Reply #1: it's the subsidy thingy

[social_critic]

They are getting subsidies from Venezuela, which means they are doing better than in the 1990's, when the Soviet subsidies ended.

I think the Venezuelan subsidies do more harm than good, because all they do is prolong the change that's needed. Cubans need to learn to stand on their own two feet, free of the US embargo but also free of subsidies from outside. They need to learn to pay their bills on time, and stick to contracts. And this I'm sure they can do if both Venezuela and the US leave them alone. Both these meddlers need to stay out and let's hope the Cubans figure out how to sort things out. I'm sure they can.