Communist-run Cuba to recognize private property in new constitution

[sandensea]

Communist-run Cuba will officially recognize private property, something it has long rejected as a vestige of capitalism, under a new constitution that also creates the position of prime minister alongside the president, state media reported on Saturday.

Cuba’s current Soviet-era constitution, enacted in 1976, only recognizes state, cooperative, farmer, personal and joint venture property.

Former President Raúl Castro’s market reforms, aimed at trying to boost the economy and make Cuban socialism more sustainable. Miguel Díaz-Canel, who succeeded Castro on April 19, had pledged continuity.

These reforms have prompted hundreds of thousands of Cubans to join the ranks of the island’s self-employed since 2010, in new privately-owned businesses ranging from restaurants to beauty salons.

At: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cuba-politics/communist-run-cuba-to-recognize-private-property-in-new-constitution-idUSKBN1K4108

Jpak's thread on LBN: https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142109537

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel and his predecessor, Raúl Castro. Toward market socialism?

[yallerdawg]

1. I believe the lesson we have learned from the great 20th Century socialist states is...

capitalism must run its course EVERYWHERE.

THEN its failings will be inevitable, and the historic revolution/evolution will be GLOBAL.

ALL the remaining communist governments have incorporated a variety of capitalism's incentives for exploitation. They know.

[sandensea]

2. Out-of-control Miami/Wall Street-style capitalism's doomed to crash - but capitalism itself can work

If paired with a strong regulatory structure (not the rubber-stamp, lobbyist-shaped system we have here now).

Market socialism - with strong oversight to preclude corruption - is another good option, I think.

Particularly for poorer countries that need the public sector as a prime mover because the private sector is usually too chickenshit to make the first move ("Mommy, mommy! I lost money!" ).

I hope these reforms can work for them. They should, I think, although results can be unpredictable from country to country.

[yallerdawg]

3. Capitalism is like 'the scorpion and the frog' story.

Oh, with some righteous regulation it will be just fine!

Capitalism requires exploitation. Have and have-nots. That's its nature.

No one is happy or content with being exploited.

[sandensea]

4. I hear you. But remember that for the time being, that's what we have.

And it may indeed very well collapse - thanks to the sociopaths that run most finance and big business, and the kleptomaniacs that run much of our government (from Cheeto on down).

I hope not though. Because while we may indeed some day transition to something more cooperative and more constructive, the collapse itself will almost certainly be disastrous - probably not unlike a Mad Max movie.

Here's hoping we can reform our way out of this, with minor crises to be sure, but in a more humanist direction in any case.

All the Best.

[sinkingfeeling]

5. That is great news. On my 14 day tour of the island, we ate 90%

of the time in privately run restaurants. They were excellent and things ran so much more smoothly than at the state owned places.
I'm so happy that Diaz-Canel is following the lead of Raul. Most Cubans I spoke with feared he would turn back the reforms.

[sandensea]

6. I think market socialism is indeed the right choice for them.

It's helped in many developing countries where the domestic private sector is still too poor to move the economy in a big way by itself, and where foreign investors generally have only maquiladoras and/or money laundries in mind.

Díaz-Canel's approach seems much more balanced, and I hope it works for them.

That said, kudos for your trip to Cuba! Please consider sharing some photos with us when you can.

¡Salúd!