But theft and pilferage, especially with regard to rationed items such as petrol and other goods and services, are still rampant across the country. Human nature to take personal advantage of scarcities doesn't end at the shorelines of Cuba. Hidden petrol stations and illegal government vehicle usages exist everywhere. Yet at the same time, there is a new generation that has stepped up to the plate to combat these crimes and put an end to these illegal practices.
This new group of social workers is showing a will and a desire to improve the quality of life that has been missing among the older generations. One group of a few thousand of these young enthusiasts who started monitoring petrol stations in Havana discovered unreported sales which doubled the total amount. The fervor and eagerness of this new generation will bode well for the post-Fidel Cuba of the future.
And even if the political structure of a one-party system has often been criticized by other nations, it must be said that the one party in Cuba neither nominates nor elects government officials who run in the general elections. The candidates are nominated by the general public and voted on by them, not the party.
While it's a financial farce in the US to believe that anyone can become president, in Cuba literally anyone can be elected to office. All it takes is the will of the people and enough votes. There is no multi-billion dollar campaign required or unwritten promises to corporate hierarchies necessary. While abuse of power exists in any governmental system, in Cuba there has been relatively little of it and most of it has been uncovered quickly and dealt with accordingly.
President Fidel Castro's salary is $30 per month. Along with other party members, he pays his party dues, rent (which is a standard 10% of a person's salary, regardless of how much the person makes), and uses the rest for food and other services. The salary has not changed over the years. Of course, he can't sleep in the same room two days in a row as a matter of course, or he'd be dead, but the routine has become commonplace for him.
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