.
Doctors there have indirect authority to employ any methods to cure you. Also when they can't do something they help you off the record with real advices. Because the system is not based on making money this can be done.
Jesus man that sucks. It is bad in Cuba now, but it used to be awesome. Still, I have been told my my family there that you have to pay for supplies, give doctors a little gift or something like that in order to kind of pay for it. But still it is very humane, I hasn't gotten that nasty. At least not yet.
Cuba has some of the most beautiful beaches, scenery, etc., around. Minus Hurricanes, they have a GREAT climate! Also, I'm a little embarrased. You guys are talking about the healthcare, and I'm sitting here watering at the mouth wanting a nice mild-medium cuban cigar. Sorry about that.
'Central planning at its best.' Thanks for detailed clarification, my information was second hand to begin with. One German pal told me that in West Germany there was a saying 'Communists are the best Capitalist'.........no wonder bribe and corruption culture....they had to make money no matter how! There was more individualism and self thinking in Socialist countries that in the US.
Is it true that many cubans prostitute their mothers/sisters/girlfriends/aunts/etc. to tourists just to have something to eat?
and a Cuban is not allowed in the hotels, so they set up shop in peoples homes who get a cut, An old lady with 5 rooms etc.. The revolution has been a disgrace to the Cuban people. Many young are a product of years and years of brainwashing only to now realize that it has always been a farce and for the purpose of one thing.... For Fidel's coffers...the stories are of an endless cornucopia of wealth for him and his cronies and nothing but misery for Cubans....I don't care what anyones says. For someone to jump on a raft to nowhere speaks volumes.