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stockula

stockula

Anchorage, AK
May 2003

JUN 11, 2008 10:04 PM

World cries as yet another socialist fantasy dies at the cruel hand of reality

Cuba to abandon salary equality

Cuba is to abolish its system of equal pay for all and allow workers and managers to earn performance bonuses, a senior official has announced.

Vice-Minister for Labour Carlos Mateu said the current system - in place since the communist revolution in 1959 - was no longer "convenient".

He said wage differentiation should improve production and services.

President Raul Castro has introduced a series of reforms since succeeding his ailing brother Fidel in February.

Writing in the communist party newspaper Granma Mr Mateu said workers would receive a minimum 5% bonus for meeting targets but with no ceiling on salaries.

Managers could earn a 30% bonus if the team working under them increased production, he said.

The minister pointed out that the current wage system sapped employees' incentives to excel since everyone earned the same regardless of performance.

"It's harmful to give a worker less than he deserves, it's also harmful to give him what he doesn't deserve," the newspaper article said.

Challenging Marxist orthodoxy

But the impact in terms of purchasing power will be limited, the BBC's Michael Voss in Havana says.

The average wage in Cuba for everyone - from doctors to farm labourers - is about $20 (£10) a month.

Even before the recent sharp rise in oil and food prices Cuba was spending billions of dollars on imports, and that bill is likely to rise sharply, our correspondent says.

So far most of the reforms announced since Raul Castro took over the presidency have involved lifting restrictions such as the bans on mobile phones and computers.

The latest change is a more fundamental challenge to Marxist economic orthodoxy, our correspondent adds.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7449776.stm

Squire

Squire

I'm lost
November 2003

JUN 11, 2008 10:10 PM

I'd kill for a mojito right now.

AceT

AceT

Portland, OR
April 2004

JUN 11, 2008 10:13 PM

Everyone was expecting Raul to reform much of Cuba's policies for the better, this is just the start.

stockula

stockula

Anchorage, AK
May 2003

JUN 11, 2008 10:15 PM

AceT said:
Everyone was expecting Raul to reform much of Cuba's policies for the better, this is just the start.



So in your eyes, this is beneficial reform?

silversoul7

silversoul7

Portland, OR
January 2008

JUN 11, 2008 10:19 PM

stockula said:

AceT said:
Everyone was expecting Raul to reform much of Cuba's policies for the better, this is just the start.



So in your eyes, this is beneficial reform?



You mean...liberals AREN'T communists?! eeek

stockula

stockula

Anchorage, AK
May 2003

JUN 11, 2008 10:21 PM

silversoul7 said:

stockula said:

AceT said:
Everyone was expecting Raul to reform much of Cuba's policies for the better, this is just the start.



So in your eyes, this is beneficial reform?



You mean...liberals AREN'T communists?! eeek



Ace has been quite an apologist for the Castro regime in the past or at least criticized me for being critical of Castro. So it's strange to hear him say such changes are reform when nothing was wrong with Castro.

Stiles

Stiles

Oakland, CA
November 2002

JUN 11, 2008 10:46 PM

stockula said:

Ace has been quite an apologist for the Castro regime in the past or at least criticized me for being critical of Castro. So it's strange to hear him say such changes are reform when nothing was wrong with Castro.




Stock, please come up with a quote of Ace's that says that there is nothing wrong with Castro.

AceT

AceT

Portland, OR
April 2004

JUN 11, 2008 11:03 PM

I wonder if he ever gets tennis elbow painting those broad strokes.

scylis

scylis

USA
November 2004

JUN 11, 2008 11:04 PM

AceT said:
I wonder if he ever gets tennis elbow painting those broad strokes.



is it possible to get "tennis wrist"?

AceT

AceT

Portland, OR
April 2004

JUN 11, 2008 11:28 PM

Otoki

Otoki

SUICIDEGIRL

Minnesota, USA

JUN 12, 2008 12:41 AM

AceT said:
I wonder if he ever gets tennis elbow painting those broad strokes.



FellOnEarth

FellOnEarth

Temecula, CA
April 2006

JUN 12, 2008 12:56 AM

I'm starving, I could really go for a medianoche sandwich right now...

SockPuppet

SockPuppet

I'm lost
July 2006

JUN 12, 2008 03:16 AM

It will be interesting to see whether the Cuban child mortality rate stays as low as it is now.

AceT

AceT

Portland, OR
April 2004

JUN 12, 2008 03:35 AM

SockPuppet said:
It will be interesting to see whether the Cuban child mortality rate stays as low as it is now.


Don't worry, it'll still be lower than the US.

Varuka_Salt

Varuka_Salt

I'm lost
October 2006

JUN 12, 2008 03:36 AM

Ah, nothing like a little plagiarism to start my day.

AceT

AceT

Portland, OR
April 2004

JUN 12, 2008 03:37 AM

And the literacy rate will still be second highest in the world.

Bastardo

Bastardo

Boston, MA
January 2005

JUN 12, 2008 04:15 AM

AceT said:
I wonder if he ever gets tennis elbow painting those broad strokes.



*rimshot*

Coyotemike

Coyotemike

USA
May 2006

JUN 12, 2008 06:11 AM

Welcome to "stockula presents All Liberals are Commies," with Broad Generalizations, Sweeping Illogic, and shown in amazing Stocku-Vision!!!

Colinism

Colinism

Atlanta, GA
July 2005

JUN 12, 2008 06:19 AM

coyotemike said:
Welcome to "stockula presents All Liberals are Commies," with Broad Generalizations, Sweeping Illogic, and shown in amazing Stocku-Vision!!!



Wait when did you all stop embracing communism? wink

Coyotemike

Coyotemike

USA
May 2006

JUN 12, 2008 07:06 AM

Colinism said:

coyotemike said:
Welcome to "stockula presents All Liberals are Commies," with Broad Generalizations, Sweeping Illogic, and shown in amazing Stocku-Vision!!!



Wait when did you all stop embracing communism? wink



We got too lazy for it. Welfare is easier.

Chainlink

Chainlink

Key West, FL
August 2005

JUN 12, 2008 07:21 AM


Mr_Matt_

Mr_Matt_

Pompano Beach, FL
July 2005

JUN 12, 2008 11:19 AM

Isn't there a Communist Canadian in the house? He should be in on this.

LSlice

LSlice

Montclair, NJ
December 2007

JUN 12, 2008 01:00 PM

Generally speaking, socialism works better in small countries with relatively homogenous populations.

Coyotemike

Coyotemike

USA
May 2006

JUN 12, 2008 01:09 PM

LSlice said:
Generally speaking, socialism works better in small countries with relatively homogenous populations.



Name one that was actual Communism and not a dictatorship.

LSlice

LSlice

Montclair, NJ
December 2007

JUN 12, 2008 01:42 PM

coyotemike said:

LSlice said:
Generally speaking, socialism works better in small countries with relatively homogenous populations.



Name one that was actual Communism and not a dictatorship.



That's sort of an oxymoron.

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