Was it better under Batista than Castro...or about the same?

[GreenTea]

Batista abandoned the Cuban constitution by allowing only staged elections in which his victory would be guaranteed.

His government was on good terms with the United States. Large American corporations grew rich off Cuba's resources, sugar cane, tobacco, coffee, cheap labor, tourism, hotels, resorts, prostitution, drugs & alcohol, gambling & Casinos, while the people of Cuba remained very poor.

Batista offered neither health care nor education to his country's people. The bulk of the people lived in great poverty while Batista and his friends lived a wealthy lifestyle.

Batista suspended constitutional guarantees and took more control over the media in an effort to end student riots and anti-Batista demonstrations that were being held. Also increasing opposition to Batista and leading to several uprising were the economic depressions faced by Cuba in the 1950s.

Many people opposed Batista, most importantly Fidel Castro and his organization, M-26-7. They were training in Mexico until 1956, when they returned to Cuba aboard the yacht Granma. Batista's massive police and spy force had been watching Castro closely.

The large, well-equipped army of Batista could not put down the popular revolt. Batista fled the country in 1959, stealing millions of dollars. He left behind an army of 40,000 men, Castro had only a few thousand.

Then the first phase of the migration to the US during the early months of 1959 consisted primarily of extremely wealthy officials who had been associated in some way with the Batista government. Unlike the bulk of the refugees who came later, the first exiles usually had substantial bank accounts outside of Cuba and were protected against the financial pain of expatriation.

Batista stayed in Spain until his death in 1973

[LSparkle]

1. Very good question

I'm always suspicious when I see Cuban exiles demonstrating against Castro (or celebrating his impending demise), wondering if they are the descendants of the pro-Batista "ruling class" elites ...

[valerief]

2. Well, I guess those revolting didn't do it for nothing.

Castro gave Cuba great health care, as I understand it.

[LaPera]

4. And increased literacy.

[warrens]

3. They don't have slavery in Cuba today

They did under Batista. Technically, you were free, but if you left the plantations, you did not live long.

[Warpy]

5. Far worse

People cite the lack of a free press and freedom of expression as proof that things are worse, but things were at least that bad under Batista, whose secret police created a stink throughout the Caribbean. If you spoke out loud against Batista, your body was found in a ditch.

Everyone of color is much better off. They were nearly slaves under Batista, except they couldn't be sold on an auction block or their children sold away from them. Plus, slaves represent an investment and will get sufficient food so they don't starve to death.

Forget about healthcare. Only the European elite got that. Same for education. If you were black, your children were expected to grow up illiterate.

Castro is a dictator and that island is certainly overdue for moderation in terms of civil rights and a possible move to a limited mixed economy. However, to suggest things were better under Batista shows a total ignorance of what that men did to his people.

[skipos]

6. Castro is a huge disappointment.

My grandfather was born there, and he used to talk about what hope everyone had when Castro came into power. Too bad absolute power corrupts absolutely.

[Kutjara]

7. Batista was scum, cut from the same cloth...

...as Pinochet, Marcos, the Shah of Iran, Saddam and the other fascist puppets the US has set up around the world over the years. He exploited the Cuban people for the benefit of the wealthy few, was careful to line the pockets of his supporters in our government and made Cuba safe for organized crime.

Castro swept away all that crap, created a world-class healthcare system, universal literacy and social equality.

Neither Batista nor Castro pay more than lip-service to democracy, so in terms of political expression, both men are a wash. Neither is exactly a posterchild for human rights either.

Castro, however, clearly cares for the welfare of the Cuban people and has guided his nation through extremely difficult times (most of which were precipitated by external powers). Because the Cuban economy has been stifled by embargoes and (under the Soviets) distorted by unrealistic pricing mechanisms, Cuba remains a poor country. It would have been interesting to see what Castro could have created if the two superpowers had simply left Cuba alone.

Batista was a self-interested, amoral criminal. He was lucky to have been allowed to die in exile.

