There are three types of people when it comes to communism. Those who reject it on pragmatic grounds. They think communism sounds fine in theory, but know that it can never be made to work. Those who reject it on moral grounds. Communism is evil, and in its operations and failings it shows the world how evil it really is. Then, those on the left, embrace it as the future of mankind. One day, they proclaim, they will work all the bugs out of the system and the world will be one Marxist Utopia.
Most conservatives, it would be safe to say, reject communism on moral grounds. No communist country has ever had any freedom, people are reduced to slavery in the name of the dictatorship of the proletariat, and any and all dissent is crushed.( think Hungary 1956, Czechoslovakia 1968, Tienanmen's square 1989, and the crisis in Tibet that is going on right now. Not to mention the scores of people sentenced to labor camps or executed for the "crimes" of speaking out.) Bearing this in mind no one should be holding their breath that Cuba will see any real change. Only the most enthusiastic, empty headed, leftist, can find anything good to say about the Cuban system. This brings up a question I have always had, if the morons in Hollywood love the Castro way of living so much why don't they leave L.A. and try living in Havanna as a typical subject of Castro? I mean they have universal health care don't they? Isn't that what they are always singing their praises for? Let's see one of these socialist idiots forgo the Mayo clinic and check themselves into a Cuban Hospital that everyday Cubans have to use.
Some might think that since Fidel is no longer in power there will be reforms in Cuba. Don't bet on it. A Castro is still a Castro, and Raul "won" the Presidency in the same way his brother won it for all those years. Raul is just as staunch in his communist beliefs as Fidel.
But in an attempt of show the Cuban people that the winds of change can blow, he has allowed his subjects the great luxury of being able to own cell phones(which had been previously reserved for party officials) and the right to stay in hotels(which no Cuban can really afford because of the socialist economy, and Cubans had always been forced to stay away from hotels. You see only tourists were allowed near them, I guess Castro didn't want people dropping big bucks to come in contact with the subjects of his "tropical paradise"). Wow. How can the Cuban people show their appreciation for this generosity? They must remember to thank their great leader. What's next the right to think what they want without being sentenced to prison? Or maybe they will simply be allowed enough food to eat.
The problem with Cuba is communism. Before Castro and his miserable band of thugs took over Cuba had the highest standard of living in the Caribbean, now only Haiti suffers more. Cubans barley have enough to eat, and don't buy the line that it is the fault of the embargo. Cuba trades with every other country in the world, and when it comes to food they do trade with America. American farmers are allowed to ship their goods to Cuba. Still Cuba doesn't have enough to eat. This isn't because of some embargo it is because socialism does not work. The crushing of individual freedom, and government control of the economy only produces misery.
Cuba isn't going to see any real change until democracy and capitalism take their place on the island. And that's not going to happen until there is someone other than a Castro in charge.
