Cuba’s Elections Draw Big Turnout

[Mika]

Source: Periodico Ahora

Cubans went to the polls in droves on Sunday to elect their local authorities, a process that takes place every two and a half years.

With 95 percent of the registered voters casting their ballots, 2,971 of the 15,236 voting districts in the country’s 169 Municipalities will require a runoff vote on Sunday October 28.

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Since some of them will also become candidates for the 609-member Peoples Power National Assembly (Parliament) in next spring’s general elections their views on national issues would also add interest and spark discussion.

While the high voter turnout is a good indication of how Cubans would react to any foreign intervention —in mass and without hesitation—, it doesn’t automatically mean uniformity of opinion. In fact, Cubans have begun to put forth more outspoken opinions and suggestions on how to make the wheels of their socialist revolution turn more efficiently. There are many divergent views on the way the country’s economy is being run and of how specific laws or policies are being applied.

Read more: http://www.ahora.cu/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4922

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You can read a short description of the Cuban system here,
http://members.allstream.net/~dchris/CubaFAQDemocracy.html

Or a long and detailed version here,

Democracy in Cuba and the 1997-98 Elections
Arnold August
1999
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0968508405/qid=1053879619/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/102-8821757-1670550?v=glance&s=books

[Whoa_Nelly]

1. Wish we could get a 95% voter turnout

[tomreedtoon]

2. Remember "Vote or Die?"

Also remember the election in South Park that inspired Snoop Dogg to kill anyone who didn't vote, and the wonderful election choice South Park had to make:

"A great big turd or a stupid douche, which do you like best?"

Kind of like our election in 2008, isn't it?

[slackmaster]

3. It was Turd Sandwich vs. Giant Douche

:hi:

[tomreedtoon]

8. Point taken, but I was quoting the song lyrics.

And the point is, enforcing voting when you really have no significant choice is stupidity.

I know, it's a Libertarian belief of Parker and Stone, and I don't buy into it. And I don't buy into the idea that there will be no absolute differences between possible Democratic and Republican candidates. But ordering people to vote, at the point of a gun, as they do in Cuba, is not really "expanding democracy."

It would be better if our nation encouraged people to vote and discuss important matters. But then again, "voter suppression" has been a winning process for the Republicans, so why would they change?

[Judi Lynn]

9. Why don't you provide a link to some information on how voting is forced

in Cuba under threat of violence? You'd be doing DU'ers a real favor.

[tomreedtoon]

11. Do you think a gringo would be allowed there?

Do you think anyone gets out of Cuba alive and tells the truth about what goes on there?

Oh, I'm just as sure as you are, that anyone with an assault rifle running through the slums is just a friendly escort for those people who forgot to vote.

[Mika]

12. Hey tom. Time to check your meds.

-

Because if you really think this, then you are hallucinating and need to back off the dose of your meds.

Yes, gringos really do go to Cuba and live to tell about it.


:wow:

[Judi Lynn]

13. Jesus Christ! Someone really needs to get out more, and do one hell of a lot more reading.

How many DU'ers have been to Cuba and discussed it here over the years? Good lord.

Many of them have been there multiple times, like you, Mika, like Freecancat, and B.B. in Miami, and Gua., also of Florida, some going with church groups, humanitarian groups, or just because they wanted to do it.

Here's a google on Cuba and European tourists:http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&q=Cuba+European+tourists

We have DU'ers who live in Europe who have written about either their own trips to Cuba or the trips taken by family members, etc.

Un-####ing-believable.

[Judi Lynn]

14. Adding a google "Cuba tourist photos."

Without a doubt bound to produce image after image of "gringos" from Canada, Europe, the U.S., too, Asia, Africa, Australia, Latin America, all exploring in Cuba, on foot, by bicycle, rented RV, bus, train, airplane, rental car, etc., etc., etc.

http://www.google.com/search?q=Cuba+tourists+photos&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&start=10&sa=N

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Mika]

10. tomreedtoon, your comment is full of it!

But ordering people to vote, at the point of a gun, as they do in Cuba,

I've been to Cuba many times, including during elections, and I have NEVER EVER seen anything done in Cuba at the point of a gun.

Prove that they are, otherwise your statement = complete bullshit.

