Reply #144: Gee. Do you think that the US embargo has anything to do with that?

[Mika]

The D.R. has no us trade and travel sanctions set upon it and its people.

I've been to the D.R. and I have seen some of the most appalling homelessness and poverty there, more street children in Santo Domingo than you can shake a stick at, as well as serious drug addiction problems. No one who has been to Cuba has seen homeless street children huffing shoe glue, nor any homeless in Cuba period. I haven't either.

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One of the internationally recognized hallmarks of representative government..

The D.R.

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/dr.html
Infant mortality rate: 34.19 deaths/1,000 births


Cuba

http://www.twnside.org.sg/title/learn.htm
Infant mortality rate: 6 deaths/1,000 births



I guess if you don't survive early childhood they can't measure your quality of life.

In Cuba, more survive to suffer this,

Learn from Cuba

It is no wonder, in some ways. Public spending on education in Cuba amounts to about 6.7% of gross national income, twice the proportion in other Latin American and Caribbean countries and even Singapore.

There were 12 primary school pupils for every Cuban teacher in 1997, a ratio that ranked with Sweden, rather than any other developing country. The Latin American and East Asian average was twice as high at 25 to one.

The average youth (age 15-24) illiteracy rate in Latin America and the Caribbean stands at 7%. In Cuba, the rate is zero. In Latin America, where the average is 7%, only Uruguay approaches that achievement, with one percent youth illiteracy.

“Cuba managed to reduce illiteracy from 40% to zero within ten years,” said Ritzen. “If Cuba shows that it is possible, it shifts the burden of proof to those who say it’s not possible.”