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Doesn't She Know About the Health Insurance Situation Here?
Amazing that anyone would flee Cuba now that the benevolent Raul
Castro legalized DVD players and computers (though
both DVDs and Internet connections are still out of the question
and the average monthly wage remains around $19), but it appears
that 2004 Olympic bronze medalist in judo Yurisel Laborde has
defected to the Empire. Despite the supposed liberalization
measures undertaken by the new Jefe, Cubans
keep disappearing when visiting the U.S. Last month it was four ballet dancers from
the National Ballet of Cuba, in March seven members of Cuba's under-23
soccer team, a steady stream of baseball players and doctors, and, of course, the thousands of
boat people that set sail every month. The
Associated Press on the missing judo star:
The Cubans checked in for their flight lugging new mountain bikes, televisions, espresso machines and other purchases made during their historic stay in Miami. It was the first time in 40 years that a Cuban Olympic team in any sport had competed in this city, a hotbed of anti-Castro sentiment.
As she waited for a bike to be wrapped in plastic, tournament gold medalist Idalys Ortiz said she was proud of her team's performance. Like her teammates, Ortiz declined to talk about Laborde, who won gold in the 78-kilogram division.
"Of that, I don't know anything," Ortiz said.
Coach Ronaldo Veitia Valdivie said he trusted Laborde, whom he had trained since she was 12. He said he had worked hard to enable her to compete in Miami, since she was already qualified for this summer's Beijing Olympics.
"She wasn't thinking it through. You know how youth is," he said.
Edward|5.12.08 @ 5:57PM|#
Gosh, thanks to reason's great investigative reporting, we know that life's bad in Cuba. This and keeping us up to date on the moves of every lunatic running for presdient. Keep up the good work!
|5.12.08 @ 6:13PM|#
According to the Green Party member -- and California public
school teacher -- that I used to talk with all the time on another
forum, the only reason these Cubans keep coming to the USA is that
they are fooled by all the pro-USA/pro-capitalistic propaganda they
are deluged with in Cuba.
So maybe the whole "educating Americans about what life in Cuba is
like" project still has a ways to go after all, Edward.
Neil|5.12.08 @ 6:16PM|#
Buh buh the healthcare system!!!
Im sure a bunch of far left liberal loons will be telling us how
Cuba is the best latin american cuntry to live in in 5, 4, 3,
2...
Jennifer|5.12.08 @ 6:17PM|#
Gosh, thanks to Edward's awesome commenting, we know he doesn't like libertarians. That and keeping us up to date on every lunatic gripe he has about this blog. Keep up the good work!
|5.12.08 @ 6:19PM|#
Uh-huh. And you're a really real person and not a fictional troll character on the interwebs.
zoltan|5.12.08 @ 6:26PM|#
Who here thinks Conservative Observer from the other night was Neil's calmer, but no less insane, alter ego?
Plant Immigration Rights Suppo|5.12.08 @ 6:33PM|#
I wish Michael Medved would go back to being a movie reviewer. He is actually good at that. When he gets into politics is where he is a complete failure. Sort of like with a lot of Hollywood stars, they may be great at acting or directing or whatever but that does not mean I want to hear about their political views.
|5.12.08 @ 7:04PM|#
"Cuba is the best country to live in if your last name is
Castro."
Not exactly. There are several of Castro's family who've chosen to
emigrate from the Socialist Workers' Paradise that Fidel
built.
-jcr
|5.12.08 @ 7:06PM|#
Ed,
Now that you've admitted that life is bad in Cuba, perhaps you can
take the next step and figure out *why* life is bad in Cuba.
-jcr
|5.12.08 @ 7:08PM|#
Stevo,
Have you asked that stupid twat why she hasn't emigrated to Cuba
herself?
-jcr
thoreau|5.12.08 @ 7:17PM|#
You know, I was going to post about how I don't get why Moynihan
is so interested in reminding us of the suckitude of Cuba, when it
should seem to be painfully obvious. I was going to express some
dismay about that.
Then Edward and Neil showed up here, and I realized that Moynihan
ain't so bad in the grand scheme of no life, the blogosphere, and
everything.
|5.12.08 @ 7:31PM|#
"I wish Michael Medved would go back to being a movie reviewer.
He is actually good at that. When he gets into politics is where he
is a complete failure."
