…or the old socio-economic status. AKA class.
There are economic differences in Cuba, but they’re not huge. Then again, if you get no meat ration, the man with a bad steak is King. I also don’t know how much I believe it. I hear there are homeless, and I know there are undocumented and unemployed people. What about them?
And, while polarization may not be great, where is that decently uniform population located on the poverty scale? Abby thinks proportionally, there are far more starving people here than in the US. That is probably true, but I think it downplays the hunger and poverty in the US, just because it isn’t visible.* Tambien, creo que es una moda muy capitalista to say that poor people in the US have the opportunity, thus it’s their fault they are poor. Here in Cuba, it’s the responsibilty of the state. Because of this, they are considered innocent by many western minds. I don’t know if that last part is right or wrong, but I do think it’s a uniquely western, capitalist mode of thought.
I think Cuba needs to revisit their social contract. It used to be your (vigorous) loyalty and work in exchange for health care, education, food, housing and work opportunities. On paper, anyway.
Now, it’s acquiescence and loyalty in exchange for two weeks of basics every month, free health care (pending supplies and lines), an outdated education bereft of critical thinking, a cumbling house (maybe) and perhaps underemployment.
So Social Status.
When you don’t have much, and neither does anyone else, standing means more. It’s supposed to actually reflect your character and some amount of hard work. Falla explained that he works hard at the radio station to create good programming and retain many listeners because of social standing and pride in his own work. He and the station won’t make anymore if they have a higher listenership. But, according to Falla, it will bring them benefit indirectly. In what way, he did not explain, but he did allude to some form of material gain.
When discussing Magia of the hiphop group Obsesión, Profe happily informed us that her life will be a little easier now, because she has a government position as head of the cultural branch that oversees hiphop. Yes, that’s a thing in Cuba. Minister of hiphop. While Alexey (her partner in Obsesión and in life) may still have to sell his clothes and wood carvings to clueless tourists, something in their life is easier because of the social prestige afforded to her a causa de su nueva posicion.
So the next question: what is this something? What is the advantage? Is it purely social? Do you think the Cuban government is making good on the social contract? Do you think the American government is making good on ours? Are they allowed to ignore a terrible health care system as well as those below the poverty line just because they never promised to take care of everyone? Can you revisit a social contract? Let me know what you think, these are just the ideas that have been buzzing around my brain.
*Not that hunger is all that visible here (poverty is), but we hear about Cuban poverty in the US.
Away She Goes 