A post from February 2008:
We've heard this all morning. Castro resigned. I agree with The Economist:
"But despite some improvements—power cuts are now much less frequent than a few years ago—Cubans are deeply discontented with their daily lives.
Top of the list of grumbles are low wages (averaging only about $20-25 a month), acute shortages of transport and housing and the restrictions on small business.
Health care and education remain free but of deteriorating quality.
To get by, almost every Cuban must get involved in a tolerated, but officially illegal, informal economy.
Under Raúl, there have also been a few signs of a modest relaxation in Cuba’s police state.
In the past few days, four political opponents were released from long jail terms and flown abroad.
But human-rights activists say that there are still more than 200 political prisoners in the island’s jails." (The comandante retires—sort of)
On today's show, Henry from The Babalu Blog discussed the news and its implications. Henry also posted Free Bicet, a reminder that Dr. Biscet is still in a political jail!
Get ready for changes in Cuba. Raul Castro will not turn Cuba into some Caribbean version of China. He will try but it won't work!
P.S. Rick Moran discusses a BBC article about Fidel!