[robcon]

4. It's amazing how a police state can drive "election" turnout.

Reminiscent of the USSR, and of Iraq under Saddam.... Free people can choose not to vote.

[Mika]

5. What's amazing is American's lack of understanding of Cubans in Cuba.

But, I guess that its understandable, since the US government promotes freedom by dictating a ban on American travel to Cuba.

To claim that Cuba is anything like the USSR and of Iraq under Saddam is as out of touch as Bush is on the subject. Cubans are as activist a populace as one could ever encounter. That's how they've done so much with so little - citizens participation in government. To not vote is to relinquish control of one's own government.

Interesting argument you have there, robcon.. Its a dictatorship if there are no elections/votes. Its a dictatorship if people turn out to vote in vast numbers. Pure Bushco bullshit logic.

[Judi Lynn]

6. These propagandists are going to get their come-uppance if, through a miracle, the travel ban is

ever removed.

With large numbers of Americans getting to Cuba to find out what's going on there, and spreading around their own stories, it's going to be harder and harder and harder for the spinners to keep their lies in place.

As it is, anti-Cuban people can say ANYTHING that comes to their minds, and there won't be many people around who can call them on it, since the U.S. government is keeping them from finding out the truth!

They are painting themselves into a corner, as one day everyone's going to know just how smelly these lies have really been, and how low down and dirty.

In the meantime, people need to know Cubans want people to GO TO CUBA. They wouldn't welcome it as they do now, if they had anything to hide about themselves and their way of life.

Near-sighted, underinformed Americans don't seem to grasp the fact Cuba is very open to THE ENTIRE REST OF THE WORLD which does NOT forbid travel to Cuba!

[Mika]

7. Interesting how posters here use Bush's language so often.

Some of the ravings by the anti Cuba crowd posting here could be cut-&-pasted right off of Oscar Corral's discussion board at the Miami Herald website. Seriously in denial, furiously repeating the neocon/neolib/exile party line without much critical thinking.

[Flanker]

15. In Australia they are not free to: choose not to vote

Are they free rob con?

http://www.idea.int/vt/compulsory_voting.cfm

[Billy Burnett]

16. Be gentle when bursting a bubble.

:)

:hi:

[Judi Lynn]

17. Gee, and it's been that way there since 1924, too! Very interesting, Flanker. Where's Cuba?

It doesn't show up on the list. You'd think they would have included it since someone wrote they have to vote at the point of a gun! Wow!

Thank you very much. Look forward to keeping this information for my own personal use. Good one!

[0007]

21. OMFG!!



Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all others because you
were born in it.

William Shakespeare

[UTUSN]

19. Going out on a limb here, but I predict a ----a --- LANDSLIDE!1 of monumental proportions!!1 (snarf

The ancient Greeks would be proud. Not.

[High Plains]

20. Do you even know what the elections are for? Which offices?

Snarf.

[Occulus]

22. They really are transparent, aren't they?

I'm speaking of both the anti-Cuba idiots, and the Cuban elections.

I mean, really. How... ah... uninformed do you have to be to keep saying such things about Cuba as that "snarfy" (Thundercats reference?) poster did?

[Zhade]

23. They're fucking idiots, is what they are.

I have no patience left for these lying conservative assholes who don't know what the fuck they're talking about.

Fuck them, Cubans know what's up more than I or they do.

[originalpckelly]

24. You can have any color you like, so long as it's red.

Socialism-socialism is the biggest crock of bullshit ever sold. I mean capitalism's bad, but at least more people control the economy, not a small group of 639 folks (and I want to know what Cuba's equivalent of the Politburo really controls Cuba.)

[Judi Lynn]

25. Why don't you go there and find out for yourself? Wait, your government forbids you to go. n/t

[Mika]

26. Why not learn about Cuba before making ignorant statements about its political system.

The 639 you mention form only the National Assembly. There are the provincial and municipal assemblies also (comprised of thousands of elected representatives). They all are involved in the control of the economy.

You might want to read this book IF you are really interested in contributing something more than ignorant pronouncements about Cuba. Better yet.. go there. Oh.. right.. Americans are banned by the dictate of their own government from doing so freely.


Democracy in Cuba and the 1997-98 Elections
Arnold August
1999
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0968508405/qid=1053879619/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/102-8821757-1670550?v=glance&s=books