What's life like in Communist Cuba?

Question

Or to be more specific, what’s life like living under Fidel Castro’s Communist Regime.

Answer 1

It's horrible and repressive. My husband is from there, and he had to escape because he didn't agree with the system.
You're forced to come out and support Castro and his regime, or you're fired from work, thrown out of university, or worse-- you get up to five years in prison for speaking out against him (read the Cuban Penal Code. Article 365). That's why, if you ever go to Cuba and ask a cuban what they think of the government/Fidel they'll respond that they like him/agree with him because they know what will happen if they dont. That, and they would think you're sent by the government to check up on them. So you'll never get a straight answer from a Cuban living in Cuba.

Cubans are forbidden to go to hotels, or the best beaches (such as Varadero), or other places reserved for tourists. If they do, they're sent to jail.

In Cuba, there are 3 police officers on each block. One is dressed in green, another in blue, and another in black with a German shepherd-- just to control the population. If you're Cuban, and walking down the street minding your own business, you're questioned constantly, asked for ID, and checked. If you're caught with meat, or even just a lobster-- you'd be sent to prison for 5 years. Meat like that is only for tourists!

Castro controls everything by rations. For example, each person gets 5lbs or rice per month, 1 bar of soap for 2 months, 1/2 lb of oil for 2 months, 1lb of chicken (inlcuding weight of bones) for 2 months, 1 lb of fish for 2 months, 1 small piece of bread each day. Kids only get 1 liter of milk for 2 days, and once they turn 7 they don't get it any more because "they don't need it". Occasionally, you can get potatoes (2 lbs per month). 1 tube of toothpaste for 2 months (for 3 people). Things like deodorant and shampoo are luxuries, which you can only get in a store with US dollars.

Castro set up shops where he sells everything--- but in US DOLLARS. Salaries are not paid in US dollars, so if you want something from there you have to have someone abroad to send you money. For each dollar that a Cuban receives, the state gives back only 80c, and keeps the rest.

Cuban children, when they turn 12 years old, are forced to go to boarding schools outside of the city. They are only allowed to return home to their families every two weeks for 2 days. In those "schools" they're forced to work 4 hours each day in agriculture, Monday-Saturday. After that, they have to study for 5 hours, and then their homework for 3 hours, before going to sleep. They're not allowed watching tv, or any other recreational activities. They do not receive anything for their labor.

Castro says that education and health care are free in Cuba. It's not true. Cubans have to pay 50% of their income in taxes in order to receive these services. Even so, health care is poor. There are no medicines or supplies available. If you have to go to a hospital, you have to take your own bedsheets, food, and medicines, if you can get them from abroad. But in order to receive the hospital bed, someone from your family HAS TO offer a blood donation in exchange for the bed.

Castro blames the US blockade for this, but he still has ties with Latin America and Canada, from where he can still buy things and even cheaper than if he were to buy them from USA.

Answer 2

Catwoman's answer is very good however some things have changed in the past few years...

"Castro controls everything by rations." This is no longer true, he has gotten rid of the ration system and no one receives anything anymore... the little they used to get is now non-existent.

"Castro set up shops where he sells everything--- but in US DOLLARS."
they no longer have very much in the shops and they no longer accept US dollars, they have their own currency now..Recently (November 8/2004) the Cuban authorities eliminated the circulation of dollars and any other "convertible currency" in all the country.the exchange of US dollars for Convertible Pesos will bear a 10 per cent tax. The measure is applied to nationals and foreign visitors in stores, hotels, bars, cafeterias, taxis, rent-a-car companies and any other business that presently accepts cash payments in US dollars. You could not longer use US Dollars or any other foreign currency in Cuba, and if you bring dollars a tax of 10% will be applied to you at the exchange of them for Cuban Convertible Pesos (this tax will not be applied to other currencies.United States Dollar: Not longer accepted in Cuba.

In 1992 the world became aware of an unprecedented phenomenon: the record number of Cubans, 2.557, who managed to escape their country, arriving at U.S. shores in small boats and makeshift rafts. It is estimated that one out of every three or four who attempts to escape succeeds, the rest either perish or are captured. ( this is how I came to the US, I am now a US citizen )This leads us to ask who they are and why do they risk their lives this way...Their main motivation has been to flee a totalitarian system that suffocates them. "I’d rather die at sea than keep living in Cuba" is a common expression among them. They do not come pursuing the American dream but fleeing the Cuban nightmare." ( this is why i came also, and to be able to help my family)
The Castro regime has arrested or imprisoned hundreds of thousands for political reasons. These men and women make up the largest and harshest political prison system in the history of this continent. It is estimated that at its peak the number of prisoners reached about 100,000.
Human rights violations with detainees and political prisoners have been rampant. They have endured torture, including psychological, hard labor, and unjust additional punishment as with the infamous "drawers" (small standing-room-only cells where several were locked in).

Direct repression has operated through the unjustified and often massive executions since 1959 that haven’t stopped to this date. Executions —in some cases— have also been accompanied by the inhuman drawing of most of the prisoner’s blood before being shot.

These are just some disturbing facts, there is never enough room to fully grasp what people in Cuba go through.. please visit the web sites noted in the source list for a better understanding.

Answer 3

to tequila Mike, there are no such millionaire's in Cuba, just Fidel.
to Shoe S you repulse me to say something like that !!
Catwoman & Harvardcub both have valid points, harvardcub seems a little more recent tho... my hubby's also from Cuba, came over in 1994 and still has family on the island as well. And from what I'm reading, Harvardcub is right on point with what my hubby's family is going through.

Answer 4

read and memorize catwomann's answer if you have any fantasies about life in Cuba.......and remember, 1000's have died escaping from there..NO ONE has tried to swim in......

Answer 5

life seems very pleasant and comforatable there socialism seems to agre with the people LONG LIVE FIDEL

Answer 6

Great if you're a rich sugar baron or such like millionaire, I would imagine.