I agree w/pris here. I used to like his reviews. His political
writings though are absolutely nutso, or as J sub D put it so
well...
|5.12.08 @ 7:36PM|#
"Im sure a bunch of far left liberal loons will be telling us
how Cuba is the best latin american cuntry to live in in 5, 4, 3,
2..."
I dunno, I guess I'm considered one of the resident far left
liberal loons and I would have to say Costa Rica is the best latin
american country to live in. I heard they just up and demilitarized
and their economy is, relatively, great. I also hear the scenery,
both geographical and female is great.
I've always thought of Cuba as this third world craphole ruled by a
dictator. I think most leftists do. It struck me that the whole
point Michael Moore was trying to make in Sicko was: hey, even this
tyrannical crap hole has basic health care as a right. Of course he
had that whole touchy feely (but probably true to some degree) "the
people of Cuba, our supposed enemy we are supposed to fear so much,
are actually just like you and me."
Neil|5.12.08 @ 8:12PM|#
Please explain to me how health care is a "right" .
Rights are God-given attributes of being human that nobody can take
away. Healthcare doesn't fall under that anymore than saying its a
"right" that every little girl should have a pony.
Neil|5.12.08 @ 8:14PM|#
Of course Michael Moore would be for socialized healthcare, so his fat McDonalds-scarfing ass can be a parasite on the system that he will force us to pay for.
|5.12.08 @ 8:56PM|#
"Rights are God-given attributes of being human that nobody can
take away."
That's incoherent bullshit. What right do you have that can't be
taken away by someone with enough force? Your right to free speech,
life, liberty? Have you read, uh, history?
"Of course Michael Moore would be for socialized healthcare, so his
fat McDonalds-scarfing ass can be a parasite on the system that he
will force us to pay for."
Moore is not likely to be a parasite. He could buy and sell you a
thousand times, and he seems to have made it all by making a
product that people will freely pay money for.
Jennifer|5.12.08 @ 9:05PM|#
Posting on a libertarian blog to criticize socialized medicine and the politics of Michael Moore -- those, my friends, are the courageous actions of a Real Man. Bless you, Neil.
Plant Immigration Rights Suppo|5.12.08 @ 9:12PM|#
It seems like the ad hominem team is hard at work on the Reason forums tonight.
Plant Immigration Rights Suppo|5.12.08 @ 9:14PM|#
To claify I am refering to some who are (nominally) libertarian as well as the likes of Jennifer and Edward. Can we talk discuss ideas and issues people?
Travis|5.12.08 @ 9:20PM|#
"Hasn't it been established that Neil = thoreau?"
Bingo, that's hitting below the belt.
Neil|5.12.08 @ 9:23PM|#
Jennifer its good to know certain non-conservatives are opposed
to Soviet-style "universal" healthcare as well.
I hope Obama really pushes it, the backlash against a "universal"
(read: socialist) healthcare proposal will be immense.
Plant Immigration Rights Suppo|5.12.08 @ 9:27PM|#
"I hope Obama really pushes it, the backlash against a
"universal" (read: socialist) healthcare proposal will be
immense."
I hope he really pushes it BEFORE the election. If he pushes it
after it may pass and then we would likely be stuck with it.
Neil|5.12.08 @ 9:28PM|#
I meant before PIRS. I hope McCain and the outside groups rip
him a new one on his Soviet-Care.
The American people don't want socialist healthcare.
|5.12.08 @ 9:29PM|#
It struck me that the whole point Michael Moore was trying
to make in Sicko was: hey, even this tyrannical crap hole has basic
health care as a right.
Very good, MNG. Now, let's follow this chain of logic a few steps
farther -- why it is that tyrannical crap holes are run by rulers
who implement policies like "basic health care is a right"? Is it a
good idea to elect tyrannical assholes statist
politicians who also think the U.S. government should take over
health care (and, eventually, everything else)? And can we predict
whether our society will be more like a tyrannical crap hole like
Cuba or more like a worker's paradise if we choose to make "basic
health care a right"?
Bonus point round: the French government recently decided that
decent housing was also a basic human right. Is implementing this
policy likely to come up puppies and rainbows or lead them closer
to being a tyrannical crap hole like Cuba?
Neil|5.12.08 @ 9:31PM|#
Lets make a lifetime supply of beer a basic human right.
And the right to have a luxury car.
And the right to have a hot girlfriend.
