errr... you mean instead of having free food, housing, health, education and such having to pay for it all?
I'm not a commie, but hell, I gotta admit the guy did quite well with a perennial blockage and leading an island that only produced sugar before him. btw, their houses and material posessions are poor and shitty, but they rank at the highest level in education and health, way above US and most euro countries. And all that for free. I wish I'd have that in my country.
I had to study Cuba for my thesis and there are a lot of aspects to be critic of, but the way people lives (in terms of plain subsistence) is not one of those aspects. And several years after college, I went to Cuba and saw it by myself. I agree is not the same for tourists and perception is modified, they even have different currency for tourists and such. But when I was there, almost 4 years ago they just had had elections (believe me, no matter what US press says, they have elections, try to read european countries newspapers) and then a massive support demostration with millions of people cheering Fidel. And I saw that demostration of support on Germany's TV, not Cuba propaganda (which they have, and very strong).
I think it's time for Fidel to leave. But I also think they'll face very hard times now, Fidel is like the glue that gave cohesion to the cuban system, and without him everything they have (bad or good) will fall apart.
and btw, US loves Fidel and Cuba the way it is, it was always an excuse for "the communist danger", more money for weapons, propaganda and whatever you'd imagine