[tkmorris]

8. Hey, that's a pretty fair and objective post

Which is pretty remarkable; you almost NEVER see that where Castro is concerned.

[Disturbed]

10. US Govts Repubs and Dems have blocked Cuba

ever since Castro took over yet they trade with The People's Republic of China and Vietnam. Why is that?

[malaise]

13. Great post n/t

[ThomWV]

9. Here Is An Observation From An Old Miami Resident

When Batista ran the country Cubans could leave any time they wanted but other than a small part of down town there were very few Cubans in either Miami or the Keys. Then came Castro and soon thereafter waves of Cuban imigrants.

After the revolution local TV in Miami showed firing squads at work, and it was nightly.

Cuba before Castro was mobbed up. That was better than what is comming though. The next wave to overtake Cuba is going to be the Real Estate Developers. So by contrast the Cuban people havne't seen anything when it comes to real misery.

[Bucky]

16. And Castro's been a fool not to make preparations against this

That said, the successful growth of democracy in South Korea and Taiwan has mostly followed on the heels of economic development first. That's a model Castro should have followed. Then the Cuban people would be far less sitting ducks for the resort developers that one of his successors will undoubtedly bring in (Tourist-targeted prostitution is already on the rise in Cuba).

Cuba was a mess before Castro. Since Castro, it's a literate mess with much better health care. The lack of political freedom has remained a constant. While Bautista was generally regarded as probably a lefty fascist in his day, Castro has sincerely (and brutally) turned Cuba into an actual socialist state. The effort has failed mostly, but you can't argue with his few successes.

Castro is bad, but Bautista was worse. The thing is, we're about 30 years past the point when we should have opened up full trade with Cuba. Pandering to the exile community's vote in the Miami area has cost Cuba and the US dearly. I know Republicans like to pretend Ronald Reagan won the Cold War, but the truth is that Ronald McDonald and Levi Strauss won the Cold War. Dr. Pepper and Mickey Mouse brought down the Wall. Had we deployed American materialistic consumerism to Cuba around 1970 or so ("only Nixon can go to Havana"?), Castro would be vacationing in Yalta with Mikhail Gorbachev right now.

[eallen]

11. "Unlike the bulk of the refugees who came later..."

Seems like you answered your own question. People voted with their feet. And paddles.

[Judi Lynn]

12. If the U.S. Government offered the benefits to others it offers to EVERY

Cuban who steps onto dry land, our country would have been overwhelmed years ago.

Haitians crowd onto boats to go not 90 miles, but 700 to 900 miles, knowing that IF they're caught coming ashore at the very same time with Cubans, they WILL be deported, while the Cubans will stay.

Dominicans, people from all over the Caribbean, and Latin American attempt to come yearly, facing the same challenges, and greater extremes. Hundreds die ANNUALLY attempting to cross the border from Mexico to the U.S. from California to Texas, knowing if they are caught they will be deported.

When Cubans arrive here they are immediately qualified, simply by appearing, to receive instant legal status, (no deportation, no imprisonment) work visa, social security, U.S. TAXPAYER FUNDED HOUSING, FOOD STAMPS, medical treatment, even financial assistance for education, etc., etc., etc.

Voting with their feet? Voting for how they like the effects of the 45 year EMBARGO which the United Nations General Assembly condemns annually, which has crushed their economy?

Unlucky for right-wing propagandists, more and more Americans are getting the facts straight on US/Cuba relations.

[Yupster]

14. You'd hope life was better now than in 1958 wouldn't you?

In 1958 we had segregation throughout much of the country, no air conditionisng, horribly worse pollution problems and women had much fewer rights than today. There was no birth control pill and we had black and white tv.

What's the point of saying things are better than they were 47 years ago?

They better be.

[Judi Lynn]

15. I can't believe anyone just throws this subject out there, knowing

that it takes up precious time for people to respond who have already written the facts down TIME AFTER TIME AFTER TIME AFTER TIME AFTER TIME.

The facts are clear, and only appear confusing in the hands of propagandists.

If you don't mean to seriously address the subject, don't bring it up.