Rescuing Feudalism

Rescuing Feudalism / Fernando Damaso

Posted on September 30, 2013



When the "update of the model" was announced a few years ago, it was

seen by many as a possible though certainly very limited way to slowly

stimulate the country's stalled economy. The first disappointment came

with an absurd list of medieval-era professions in which self-employed

workers were allowed to engage. The most optimistic observers felt this

was only the beginning and that more options would be added later. Since

nothing was said about regulating the exercise of these professions, it

was thought that more information would be forthcoming. Some even more

optimistic observers dreamed that authorization would later be extended

to small and medium-sized businesses.



After a few years and the addition of only a few more medieval-era

professions, regulations and stipulations began to be established. By

then even some less bright citizens began to realize that the "update"

was nothing more than a shell game, a stalling tactic not unlike that of

"blind man's bluff."



Let us remember that slavery was replaced with feudalism, which

represented an advance in economic productivity. It later gave way to

capitalism, which constituted an even greater advancement by introducing

new means and methods of production. Karl Marx, whose work is considered

the pillar of socialism and communism, argued that socialism would be

superior to capitalism and would advance the engines of productivity

even further, fulfilling the ever growing needs of humanity until true

communism was ultimately achieved. Lenin later altered and co-opted this

theory to make it conform to circumstances in Russia and provide it with

a theoretical and allegedly scientific basis. What later came of all

this theory and practice is all too well-known.



Nevertheless, it makes no sense for Cuban authorities, who call

themselves socialists, to impose medieval methodologies and practices on

self-employed workers. To expect artisan craftsmen to be able to supply

the private marketplace in the 21st century without also allowing small

and medium-sized business access to industrial production constitutes a

mistake of major proportions, or at the very least a serious

misunderstanding of how material goods are produced in today's world.



Cuba and Cubans are familiar with capitalism with all its pluses and

minuses, though more so with the former than the latter. We are familiar

with socialism too, though in this case with more of its minuses than

pluses. Trying to impose medieval methodologies and practices on the

output of the self-employed (they dare not call them private sector

workers) is a ridiculous political and economic policy. Those who think

and act in this way are doing nothing more than demonstrating their by

now well-known inability to resolve Cuba's problems.



26 September 2013



Source: "Rescuing Feudalism / Fernando Damaso | Translating Cuba" -

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