Cuba may fall

[Butler1000]

That makes no sense from a market perspective. There is always short-term cycles where landlords try to raise rents. The market eventually finds equilibrium. In fact, the COVID inflation shock caused some landlords to try to raise commercial rents. Landlords have expenses too higher taxes, higher financing costs and in some higher maintenance costs. We're working to find an equilibrium here on commercial rents.

In the end, the landlords need the customers to frequent the businesses as much as the operators.



Over time, I have come to learn that you don't like capitalism and pretty much see evil and distress wherever it doesn't meet your idealistic expectations. People are in this very post claiming the U.S. embargo is hurting the Cuban economy. Can't have it both ways.



That would actually be great for the U.S, Canada and the world. The problem is where does the globe find $1 trillion of demand that the U.S. finances. Can't say it enough, but global trade is a closed, double-entry system where every seller needs a buyer. Every trade surplus needs to be offset by an equal and corresponding trade deficit somewhere in the world. This basic law of international economics can't be changed.

A Canadian government that runs the economy for strong growth benefits everyone. It creates demand.

You are right. It makes no sense yet that is exactly what they are doing. There only expense is land taxes. Thats it. Thats the point.

I love capitalism. I hate disaster capitalism, and unregulated capitalism, and private equity style capitalism. I love capitalism Thats builds things, creates services, and understands that people are valuable too. I love Henry Ford capitalism that understands a strong middle class makes for a strong economy.

We are finding lots of other customers now Wyatt. You are not the only game in town. Stop being so America centric.

 

[whyagain]

I agree not to mention you've got some Canadians on here who still hate on Wayne Gretzky too all cause he left Canada. If Cuba allowed more Americans and others years ago similar to Canadians they'd be in better shape. But they def need to adapt capitalism.

 

[WyattEarp]

Sympathetic is an understatement. Anti-americanism blinds many around here to all kinds of foreign totalitarian regimes
as long as those regimes are anti-american. This has existed long before the current administration and regardless of who's in charge in the US.

Absolutely.

It just feels like it has become more fashionable since the fall of the Soviet Union.
The brutality of the Soviet Union threw cold water on any excessive anti-Americanism.

Now it's easy to blame the U.S. for any ill in the world. The Cuban government is a victim of U.S. policy. (Not my opinion)

 

[WyattEarp]

You are right. It makes no sense yet that is exactly what they are doing. There only expense is land taxes. Thats it. Thats the point.

I love capitalism. I hate disaster capitalism, and unregulated capitalism, and private equity style capitalism. I love capitalism Thats builds things, creates services, and understands that people are valuable too. I love Henry Ford capitalism that understands a strong middle class makes for a strong economy.

We are finding lots of other customers now Wyatt. You are not the only game in town. Stop being so America centric.

You missed my point or rather ignored it.

The Carney govt. looks to be running your economy for growth. I hope he is successful, but the barriers he faces arise from ten years of political complacency. Trump is just a recent and convenient excuse. A Canadian economy that is growing faster than its population is good for the world.

PS- A trillion dollar demand gap that the U.S. literally fills makes the global economy somewhat America-centric. You talk about capitalist extraction, but you have difficulty taking economic headlines to their logical conclusion.

If Canada sells more energy and grain to China, that is taking export sales away from other countries the Mideast, Australia, Argentina and the U.S. That energy and grain will find its way into other markets. I've made this point with some other members before. Commodities for the most part are fungible (interchangeable).

 

[Knuckle Ball]

I do want to say Cuba would be better off if the U.S. lifted the embargo. However, I don't think the government does a great job of managing the tourism industry. The Caribbean is a very competitive tourist market. Some islands appeal to Europeans and I don't see a lot Americans. They do fine.

Americans are prohibited by their own government from travelling to Cuba for general tourism.

 

[whyagain]

Americans are prohibited by their own government from travelling to Cuba for general tourism.