And the right to a pizza every friday night, too.
(Neil ends his sarcastic post).
We can make everything "basic human rights" as long as we are
stealing from others (TAXES) to make it so!
Travis|5.12.08 @ 9:48PM|#
"I would have to say Costa Rica is the best latin american
country to live in. I heard they just up and demilitarized and
their economy is, relatively, great."
Costa Rica is a very beautiful country, but the average person
makes $7,000 a year & prices are just as high as they are in
the USA. Demilitarized is a bunch of Costa Rican bullshit they have
a very large & heavily armed national police force(same thing
as a army).
Travis|5.12.08 @ 10:00PM|#
"Lets make a lifetime supply of beer a basic human right.And the
right to have a luxury car.
And the right to have a hot girlfriend.And the right to a pizza
every friday night, too."
Neil you should run from president, you will get elected with a
platform like that.
|5.12.08 @ 10:31PM|#
It struck me that the whole point Michael Moore was trying
to make in Sicko was: hey, even this tyrannical crap hole has basic
health care as a right.
It's actually easier to have universal basic health care if you're
willing to completely destroy the private sector of your economy,
drive wages down, etc. Good luck getting an MRI in Cuba,
though.
Paul|5.12.08 @ 11:37PM|#
Gosh, thanks to reason's great investigative reporting, we
know that life's bad in Cuba.
Funny, Edward, it actually
is news to some people.
Jennifer|5.13.08 @ 1:16AM|#
To claify I am refering to some who are (nominally)
libertarian as well as the likes of Jennifer and Edward.
Hey! I'll have you know I'm extremely nominally
libertarian!
The Wine Commonsewer|5.13.08 @ 1:21AM|#
Costa Rica is a very beautiful country, but the average
person makes $7,000 a year & prices are just as high as they
are in the USA
And they have 9 billion species of snakes, 7 billion which are
indigenous and poisonous.
Guy I know, a Sawyer-looking character, built a gorgeous home on
five acres overlooking the Pacific for about 350k. Told me it's
hard to get a work permit, like here. He's since vacated and is
running a fishing resort on the Pacific Coast of Panama.
Also heard that crime is high but, for a price, there are lots of
young girls.
Abdul|5.13.08 @ 8:41AM|#
"She wasn't thinking it through. You know how youth is," he
said.
Always looking for a higher standard of living, basic freedoms and
human rights. Crazy kids!
|5.13.08 @ 9:24AM|#
The American people don't want socialist healthcare.
No, they just want someone else to pay their doctor and hospital
bills.
When we get it we'll call it something else. Just like we pretend
Social Security isn't welfare.
robc|5.13.08 @ 9:43AM|#
Costa Rica's GDP-PPP (GDP adjusted for purchasing power) is
$13,500 per capita.
(all numbers courtesy of CIA)
Chile is at $14,400.
Aruba is at $21,800.
Depending on the exact definition of "Latin America", I would
choose either CR or Aruba as the best. The problem with Chile is
you have to turn sideways to walk.
LarryA|5.13.08 @ 10:34AM|#
According to the Green Party member -- and California public
school teacher -- that I used to talk with all the time on another
forum, the only reason these Cubans keep coming to the USA is that
they are fooled by all the pro-USA/pro-capitalistic propaganda they
are deluged with in Cuba.
Would this be via unaffordable DVDs, non-existent Internet
connections, or the state-run TV station? I think she needs a new
BS detector.
"Lets make a lifetime supply of beer a basic human right. And
the right to have a luxury car. And the right to have a hot
girlfriend. And the right to a pizza every Friday night,
too."
Neil you should run from president, you will get elected with a
platform like that.
Somehow I don't think the straight men's vote will carry the
day.
Rhywun|5.13.08 @ 11:15AM|#
When we get it we'll call it something else.
And it'll have a cool acronym.
|5.13.08 @ 1:19PM|#
The problem with declaring as a "right", a material benefit like
health care, food, housing, etc., is that it requires coercing the
providers of those goods, to provide them for free or at rates of
pay that they would otherwise not, without coercion, accept.
This is called "slavery".
|5.13.08 @ 3:14PM|#
it appears that 2004 Olympic bronze medalist in judo Yurisel
Laborde has defected to the Empire.
I wouldn't want to be the Cuban goon who tried to stop her, that's
for sure.
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