I read with interest latrine of a country hold onto Communism?” got me to thinking. Frequently when things get me thinking, fires can result, but fortunately not this time.

Communism in Cuba may have a few native advantages that other countries did not enjoy.

As a large tropical island:

• Many of the survival demands of civilization are less: heat, fuel, clothing, etc.
• The climate probably allows some individual food production
• It’s easier to keep the citizen prisoners in and evil reformers out

Despite the US’s embargo, Cuba trades with China, Spain, Brazil, Canada, and Mexico. Plenty of opportunity to obtain what they needed, purchased with the sweat of the peasants’ brows.

Foreign aid, remittances from ex-pats, and renting doctors and nurses to Latin America supplement their economy.

None of this implies support of the regime. I’m glad Mr. Castro has finally this opportunity to meet his Maker. I’m not supposed to wish him ill in the afterlife, but I’m certainly glad he’s there.

I doubt that we’ll see much change in the regime or in the society subsequent to his death, but we can hope. Maybe they’ll manage it so poorly that economic reality will pull the handle on the toilet. But as you mentioned, there are still lots of liberals who love it.

Your loyal,
Operative SMR

P.S. On unpacking after my last visit to the Castle, I discovered that Sleestak had chewed through the cord on my earbuds, then tied them back together with a surprisingly tidy sheet bend. And somehow they still work. Can you share his secret to that repair? I tried it with all of my kids’ earbuds, but now they don’t work. Sadly, the left ear piece on mine sounds a bit muffled through the residue of Sleestak’s mouthing. I haven’t found a chemical yet that will dissolve it without dissolving the plastic. C’est la vie.