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May 2011
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| Cuba and Geritol Communism |
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Paul A. Ibbetson
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Cuba, America's little communist island neighbor to the south is doing a little bit of government
restructuring. Fidel Castro has just finished the last stage of what has been an incremental
step-down from power. In 2006, Fidel Castro handed over temporary power to his brother Raul while
the Communist dictator underwent a series of intestinal surgeries. In 2008, Raul Castro was
appointed as president of Cuba but the process was only recently finalized when Cuban President
Raul Castro selected Jose Ramon Machado as the second in command.
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It's difficult to be a hard-line communist country these days and with China turning its economic
system decidedly capitalistic; Cuba remains one of the last closest holdouts to the old Soviet Union
days when communism had that true Stalinist red flare. But like all the other countries that have
attempted the Marxist quest for utopia, communism is also dying out in Cuba, and dying fast. The
first signs of change come straight from President Raul Castro. As reported by Randal Archibold in
the New York Times, President Castro is publicly recognizing that the Cuban economy has major
problems, and he is creating a positive environment for small business expansion. Furthermore, the
door has been opened for citizens to buy and sell homes. This is a big deal for communist Cuba.
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Outwardly, Cuba still raises the communist banner firmly affixed to the island country following
the Fidel Castro revolution that began back in 1959. Machado's appointment temporarily fortified
the old communist guard. But even though Machado is an old revolutionary communist hardliner, his
appointment also reflects the fragile state of communism in Cuba. The fact of the matter is that
communism in Cuba is an old man’s game. The hard-line revolutionaries are simply aging away. Fidel
Castro, 84, is not long for this world and his younger brother Raul, 79, is no spring chicken.
Despite talks of bringing in new blood to the higher echelons of Cuban government, Machado, 80,
is Cuba's current backup plan should President Raul Castro have to step down. Why not bring in some
young successors? The Machado appointment is one of necessity for Castro as years of dictatorial
power hoarding have created a Cuba that lacks younger hard-line communist blood. The situation now
is that the communist country of Cuba is running on the fleeting fear of Fidel and copious amounts
of Geritol.
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Click here for the rest of the article.
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Paul A. Ibbetson is a former Chief of Police of Cherryvale, Kansas, and member of the
Montgomery County Drug Task Force. Paul received his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Criminal
Justice at Wichita State University, and is currently completing his Ph.D. in Sociology at Kansas
State University. Paul is the author of several books including the 2010 release "Oliver's Tale: A
Squirrel's Story of Love, Courage, and Revolution." Paul is also the radio host of the Kansas
Broadcasting Association's 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 award-winning radio program, Conscience of
Kansas airing on KSDB Manhattan 91.9 FM, www.ibbetsonusa.com. For interviews or
questions, please contact him at ibbetson91.9@gmail.com.
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