If that was lifted years ago many would go to Cuba. Cheap prices and you get treated like a king. Well I dunno how most Cubans would feel, but money talks. I leave a $5 USD on the bed and I come back to my hotel happy as a pig. Prices have gone up now, but it's still cheaper than Jamaica, Virgin Islands, etc. A few middle class boomers have nothing but good things to say about it who I know. But they don't mind the food down there lol.

 

[Knuckle Ball]

If that was lifted years ago many would go to Cuba. Cheap prices and you get treated like a king. Well I dunno how most Cubans would feel, but money talks. I leave a $5 USD on the bed and I come back to my hotel happy as a pig. Prices have gone up now, but it's still cheaper than Jamaica, Virgin Islands, etc. A few middle class boomers have nothing but good things to say about it who I know. But they don't mind the food down there lol.

It’s hard for me to imagine that authentic Cuban food is bland. I suspect that food you’re describing was in a resort with Cuban food watered down for the pallets of western tourists? I dunno…I’ve never been to Cuba.

 

[WyattEarp]

I agree not to mention you've got some Canadians on here who still hate on Wayne Gretzky too all cause he left Canada. If Cuba allowed more Americans and others years ago similar to Canadians they'd be in better shape. But they def need to adapt capitalism.

Butler raises some interesting ideas. However, trying to successfully run a country of ten million as some type of economic cooperative is next to impossible. You have to allow property ownership and that also means some freedom to manage it, do what you want with it and yes even sell it. You also have to allow individuals to succeed well beyond the mean.

Perhaps there are Caribbean islands that successfully functions that way. I don't know of one. If they exist, they might be an oil producer in the Southern Caribbean or a sparsely populated island with great natural beauty. Perhaps the islands that are financial service centres can offer a lot to their citizenry. However, the financial service centres are the epitome of capitalism and exploiting opportunities.

Cuba can use reasonable taxation to continue providing education and healthcare to its population. The more the Cuban govt. tries to do or should we say control the more they disincentivize private enterprise.

 

[WyattEarp]

If that was lifted years ago many would go to Cuba. Cheap prices and you get treated like a king. Well I dunno how most Cubans would feel, but money talks. I leave a $5 USD on the bed and I come back to my hotel happy as a pig. Prices have gone up now, but it's still cheaper than Jamaica, Virgin Islands, etc. A few middle class boomers have nothing but good things to say about it who I know. But they don't mind the food down there lol.

It hasn't been that hard for Americans to travel to Cuba the last thirty years. There are flights from Toronto, Montreal and Mexico. There were also limited flights from Miami. All you had to do was designate "support for the Cuban people". You're technically suppose to stay at private residences and eat at private restaurants. After you got there, the U.S. govt. didn't really care what you did. I'm not exactly sure of the current Trump State Dept. requirements and limitations.

Americans likely don't go in big numbers because there are so many other hassle-free tropical destinations. Our govt. has not actively encouraged Cuban travel. The credit card thing is a minor hassle to get around.

For some reason, Canadian travel to Cuba never got back to pre-pandemic levels. I think we can presume the drop in Russian travel to Cuba has everything to do with the war and the economy.

 

[glamphotographer]

trump the pirate stole another tanker yesterday.
america is really turning into a rogue state and trying to control all the Americas.

https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5739379-us-intercepts-another-oil-tanker-in-the-indian-ocean/

The Trump administration is a crime syndicate.

 

[WyattEarp]

It’s hard for me to imagine that authentic Cuban food is bland. I suspect that food you’re describing was in a resort with Cuban food watered down for the pallets of western tourists? I dunno…I’ve never been to Cuba.

Cuban food itself is generally bland. As noted in a TERB discussion on Puerto Rican food, you can ask for hot sauce.
My experience is that the meat products were not of North American standards.
Seafood was limited because I think the Cuban waters are overfished. The fisherman are also given very limited gas for their boats. Sad but true.

