Cuban officials say the shortage is the result of the global financial crisis and three devastating hurricanes last summer, which forced cuts in imports as well as domestic production because of reductions in electricity and imports of raw materials.
But CNN commentator Fareed Zakaria says that ``at the bottom of this toilet paper shortage is Cuba's continuing commitment to its bizarro world of socialist economics.''
``Cuba's disastrous economy would be a joke were it not for the poverty it has perpetuated among millions of Cubans,'' Zakaria said in a video commentary posted last week. ``The whole country is stagnating. Fifty percent of its arable fields are going unfarmed. First and second year college students work one month out of the year in agriculture.''
``It's insane farm policies lead to frequent shortages of fruit, vegetables and other basic food needs, shortages even more serious than toilet paper,'' he added. ``And all those programs that they have held up for years as successes of the communist revolution -- free education for all through college, universal health care -- well, Raúl Castro just announced they're going to have to make cuts in all of these.''
They're using copies of newspapers as a substitute. This is the country that Rep. Diane Watson was singing praises about. Yeah, Castro is so brilliant, he can't even keep his people supplied with toilet paper.
One reason the public so distrusts the health care plan being considered by Congress is that so many troublesome details keep bubbling out of the massive legislation.
The latest example is the $10 billion taxpayers will be asked to shell out to prop up the United Auto Workers' retiree health insurance program.
[...]
In effect, it would ask every taxpayer, regardless of whether they'll have health insurance coverage themselves after they retire -- and most won't -- to chip in to maintain the UAW's coverage, which even after the union's givebacks is still better than what the average American worker receives.
This is after we've already given them the U.S. auto industry, why should we keep supporting them?
The teachers, who gathered outside their union office, said they want a response from the union and put their demands in writing in the form of a petition.
Those speaking out said it shouldn't have reached this point, and they would have accepted the district's offer, favoring a wage freeze to save jobs.
"We took a poll in the spring and they got our opinion and the majority said wage freeze," said Monica Whiteley, who was laid off. "So I would like them to look at the poll or honor it and have us look at the memo of understanding that is out there."
And the union is still not listening:
Negotiations started again Thursday at 11 a.m., but there was still no agreement. When the union was asked whether they would take a poll or vote, they said they would have to wait and see.
And a pretty decent salary. I wonder how much they're paying on the right? Have any lefties posted videos of operatives infiltrating the rightwing, big oil astroturf operation? I'd be interested in that gig if the pay's any good (we...
Could you imagine if her mother-in-law wins? Open session on all comediennes, you'd have a feeding frenzy! Plenty of fodder in this trial for her act since her husband's law firm is representing her in the legal battle against his...
OMH! The very company that started the government down the path to this draconian law that threatens ordinary citizens who want to sell their used children's clothes, books and toys at flea markets and yard sales, small business who sell...
After his death from cancer, Michael Crichton's assistant found a completed manuscript which is to be published in November (you can preorder Pirate Latitudes: A Novel from Amazon). Spielberg will be adapting the book for film:DreamWorks Studios has acquired the...
When you look at the job approval/disapproval numbers graphically, it's amazing how they are trending so quickly to converge. And the reasons are obvious: the economy and health care. The stimulus package did more damage than the left realizes and...
Looking to further their political agenda on the news of Kennedy's death:Dear MoveOn member, The Lion is at rest. Senator Teddy Kennedy passed away last night and our movement lost a hero. His leadership, his vision, and his passion will...
Here you go, environmentalists. The solution to climate change, artificial trees! Who knew?Giant fly-swat shaped "synthetic trees" line the road into the office, where blooms of algae grow in tubes up the walls and the roof reflects heat back into...
He also died of cancer, bladder cancer. Unfortunately for him, his death is overshadowed by Kennedy's. He was a man of many careers including writer, producer and journalist. At 50 he overcame addiction to drugs and started writing. He produced...
I found this on an atheist blog and I'm appalled a Christian would pray for the death and damnation of anyone. Isn't it our job to pray for salvation? Aren't we called to love our enemies? What's up with this...
As I said when we first learned Kennedy had cancer, I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. I didn't know at the time that I probably had it as well. I watched my grandma wither away to nothing and...
Here's a little snippet of the interview: She was plugging the new documentary on Vogue magazine's 2007 issue. It was as big as a phone book, their biggest issue ever (weighing 4 lbs.) and sold 13 million copies. Here's the...
You can preorder COLLISION: Christopher Hitchens vs. Douglas Wilson, the debate documentary from Amazon for $13.99. It's set to be released on October 27, 2009. For those of you who were in a bubble and don't know about the debates,...
