Debate: Capitalism vs Socialism
Side: Socialism

As for Cuba:Let's compare some facts between the United States and Cuba, shall we?Prison rate per capita:Cuba: 3.6 per 100,000 peopleUnited States: 5 per 100,000http://www.visionofhumanity.org/gpi/home.phpThe U.S. government may not have a dozen "political prisoners" under lock and key, but it has tortured foreign and American prisoners:http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/18/world/ middleeast/18justice.html By the way, many of those political prisoners are paid American government agents; taking money from our government to destabilize and overthrow Cuba's government. http://writ.news.findlaw.com/mariner/20010625.html By the way, if I was receiving money from Chinese agents, or any country for that matter, with the express purpose of undermining the U.S. government I would be in jail as well.Secondly; I suppose they don't have cell-phones and little access to the internet (though the new, Communist leader Raul Castro is lifting those restrictions), the Cuban government hasn't killed hundreds of thousands of people overseas. A nice trade-off; I would say. Then again; it's typically American to cherish material goods over human life; your laptop is much more important than the life of an Arab or other foreigner. Of course, dissent is also perfectly allowed in Cuba; perhaps not as voraciously as in the United States, but the idea that Cuba is a repressive, tyrannical dictatorship isn't well-founded. Here's an account from people that visited the country in the 90s (things have only improved since then):http://chronicle.uchicago.edu/960411/lessons.shtml I might add that cell-phone and internet access isn't widespread with many of Cuba's neighbors; a comparison with them will come later though.Here's a few other comparisons to the United States:Literacy rate:United States: 99%Cuba: 99.8%That's right, Cuba has a slightly higher literacy rate.Life expectancy:United States: Male:75 Female:80.4Cuba: Male: 76.4 Female 79.9http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/info-unbk0609-06.html So, about the same. According to some statistics the United States is slightly higher (by a point and a half or so). Either way, Cuba, a third world Socialist state is comparable, if not slightly better than the richest nation on earth in terms of life expectancy. Infant Mortality:United States: 6.3 deaths per 1,000 live births Cuba: 5.93 deaths per 1,000 live births Again, a third world country beats the richest nation on earth in protection of its own babies. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/us.html https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cu.html As for their eating habits; they are eating quite well; organically even. This socialist state survived having all of its trading partners disappear; all of its oil dry up, and its food supply cut off. Could the United States see so much economic upheaval and come out ahead, the same as before? Without a global war, perhaps not. http://www.harpers.org/archive/2005/04/0080501 In fact, Cuba is being seen as a leader and model for other nations; its success is being studied heavily.http://www.organicconsumers.org/OFGU/cuba010405.cfm Take a look at other figures here at MSN Encarta:http://encarta.msn.com/fact_631504750/cuba_facts_and_figures.html Compare Cuba with the United States and other nations. Sure; Cuba doesn't have as many televisions and internet connections as the United States; but compare Cuba with its neighbors; other third and second world countries with similar circumstances but Capitalist economies. You'll find Cuba fairs equal or better than nearly all of its neighbors in nearly even respect; it is certainly the top of the heap in terms of third world nations and it gives many first world nations a run for their money. Again, this is coming from a Communist third world nation with minimal land, resources, friends, and military might. Makes ya think, doesn't it?