That's a Marxist euphemism for a state of economic emergency. Nevertheless, Marxist ideology continues to prevail over cold hard fact. In Cuba, there are no free or fair elections. Media are controlled by the state with antennas and satellite dishes carrying U.S. broadcasts being forbidden, although they can be used in tourist hotels. Power outages are frequent.
Schools operate without paper and pencils.
Although health care is free, medical supplies are few and far between. As Cuba's crisis deepened, the government tried to promote the tourist trade to bring in hard currency, but most Cubans were shut out of the expanding hard-currency economy. Finally, in 1993 the Cuban government begrudgingly gave Cubans the right to engage in private enterprise, but only with family members manning the enterprise and definitely no employees. No Media Controversy in Cuba While there was much media controversy in the United States over Eli n's fate, there was none in Cuba. The Cuban population only hears what Fidel wants them to hear, and nothing happens in Cuba without Fidel wanting it to happen.