# Cuba Abandons Communism **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 14, 2010, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cuba-abandons-communism/553690 "2010-09-14T03:10:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cuba-abandons-communism/553690/61 "2010-09-17T20:24:54Z")
> [@](#): > > I agree with Sam Stone about dropping the embargo now. It does not matter about why the embargo was first set, up, it does not work, and realistically, the property that was taken is never going to be returned - it does not matter if this is officially announced or not, it’s just not gonna happen. I agree that the actual property is not going to be restored. And most of the former owners realize that (and many probably wouldn’t want their old property back in its current state anyway). A more realistic settlement would be reimbursement for the individual owners (who owned a small minority of the property) and some favorable business concessions to the corporations. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2010, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cuba-abandons-communism/553690/62 "2010-09-17T22:26:41Z")
The way I heard it, Cuba is shifting 9% of the workforce out of the public sector. So that drops the public sector from ~85% of the workforce to ~75%. And you louts are crowing that they’re abandoning Communism. Well, if it convinces you to drop the embargo, good. But sounds to me like some people have no sense of nuance. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2010, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cuba-abandons-communism/553690/63 "2010-09-18T05:32:07Z")
Does this mean we can start using real sugar instead of corn syrup? 😉 [sub]Hey, it’s late and I’m half asleep[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2010, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cuba-abandons-communism/553690/64 "2010-09-18T06:47:37Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > … I have no problem with floating some diplomatic feelers. … Cuba will take care of that. Many of their former diplomats will be floating on small boats and rafts trying to get to Florida. ---
**Author:** ![lalenin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@lalenin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lalenin)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2010, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cuba-abandons-communism/553690/65 "2010-09-27T13:48:53Z")
You know, the Cuban government did this exact same thing in 1995 during the Special Period. The government then, and apparently now, was more or less bankrupt and could no longer afford to pay anyone. The reforms of that time were pulled back once the Cuban economy recovered a little, and I expect this time to be no different. > **[Self-Employment May Be Answer to Cuba's Problems : Economics: As factories...](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-02-23-fi-35357-story.html)** > > Workers here, no longer guaranteed a meal ticket for life in state industry, will have to look increasingly at areas such as self-employment if they want a job, says the country's top trade unionist. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cuba-abandons-communism/553690.md?page=3)