Add America to Fidel Castro’s list of continents where capitalism has failed
Please send your letters to letters@independent.co.uk
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Mary Dejevsky marks the death of Fidel Castro with the declaration that “The era of the socialist experiment is over” (26 November).How utterly predictable.
While I don’t accept that Castro’s Cuba – whatever its virtues or failures – was socialist, I salute Castro as someone who was looking for an alternative to capitalism. And Castro had an answer for capitalism’s apologist: “They talk about the failure of socialism but where is the success of capitalism in Africa, Asia and Latin America?”
With the on-going economic crisis which began in 2009 you can add Europe and North America to Castro’s list of continents where capitalism has failed.
With the effects of catastrophic climate change already beginning to assert itself, and re-emergent fascist movements growing across Europe and the US, the choice for humanity is still the one Rosa Luxemburg recognised in 1915 – either a transition to socialism or regression into barbarism.
Sasha Simic
London
While many of us admire the Cuban revolution and the changes it brought by overthrowing the US-backed brutal dictator, Batista, and the wonderful health and education systems, I'm sure not many Cubans wanted to replace one dictator with another – his brother.
Castro died at a time when many leftists still support brutal dictators like Assad. It is time for a democratic left that stands for the people instead of idolising individuals.
Mohammed Samaana
Belfast
It should not go unnoticed how some people on the left who are now heaping praise on Fidel Castro for his support of national independence movements in Africa are the same people who turn a blind eye to the very same thing for the British people, independence from the EU, in a word, Brexit. Hypocrisy or just ignorance?
Fawzi Ibrahim
London
The wrong advice
So the referendum result was the “advice” of the people not the “will” of the people. Perhaps the expert on experts, Mr Gove, should be asked whether any advice he has received has ever been wrong. Or is it because the electorate are not experts that he accepts the referendum so readily.
Michael Aston
London
My son has lived and worked in Europe all his working life. Firstly, he worked in in Germany and then transferred to Luxembourg. His partner is German, he has three children and considers himself a European. They are very much a European family and never contemplate moving back to the UK. He is also British and proud of being so. Nowadays, he is a worried and so is his family. A sad situation.
Sheilah Elvins
Lenham
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments