Standard of living in Cuba is better than in America

The UN just dropped their latest Human Development Index rankings,
and honestly, it’s pretty hilarious how America managed to stay completely stagnant—like, we didn't move an inch on the absolute value scale. Just sitting there while the rest of the world moves on.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...t_of_countries

http://hdr.undp.org/en/content/human...ment-index-hdi

😲

Meanwhile, Cuba actually managed to jump ahead of us.

I mean, think about it—you've got great weather year-round and universal healthcare that actually works for everyone,
it's more about living simply rather than constant excess,
and so, you know,
people end up living longer.
They aren't out here flaunting the latest iPhone or driving a BMW,
but they're arguably happier because they aren't drowning in debt, predatory loans, or seeing red numbers on their checking accounts every single month.
Since the whole concept of equality is actually taken seriously there,
there isn't this massive gap between the ultra-rich and the working class, which keeps the kind of crime you usually see in Latin America from tearing things apart.
No narco cartels to worry about either.

So, congrats to our dear, unranked nation.

🙂

Back in 1990, our Human Development Index sat at 0.689, but today we're looking at 0.812. That puts the total progress for America at 0.123

Looking at Cuba, their HDI was 0.729 back in 1990 and has climbed to 0.815 today—a jump of 0.086

On a global scale, we're definitely catching up, and honestly, it feels like just a matter of time before we pull ahead of Cuba. It’s also a bit silly to claim they don't have crime issues when their homicide rate is basically five times higher than ours.

They live long lives thanks to the climate, a decent diet, and zero stress. Honestly, if we had a little less of that heavy processed sausage hanging around, we might actually stand a chance at feeling better 😁

They don't even have real jobs, so they don't have any actual stress to deal with.

Maybe you should just head down to Cuba first, then come back and give us your two cents on this. I mean, that’s assuming you can actually get past the tourist traps and see the real Cuba, which is tough because you'll probably just run into guys standing on barricades with old-school AKs everywhere.

These guys are busy protecting their socialist paradise. I’m sure Cubans don't want anyone messing with their hard-won socialist Nirvana—that perfect world where equality, justice, and modest abundance reign supreme.

They don't want those filthy, greedy capitalists showing up just because they see what's there and decide they want to snatch it away.

Your average American could walk into a neighborhood full of regular Cubans and feel like a total king

One can't help but wonder if Cuba might have seen more significant progress had it not been for the decades-long blockade imposed by the USA.

nimblelynx7 said:These guys are busy protecting their socialist paradise. I’m sure Cubans don't want anyone messing with their hard-won socialist Nirvana—that perfect world where equality, justice, and modest abundance reign supreme.

They don't want those filthy, greedy capitalists showing up just because they see what's there and decide they want to snatch it away.

Exactly.
Especially when they look at
what happened over here during our own "transition" period.

Richard Wilson4 said:Your average American could walk into a neighborhood full of regular Cubans and feel like a total king

Well, you can actually get in with a special permit. I have this business colleague, an Englishman, who heads over to Cuba once a year for a few weeks at a time, and because of his status, he’s allowed to drive cars and access pretty much any part of the island. And honestly? Because of him—literally just one guy—the university, two hospitals, and most likely some government ministries (though he won't admit it) all have IT systems that he spends his time upgrading as much as he possibly can.

So, what he's describing is the actual reality of the poverty and the frustration there. It really doesn't line up with those stories they try to feed us about some happy, carefree people living their best lives.

The title is totally off. You can't just compare living standards to HDI; those are two completely different things. If the standard of living were actually higher, you wouldn't see tens of thousands of Americans flocking to Cuba for vacation—instead, you'd see Cubans visiting the States. Has anyone ever actually seen a Cuban tourist in Miami? That’s all there is to say about "living standards."

I’m convinced he’s making the whole thing up. You can see Cuba is way more developed than America. I bet they’ve just hidden all their food supplies to stage a Potemkin village of poverty. They're trying to mask how great things actually are; in reality, they're living in villas and mansions.

Sam Wright21 said:One can't help but wonder if Cuba might have seen more significant progress had it not been for the decades-long blockade imposed by the USA.

If that were the case, they’d end up just like all their neighbors—socialists would eventually seize control, much like what happened in Venezuela, turning a once-prosperous nation into a complete socialist disaster where everyone is promised every right under the sun and everything is supposedly free, yet nobody actually possesses the resources required to make those rights a reality.

They love to boast about how healthcare is free there, but honestly, half the rural towns don't even have a local clinic, let alone an ambulance, to actually utilize those "free" checkups...

So, what you're suggesting is that the USA blockade actually accelerated Cuba's progress? 😲
And why bring up Venezuela in this conversation? Because even there, the entire system was already in a state of total collapse before Chavez ever took power.

http://www.therealcuba.com/Page10.htm

I've included a few photos here as well; it’s actually quite striking how much they remind me of a large municipal hospital back in a city like Seattle...

It goes without saying that the sanctions and the blockade haven't exactly been a cure-all, though I suppose things wouldn't have progressed nearly as far as they have without them either.

Carl Turner2 said:http://www.therealcuba.com/Page10.htm

I've included a few photos here as well; it’s actually quite striking how much they remind me of a large municipal hospital back in a city like Seattle...

It goes without saying that the sanctions and the blockade haven't exactly been a cure-all, though I suppose things wouldn't have progressed nearly as far as they have without them either.

I'm telling you, man.
They'd find a way regardless.😁

Does anyone know what happened to that forum regular who was so determined to pack up and move to Cuba to work?

I have a feeling his little dream evaporated pretty quickly.

The standards along the coast in the USA are among the best you'll find globally.
Massive estates, luxury apartments, high-end cars...
It beats out the Italian or Greek coasts, and honestly, I think it even surpasses the French Riviera.
Between the Mediterranean climate and having some of the warmest waters in the temperate zone, it's hard to beat.
Unemployment? It doesn't exist here.
If you aren't working, you can always find a way to land something through a connection at City Hall or a local utility company.
It’s absolute paradise...

silvertiger11 said:Does anyone know what happened to that forum regular who was so determined to pack up and move to Cuba to work?

I have a feeling his little dream evaporated pretty quickly.

Depends on how you look at it.

If I were there, I’d probably be some high-ranking Party official. It’s basically like being a medieval nobleman. 😁

silvertiger11 said:Does anyone know what happened to that forum regular who was so determined to pack up and move to Cuba to work?

I have a feeling his little dream evaporated pretty quickly.

maybe he's just waiting around for some broke Americans,
to show up for those dirt-cheap medical checkups? ☕