Obama adjusts his budget projection so that it aligns more closely with reality. He was off by two trillion dollars, now it's in line with the OMB's projections (which he criticized at the time). Of course the huge deficits for...
For those of you who still don't get it, let John Stossel why: Here's a link to The Cure: How Capitalism Can Save American Health Care by Dr. David Gratzer mentioned in piece. He experienced the rationing of healthcare as...
One of the problems ObamaCare is facing in Congress is the mine field Democrats face in 2010. Here's an example: The conservative state is dominated by Democrats at the local level, and five of its six members of Congress are...
One by double digits:The Mason-Dixon Polling and Research survey, reported Sunday in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, showed GOP candidate Danny Tarkanian leading Reid by 49 percent to 38 percent in Nevada. Tarkanian is a former basketball player for the University...
So now that Factcheck.org said it, will you believe it? The House leadership's bill (H.R. 3200) actually made no mention of abortion when it was introduced. Johnson refers to an amendment to the bill adopted by the House Energy and...
Thought I would note it in case I'm not the only one living in a bubble. Please join me in praying for him and his family during this time of struggle as they deal with it. Even though the cancer...
I know I shouldn't, but I'm going to buy it, unfortunately I don't have enough iTunes money to do it tonight (I've been buying songs for the iTouch). We have a hard copy but I think it would be very...
She says they can't pass ObamaCare without the public option and he says that can't pass it with it:A day after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that health reform won't get through the House without a public option, House Majority...
You can ask them a question concerning health care "reform" on Twitter: Confused about health care reform? Send @msnbc_health your questions to fact-check. Tag them #doseofreality to track the conversation.I asked this: How can Obama guarantee I will be able...
These clips from The Daily Show demonstrate what's wrong with this bill. Here you have two people who've read it and they can't agree on what it says, the language is so unclear. You may say that their politics drives...
Um...why in the world would Piper do this? Is God giving him revelation now concerning the reason for his actions?Conclusion: The tornado in Minneapolis was a gentle but firm warning to the ELCA and all of us: Turn from the...
In which he says his critics are "bearing false witness" against his plan (I'm more than happy to let Jesus judge that one on judgment day). It's interesting how he condemns his opponents as breaking the Ten Commandments by stating...
Robert Wright, author of The Evolution of God">The Evolution of God," was on The Colbert Report, demonstrating once again that it's almost impossible to plug a book on religion with a comedienne interviewing you. The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm...
Um...weren't you lefties (and moderates) all up in arms over the pay of CEOs? And wasn't that going to change under Obama? Or do you consider a 10.5 million compensation package (made up of stocks, cash and performance bonuses --...
Atheists, you better be up in arms over this or you are utter hypocrites on the whole separation of church and state issue: President Barack Obama needs some outside help pushing health care reform, and he's turning to rabbis to...
More from Massa at the Netroots convention: Transcript of the video is at the Washington Times. I know that I recommended to seniors to ask their representative about the death panel (i.e., federal board) language already part of the stimulus...
Further proof of what that the public option of ObamaCare is the road to single payer, not only have Barney Frank and Obama admitted it but now we have research (from a lefty, not Fox News) that the public option...
From the Washington Times: According to Gibbs, Obama is willing to do anything including "orbit the moon:" "Absolutely not," Gibbs said. "We continue to be hopeful that we can get bipartisan support and will continue to work with those that...
This is a wake-up call to all bloggers who think they can remain anonymous:A Vogue cover girl has won a precedent-setting court battle to unmask an anonymous blogger who called her a "skank" on the internet. In a case with...
Wow! This is what a politician looks like who knows he won't be voted out even if he refuses to listen to his constituents: Here's another report: More from the girl who asks about the Nazi policy and other angry...
Uh Oh! If you have a Swiss Bank account, get ready to be hit by the IRS: The Swiss government will hand over details of about 4,450 bank accounts to U.S. authorities as part of a deal struck with Washington...
It's about time that the left finally gets what's going on with ObamaCare, but I have to say it took them long enough! Obama may be trying to hide the fact that he aims to save money by pushing the...
As we all know, they never needed the Republicans cooperation since they have a filibuster-proof majority: Given hardening Republican opposition to Congressional health care proposals, Democrats now say they see little chance of the minority's cooperation in approving any overhaul,...
Yet another Democrat admitting that they don't think insurance companies should be in charge of healthcare. He wants medicare for all Americans. This is why he's fighting for the public option. He knows eventually he'll get it: Visit msnbc.com for...
The Atlantic Wire has posted a roundup of the reactions to the boycott of Whole Foods by lefty bloggers over the WSJ opinion piece written by Whole Foods CEO, John Mackey. Mackey angered the bloggers by suggesting a free-market solution...