Now I hear the food has gotten better. The foreign managed hotels and the privately-owned paladares are likely allowed to import certain ingredients. There certainly appears to be more cuisines available in Havana. Regardless the govt. takes a big cut and there is little or no competition when sourcing domestic ingredients. Much of it comes from government-owned dollarized stores that give the regime another opportunity to pull in hard currency. The paladares take in a lot of hard currency.

 

[WyattEarp]

Americans are prohibited by their own government from travelling to Cuba for general tourism.

You misread my post. I was speaking of other islands (not Cuba in that context) that have a distinct European following.

Anyway, it's not really correct that we can't go to Cuba for general tourism. Read my above post #129 about U.S. travel to Cuba. We are technically prohibited from supporting the Cuban govt. It has no practical enforcement other than a customs agent could take your cigars away because they came from a govt-owned. cigar factory.

 

[WyattEarp]

You are right. It makes no sense yet that is exactly what they are doing. There only expense is land taxes. Thats it. Thats the point.

I love capitalism. I hate disaster capitalism, and unregulated capitalism, and private equity style capitalism. I love capitalism Thats builds things, creates services, and understands that people are valuable too. I love Henry Ford capitalism that understands a strong middle class makes for a strong economy.

We are finding lots of other customers now Wyatt. You are not the only game in town. Stop being so America centric.

One who truly believes in capitalism has to embrace free markets. With that, we can't put unquestioning faith in government involvement in the economy. Last and certainly the most challenging belief, one has to believe in the power of productivity and its ability to make societies wealthy. Without productivity gains, American, Canadian, European, East Asian and even Chinese affluence is not possible

Obama famously said "You didn't build that." I actually don't think Obama truly believes what he said, but it appealed to much of his base.

 

[Butler1000]

One who truly believes in capitalism has to embrace free markets. With that, we can't put unquestioning faith in government involvement in the economy. Last and certainly the most challenging belief, one has to believe in the power of productivity and its ability to make societies wealthy. Without productivity gains, American, Canadian, European, East Asian and even Chinese affluence is not possible

Obama famously said "You didn't build that." I actually don't think Obama truly believes what he said, but it appealed to much of his base.

View attachment 554247

We also can't put unquestioning faith in free markets. It's a balance. Free markets result in oligarchs.

And as an example of good govt helping the the new bridge is a classic example. With the opposition by a billionaire to try to monopoly transport the other side of it.

Businesses don't like competition.

 

[WyattEarp]

We also can't put unquestioning faith in free markets. It's a balance. Free markets result in oligarchs.

In the U.S. the so-called oligarchs don't agree with each other and fight politically. We have intense political competition. Many of these U.S. "oligarchs" gave us global economic champions.

When I was in Cuba, I enjoyed the warmth of collectivism or maybe it was the 85 degree temperature.

Businesses don't like competition.

Governments don't like competing for influence.

 

[Frankfooter]

One who truly believes in capitalism has to embrace free markets. With that, we can't put unquestioning faith in government involvement in the economy. Last and certainly the most challenging belief, one has to believe in the power of productivity and its ability to make societies wealthy. Without productivity gains, American, Canadian, European, East Asian and even Chinese affluence is not possible

Obama famously said "You didn't build that." I actually don't think Obama truly believes what he said, but it appealed to much of his base.

Free markets?
america doesn't believe in free markets, they want to install puppet leaders to control the markets in other countries.
Colonialism.

Cuba is the same, only america backs the blockade.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/2025294029483864238

 

[Butler1000]

In the U.S. the so-called oligarchs don't agree with each other and fight politically. We have intense political competition. Many of these U.S. "oligarchs" gave us global economic champions.

When I was in Cuba, I enjoyed the warmth of collectivism or maybe it was the 85 degree temperature.


Governments don't like competing for influence.

They disagree over who gets to spend time on Little St James.

And really? They sure looked aligned up at the Inauguration.

 

[Butler1000]

Looks like the US is going to allow some oil through.