Why Can't He Just Give Up?

Castro Turns 78 Rolling Back Capitalism in Cuba.

Seriously, what idiot opens an article like that? Capitalism's been dead in Cuba for 45 years, thanks to the rabid jerkweed dictator. What's he rolling back now, the last shred of spirit left in people's bodies? Oh, wait...

Castro released simmering social pressures by letting tens of thousands of
Cubans take to sea in flimsy rafts bound for the United States.

Also in response to the economic crisis, from 1993 he reluctantly allowed
limited private enterprise and legalized the U.S. dollar to ease economic
hardship, while opening up Cuba to tourism and foreign investment.

A decade later, Cuba's one-party Communist government is retrenching and
reasserting state control over the economy. It has cut back permits for private
traders and small businesses and has begun strengthening its hold over state
corporations, especially in tourism, the island's main source of hard currency.
There, military officers have moved into key posts.

Foreign investment has slowed to a trickle, and discouraged investors
complain they don't feel welcome anymore as officials move to reverse
market-oriented reforms.

Western observers said Castro was shocked by the rapid move to capitalism
and growing social differences he witnessed in China last year.

"There is no coincidence that a lot of this has happened since he visited
China. Many people say he was horrified with what he saw," said a European
ambassador. "He is the sort of man who does not want to see his legacy
diluted in his lifetime," the diplomat said, adding that Castro was probably
unaware of the extent of social decay in Cuba.

Cuba's free education, health care and social safety net are seen as a
model by many poor developing countries. Its literacy and infant mortality rates
are on a par with rich nations.

Castro's critics say that comes at the expense of freedom. Most Cubans are
forced to scrape a living together, cope with bad housing and poor public
services. Furthermore, they cannot leave Cuba at will and dissent is stamped
out, the critics say.

You know, only the media would try and claim that Castro's Socialist nightmare was a model for anything. And Castro found China's capitalist steps horrifying, but I'll bet he sent a congratulatory telegram for Tianamen Square.

Here's hoping that by the time Fidel's birthday rolls around again, this dinosaur is consigned to the dustbin of history and the people of Cuba are living in freedom.