XPost: alt.economics, alt.war.vietnam

Brent Cooper
Trial and appellate counsel for Cooper & Scully (1993–present)

How and why was Cuba unable to make nor create advanced military
equipment, ships and vehicles so that it could have not had any
sanctions and embargoes put on it in the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis and
also not had any casualties and losses in this?

Cuba is still using cars from the 1950’s. There is a lack of
technological advancements in all countries that have true communist
economies. (This would not include China who has a capitalist economy)

Why? Incentives. There is no incentive to work hard to get ahead. Not
incentive to create. No incentive to invent.

in a communist economy the way to advance is through party membership,
not performance or results.

The Soviet Union in the Cold War was spending its income trying to keep
up with the US. It could not. Even by stealing the technology it could
not. Finally, Gorbachev threw in the towel and admitted it.

The economy of Cuba is tiny, it’s GDP in 2019 was $103 billion. It was
less than Puerto Rico at $104 billion. California’s was $3.2 trillion.
Texas was $1.9 trillion.

13.8K viewsView 250 upvotesView sharesAnswer requested by
Rodney Banks
23 comments from
Jen Burns
and more

Jen Burns
October 17
PS plus there have been American blockades in places for decades, which
would no doubt make it more difficult to import components.

Brent Cooper
October 17
No doubt

Lucas Frech
Thu
Communists say that Cuba was poor before the revolution because the USA
traded with Cuba. They then say that Cuba is poor after the revolution
due to lack of trade with the USA.

If communists believe trade with America is so essential to prosperity,
I'd like to see communists advocating closer commercial ties with the
USA as a means to achieve that in Latin America. Sadly, this is not the
case, and they do their best to sabotage any commercial agreement with
the USA.

Aldo Rovinazzi
October 18
The economic sanctions against Cuba (not a blockade), is not understood
by many nor explained by the mass media.

Castro came to power promising free elections and advocating an open,
mixed economy. He then proceeded to establish himself as leader for life
and he expropriated without compensation anything owned by US
institutions and citizens. At the time Cuba (an enthusiastic US ally in
WW2 and fierce adversary of “fascist" Spain), had top notch public
utilities and an export sector that were for the most part built, funded
and managed by US companies (e.g. Ma Bell had to write off billions in investments).

If memory serves me right, that cost the US 90 billion USD at present
value. Cuba was a comparably wealthy Country and suddenly its Government
was very wealthy too. Now, if you and your upvoters are still with me,
you have to appreciate how difficult it is to sell and how easy it is to
buy (when you have money). It is unanimously agreed upon that economic sanctions damage the issuer enormously more than the target. Were the
sanctions enforced by “the West" they would really hurt. Just the USoA?
Naah, a mere inconvenience; can't buy a US truck? Tell me again the
difference with a Canadian, Korean, Brasilian, Chinese, German or
Italian one…..

The sanctions are political posturing, its economic consequences are
marginal.


Mark Helfenstein
October 18
Yes but Cuba got a lot of investments from the Soviet Union for decades
and pretty much for free and after “sugar daddy “ was gone they almost collapsed. They could leverage it but their economy model blockaded any advance.

Also, the EU could invest there but it didn’t. Why someone would invest
if you can’t make a profit? The blocking is the perfect excuse for
justifying Cuba’s failure as a society (economically and politically).


James Salvato
October 17
The blockades don’t account for necessary staples like food and medical supplies. Yet, here they are protesting over the lack of food and
medical supplies.

Jen Burns
October 17
My comment was in response to the post which commented on the lack of
industry in Cuba. Not food or medical supplies.

ccasions its not surprising they wish to protect themselves in case of a
US invasion.

James Salvato
October 17
I believe it only applies to US businesses. Not necessarily everyone else

Raul Alonso
Thu
They are protesting against the ideal of communism and favor of
individual freedom.


Ed Taber
October 17
With so many Canadian tourists visiting yearly what is to stop the
import of components other than a worthless Peso?


Nicolas Dean
October 18
It definitely would be a major factor. But China has already filled in
as Cuba’s main trading partner and yet this somehow has kept them stuck. However, I will agree that the embargo needs to be dropped.

Philip Rabe
Wed
I thought they were still driving 60 year old American cars was because
of the embargos. And because one CAN maintain a 60 year old US made
vehicle. With a screwdriver and a pipe clamp. sort of.

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