Rep. Massa a Democrat from a Republican district assures the lefty bloggers at the Netroots conference that he's for single payer even though his district is not. He would vote for it even if it meant he wouldn't be re-elected...
Last night I predicted that Obama would probably back down from his backing down if the MSM made a big enough stink, but has it happened already? You be the judge: An administration official said tonight that Health and Human...
OMH! Oh, how the mighty have fallen! From House majority leader to dancing on a TV show. I guess this means his political career is over. I wonder if Tom Daschle is next? What did politicians put out to pasture...
Despite Obama's promise to stop them: The Obama administration promised to stop federal raids on medical marijuana dispensaries that comply with laws in their states. But this week, the Feds raided two dispensaries in the Los Angeles area. They also...
Um...really? As Newsbusters notes that's not what Obama said in July:(A)ny plan I sign must include an insurance exchange: a one-stop shopping marketplace where you can compare the benefits, cost and track records of a variety of plans - including...
So, Obama uses his grandma as a way to prove that he doesn't hate old people:"I just lost my grandmother last year. I know what it's like to watch somebody you love, who's aging, deteriorate and have to struggle with...
I was thinking about getting the vaccine since I have an underlying medical condition but I think I'll wait: A warning that the new swine flu jab is linked to a deadly nerve disease has been sent by the Government...
One of the annoying things about the iTouch is that it isn't easy to listen to streaming radio on it. So, you can imagine how happy I was to find that K-LOVE has an app for the iTouch/iPhone. Much easier...
That's the question posed by Ed Schultz of MSNBC: Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy He believes that Christians should support a Christian president and his plan to provide a public option. he believes...
I won't believe it until I see what they do in conference: The Senate Finance Committee will drop a controversial provision on consultations for end-of-life care from its proposed healthcare bill, its top Republican member said Thursday. The committee, which...
As if this state didn't have enough problems with the shrinking of it's population, so bad they've received federal funds to demolish parts of their biggest city (turns out it's good employment for kids and ex-prisoners). Now, they're making a...
What is up with Obama and doctors? Does he really think a doctor isn't going to treat diabetes because he/she isn't getting paid enough? Why mention the $30,000 a surgeon gets for amputating a foot (is it really that much?)...
Some scenes from the coming season opener of "House" Looking forward to September to see what happens to House in the asylum. I started watching at the end of season 4. At the beginning of the summer, I went back...
Evidently, the Obama/Hitler protest signs were created by single-payer protesters (LaRouche -- now there's a blast from the past). Way to go, MSM: (via)...
Way to impress future voters with your humility, babe!"I'll leave," the protester said, as several police officers stood nearby. "And you can do whatever the hell you please to do. One day God's going to stand before you, and he's...
Debate between the author of "The Evolution of God">The Evolution of God," Robert Wright and John Mark Reynolds who has written "When Athens Met Jerusalem: An Introduction to Classical and Christian Thought">When Athens Met Jerusalem: An Introduction to Classical and...
Poor Hillary! Is she ever going to get out from under her husband's shadow and be accepted on her own merits? It doesn't look like it, especially when he's off doing her job. (via)...
Does Pelosi know that her own party is doing it's own astroturfing? An e-mail distributed by the health care reform group Organizing for America, a project of the Democratic National Committee, offers people a chance to sign up and visit...
Trying to distill some of the rumors: Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy According to her, she didn't have an affair with...
I give my two cents in the comment section about my own experience of being Reformed in a Lutheran church and being asked not to teach Reformed Theology even though I promised I would only teach it as my opinion...
As Michelle Malkin notes that's the "ultimate Achilles' Heel of Obamacare." And the Democrats can't answer that question, see for yourself at 3:58: Notice the crowd's reaction to both the question and when Tsongas mentions her freedom to choose her...
Is this what you guys want? He lives with this system and wonders why the heck we would want it: They have more bureaucrats than doctors! And they are the third largest employers in the world. Amazing! (via)...
Look at those GOP hacks and the stooges of the insurance companies. (via) Here's a video of them daring to question a Congressman. Yeah, they don't look like your average citizens, do they? But wait, what about those well dressed...
Pretty funny move by the RNC, very much out of character:National Republicans turned the tables on their political counterparts Wednesday by redirecting angry telephone calls coming into their switchboard to the Democratic National Committee. The DNC released a Web video...
The Obama administration's response to the Naked Emperor News video of Obama saying his plan would lead to single payer: Of course she doesn't demonstrate how the clips of Obama were taken out of context, she only plays current clips...
Who doubted Obama would raise everyone's taxes not just those making over $250,000? I certainly I'm not shocked that they plan to tax the middle class. You can't just tax the rich and reduce the deficit especially with spending billions...