Last year Hurricane Ivan struck at Cuba. They didn’t suffer a single casualty, because they successfully evacuated 1.9 million of the nation’s 11.2 million people.
What accounts for this difference? How is such a difference possible, when Cuba is so poor and America is so rich?
1. Cuba is prepared. It has preparedness education programs for the entire population. In America, on the other hand, our government is only prepared when it has to indulge in spin to cover up its never-ending screw-ups. And the people suck it up.
2. Cuba uses its resources well, and in a sophisticated way. In water-logged conditions, they used amphibious tanks to evacuate their people. In America, on the other hand, we can’t even use our school buses. "The Cuban way could easily be applied to other countries with similar economic conditions, and even in countries with greater resources that do not manage to protect their population as well as Cuba does," said Salvano Briceno, director of the U.N. International Strategy for Disaster Reduction in Geneva. Yes, the Cuban way could and should be applied to America. Michael Chertoff should go study under Castro immediately. We’re not prepared, and yet the people act surprised. Why are they surprised? Our government wasn’t prepared to fight a long war in Iraq either. Didn’t the people realize then that their government is not prepared for anything it does?
3. In Cuba, the government realizes that it’s there to serve the people, not to run a welfare program for big business. In America, on the other hand, the government believes in government by the fat cats, for the fat cats, and of the fat cats. We pass an energy bill that’s all about giving tax breaks to oil companies, who are now using Katrina as an excuse to raise gas prices to gouge us. Congress passes a bankruptcy law that’s all about helping rich credit card companies and screwing poor people. In America, government and big business work hand in hand to loot the people. And the people let them get away with it.
4. In Cuba, the government believes in government. In America, on the other hand, the Republican Party follows the dictum of Grover Norquist, who famously said: "My goal is to cut government in half in twenty-five years, to get it down to the size where we can drown it in the bathtub.” And the people go along with it.
Article comments
1 - 1Potato
Cuban Americans living in Miami consider Castro a murdering, egomaniacal dictator.
Oh well, I guess one man's murdering dictator is another mans's "leader".
By the way, if I wrote this in Cuba I'd be in jail (which is probably where you would want me, right?)
2 - 1Potato
I like that chick though!
3 - Mark Adams
In Cuba, people with AIDS are segregated from society... wish Bush would do the same. Then we could be like Cuba.
Seriously, we did blow it regarding Katrina. By we I mean: federal, state, local and individual. That said, I don't think we need to slam America.
4 - Dave Nalle
>>What accounts for this difference? How is such a difference possible, when Cuba is so poor and America is so rich<<
Totalitarianism and the willingness to shoot people who don't evacuate?
Dave
5 - Jewels
A bird in the hand is worth 2 in the Bush...Adam Ash, you know how to grab attention; that chick's hot enough to make me read on... Seriously, Chertoff needs to study under somebody, he has proven to be a weasel-faced idiot. Your point about preparedness in the face of disaster well-taken, I just don't share the same political ideology as you.
6 - Baronius
Not a single Cuban hurricane death reported in the state-controlled press. The state-controlled press also hasn't reported a single instance of AIDS, of prostitution, of black markets, of food shortages, or of political prisoners.
As for Castro being a better leader than Bush, I'm going to assume that you're not being serious. That way we'll be able to chat on other boards.
7 - KnowAbs
Why is Bush blamed for the failure of the mayor and the governor to take action in the first place? They incompetently didn't even follow their own disaster plan and then dumped the problem on the federal government!
The mayor left 2000 buses unused for his "mandatory" evacuation plan...now the buses are ruined by flooding, by the way.
The governor didn't declare martial law (unlike in next-door Mississippi, which is why looting was minimal there) and prevented Red Cross aid from getting to the Superdome fearing it would attract more refugees than the facility could handle.
It's way too convenient (and intellectually dishonest) just to dump this on the white house.
8 - adam
Baronius:
Of course I'm being a provocateur with this post, but although I prefer Bush's politics to Castro's (heck, Bush believes in democracy and Castro doesn't), I do believe Castro is the better leader. After all, he's managed to survive through five or six US presidents. Cuba has a better health system than the US, they're better educated, and their doctors help out around the world. For a poor dictatorship, they've done pretty well by their citizens -- unless of course you're a homosexual or you exercise your freedom to speak up against the dictatorial regime.
Dave:
The Cubans are better prepared for disasters because they're educated about disasters, or, in your language, they're indoctrinated about it.
