There was a time when proclaiming to be a Socialist was like carrying a sign that said “Nobody should take me seriously” and people who did this were rightfully shamed. But now with the popularity of people like Elizabeth Warren who are opening advocating for Socialistic policies in the US, the Left has new found courage in publically calling themselves Socialists.

These people are afraid to study countries that have embraced Socialism because if they did, they’d have to admit what a miserable failure that economic system is. But don’t take my word for it – NPR had a great story last week about Cuba and I dare any self avowed Socialist to read this story and come away unchanged in their opinion.

Here are a few pertinent quotes (emphasis mine):

“Later, the waitress tells us proudly that the mansion was nationalized shortly after the revolution. She tells us she’s thrilled to work here. At Xanadu Mansion, she can make as much as $15 a day in tips. Compare that to the $30 or so some Cuban doctors make on average in a month.”

“Yuyo Nandes, our horse cart driver, breaks down the Cardenas economy for us. People who work in nearby resorts at Varadero are bringing in some good cash, he says. According to him, that $15 in tips our waitress at Xanadu Mansion makes on a good night will get you “breakfast, lunch, dinner, pay the electricity, and buy a pair of shoes.”

“You know I’m going to tell you one thing. We live off tourism. If there’s no tourism, there’s no life,” he says. “Just look at the grocery stores here: They’re empty because people have gone to other provinces.”

“Juanito Cruz tells us he’s worked at the sugar mill for 31 years. In fact, the house was given to him by the mill. He’s on a break now, since the mill doesn’t operate this time of year. But he’ll be back grinding the sugar in November, a job that lasts six or seven months, and requires about twelve hours of intensive labor every day.

Cruz makes about $40 a month. He shows us his government rations booklet, and tells us his sugar mill income, combined with his monthly rations of rice, beans, coffee and other staple foods, let him live comfortably in this three-bedroom house with his wife and five children.

“It’s not an easy living, though: He points to his new fridge and says he’d been saving for a very long time to buy it, since appliances are incredibly expensive in Cuba.”

From this NPR story we see the Cuban society in abject poverty.

Waitresses who are fortunate enough to get tips from vacationers make, in two days, what a doctor makes in a month.

A person is considered to be bringing in “some good cash” when they make $15 per day.

The grocery store shelves are empty.

Working 12 hours per day will earn you $40 per month in the sugar mills.

People have ration booklets where they can get rice, beans, coffee and other staple foods.

Basic appliances (that we in the US take for granted) are incredibly expensive.

This sounds like paradise to me! Bring on Socialism!