American Republic Online

The dream died yesterday.  On June 11, 2008, Cuban Vice Minister of Labor and Social Security Carlos Mateu announced that Cuba will be removing its egalitarian wage system.  It’s about time.  What is really interesting is how the decision was framed.  Listen to Mateu (emphasis added):

“This (new) salary system should be seen as a tool to help obtain better results in output and services,” deputy labor and social security minister Carlos Mateu told the Communist Party daily Granma, noting that employers have until August to implement the changes…

“Generally,” the paper quoted Mateu as saying, “there has been a tendency for people to earn the same, and that egalitarianism is not helpful.

“That is something that we have to fix … because if it is harmful to pay workers less than they deserve, it also is harmful to pay them what they have not earned,” he added.

Is this really coming from a Communist?  He sounds like a capitalist.  Paying people the same doesn’t inspire them to be productive?  Why would I want to be a doctor if I can get paid the same amount being a painter?

This isn’t the first reform Cuba has implemented.  Their agriculture industry has been reformed, and citizens can now own cell phones. Etc.

My question is, why are the Commies talking like capitalists, encouraging more and more freedoms as if they recognize the vacancy of collectivism, but our country is sliding further and further towards collectivism?  Why is that people who are all for looking to other nations for inspiration, ignoring these red flags?  Why is a collectivist-leaning presidential candidate swooned over like he’s some sort of messiah?  Do we need to go over the brink, just to come back after we learn our lesson? (so maybe that was four questions)

Some thing’s wrong here.