9 - Dave Nalle
Adam, by that measure, let's clone Hitler and bring him back from the dead. He was a WAY better leader than Bush or Castro. I mean if all you're looking for is leadership skill, you can't go wrong with Dolphie.
>>The Cubans are better prepared for disasters because they're educated about disasters, or, in your language, they're indoctrinated about it.<<
They're better prepared for disaster because they live in a constant state of disaster, not just from their regular exposure to hurricanes, but from a government and economy which have made them used to suffering and deprivation.
Dave
10 - adam
Dave, Adolf was the worst leader there is. He plunged his nation into a war with the world that led to their untold suffering. And that's not even mentioning what he did to his Jewish citizens.
(Not that Bush hasn't plunged his nation into a war that's causing lots of suffering, to us and to the Iraqis.)
11 - Baronius
Castro is a better leader because he's survived 5 or 6 US presidents?
Castro has lasted by killing his rivals, killing his friends, and killing anyone moving up in the government. Castro's success isn't despite his totalitarianism, it's because of it.
12 - Dave Nalle
No, Adam, that's proof he was a GREAT leader, just a bad person. To get his people to stay loyal and ignore mass murders, genocide, invasions of neighboring countries, nationalization of industy, taking their guns away, and a dreadful economy and still love him - that's GREAT leadership.
Dave
13 - Les Slater
Cuba being a dictatorship is nonsense.
The Cuban government is the most transparent government in the world. Not all people in Cuba support the government, most do, but none have doubts about where the government stands on ANY issue.
Many in Cuba openly critisize the government without any fear of reprisal.
There is more participation by the people in Cuba than any other place in the world.
Not only do most people in this country distrust the U.S. government but very few believe what it claims.
Turnouts for voting in local races is dismal. Most people that vote in national elections do so more to oppose the other guy than to wholeheartedly support who they are voting for.
The U.S. also has a history of electoral fraud, to say nothing of the fact you can't get elected without serious money from the fat cats.
It is abundantly clear that not one state or federal official gives a shit about poor people. They just watched as Katrina unfolded.
The local officials did absolutely nothing either except attempts to protect the wealthier citizen's property.
When the troops finally got there they did very little helping of the people. They mostly were a show of force.
The ongoing cutting of social services for decades under both parties allows the rich to get richer and the poor to become more numerous.
The watchword for U.S. society is "everyone out for themselves". A striking example of this is that nursing home residents were left to fend for themselves. What society that calls itself civilized whould LET that happen?
We would be wise to look at Cuba and learn a few things.
14 - Dave Nalle
We now return you to the world of reality, having spent one comment length in a bizarre alternate reality.
Dave
15 - Anthony Grande
"because they successfully evacuated 1.9 million of the nation’s 11.2 million people."
Where in the world did 1.9 Cubans go??? And why or did they ever come back???
16 - Les Slater
“Where in the world did 1.9 Cubans go??? And why or did they ever come back???”
Above quote was referring to evacuation from Ivan. They went to relatives and friend’s homes, and shelters (In Cuba).
These people were, if possible, moved in such a way that their neighbors from home were in the same geographical vicinity. The doctors and other support personnel were evacuated with them.
After the storm threat abated, they returned to the areas where they lived prior to Ivan.
17 - Will Clark
Anyone who agrees with this tripe is more than welcome to move to Cuba. We'll see what your perspective on things is like after you've been there for a few years.
18 - Les Slater
“Anyone who agrees with this tripe ….”
Standard answer for those with no answers.
Are you reading the press? Are you listening to people talking? Have you watched any TV lately?
We are all experiencing what is happening to us in this country. We are not allowed to go to Cuba and see what is happening there.
The experience here is dependent on what social strata one comes from. It depends somewhat on your race.
But many, many people are beginning to form ideas that the government will try desperately to counter.
What is your answer about New Orleans? Is it incompetence of the government? Is the people in the nursing homes? Blame or just ignore.
You do not have any answers!
19 - Will Clark
Last time I checked, this conversation wasn't about New Orleans - so nice try. No, my response is not an answer, it's a recommendation. Please know the difference before you comment. And you're mistaken, I do have the answers. The answer is exactly what I implied in my earlier statement: Let us know what you think after spending a few years in Cuba. Not allowed to go there ??? Sure you are. You'd be great there. You're already such a paranoid conspiracy theorist you'll fit right in among Castro and his murdering band of criminals who steal and rape the very lives from well-meaning Cubans who will risk those same lives to make it to the United States and have an opportunity to be free. Please - go - and have fun. Or is it that you lack the courage to back up your words with action ??