[BilltheCat]

With Bolsonaro, hopefully, on his way out in Brazil (another populist tool!) it's nice to see new President-elect Castro in Honduras and the left-wing candidate Gabriel Boric on course for victory in Chile.

[exgaffer]

With Bolsonaro, hopefully, on his way out in Brazil (another populist tool!) it's nice to see new President-elect Castro in Honduras and the left-wing candidate Gabriel Boric on course for victory in Chile.

Yep, I’m sure the population just can’t wait to emulate Cuba and Venezuela.

All that Communist equality of poverty and misery, just the ticket.

[Tufnell_Chimes]

Yep, I’m sure those people in Chile are still missing Gen. Pinochet. Hang on I’ve got that the wrong way round, because of Gen. Pinochet, people are still missing.

[exterminator]

Ha, Ha SillyBillyBoy, it is quite evident that a loony lefty government will NEVER be in charge in this great country. Your greatest ever election victory in my living memory was by a centrist right candidate called Blair, lefty losers like Foot & Corbyn have had no chance.

If these lefty regimes are so great why don't you go there and take your "politically bent teaching ideals" with you. At the same time take your pal Duffers with you as well. We then wouldn't have to listen to the constant whinging from you pair....great idea.

[Tufnell_Chimes]

Ext, I know its a Friday, but isn't a bit early for opening up the cocktail cabinet.

[exgaffer]

Yep, I’m sure those people in Chile are still missing Gen. Pinochet. Hang on I’ve got that the wrong way round, because of Gen. Pinochet, people are still missing.

I don’t recall supporting Pinochet at any point Tuffnell, I sure you’ll be able to tell me if I ever have.

Communism and Fascist Dictatorship are indistinguishable from each other, secret police, ‘disappearances’ etc. etc.

They are not the only options, strangely enough   .

[Tufnell_Chimes]

"Yep, I’m sure the population just can’t wait to emulate Cuba and Venezuela.
All that Communist equality of poverty and misery, just the ticket."

and then:
"I don’t recall supporting Pinochet at any point Tuffnell, I sure you’ll be able to tell me if I ever have.
Communism and Fascist Dictatorship are indistinguishable from each other, secret police, ‘disappearances’ etc. etc."

You didn't mention supporting Pinochet, just as I never said you did. But just to note, you never mentioned the fascist dictatorships either. I'm really at a bit of a loss where you think anyone that is left of centre is a communist sympathiser. You yourself would describe your politics as right of centre, are you a fascist sympathiser? Being left of centre doesn't make you a supporter of communism, it makes you a supporter of common decency.

[Bluestow]

"Yep, I’m sure the population just can’t wait to emulate Cuba and Venezuela.
All that Communist equality of poverty and misery, just the ticket."

and then:
"I don’t recall supporting Pinochet at any point Tuffnell, I sure you’ll be able to tell me if I ever have.
Communism and Fascist Dictatorship are indistinguishable from each other, secret police, ‘disappearances’ etc. etc."

You didn't mention supporting Pinochet, just as I never said you did. But just to note, you never mentioned the fascist dictatorships either. I'm really at a bit of a loss where you think anyone that is left of centre is a communist sympathiser. You yourself would describe your politics as right of centre, are you a fascist sympathiser? Being left of centre doesn't make you a supporter of communism, it makes you a supporter of common decency.

One of Exgaffer’s many double standards. He’ll lump together and caricature everyone left of centre and then reacts with outrage when he thinks someone is trying to do the same for those on the right.

[Bluestow]

"Yep, I’m sure the population just can’t wait to emulate Cuba and Venezuela.
All that Communist equality of poverty and misery, just the ticket."

and then:
"I don’t recall supporting Pinochet at any point Tuffnell, I sure you’ll be able to tell me if I ever have.
Communism and Fascist Dictatorship are indistinguishable from each other, secret police, ‘disappearances’ etc. etc."

You didn't mention supporting Pinochet, just as I never said you did. But just to note, you never mentioned the fascist dictatorships either. I'm really at a bit of a loss where you think anyone that is left of centre is a communist sympathiser. You yourself would describe your politics as right of centre, are you a fascist sympathiser? Being left of centre doesn't make you a supporter of communism, it makes you a supporter of common decency.

One of Exgaffer’s many double standards. He’ll lump together and caricature everyone left of centre and then reacts with outrage when he thinks someone is trying to do the same for those on the right.

[exterminator]

Ext, I know its a Friday, but isn't a bit early for opening up the cocktail cabinet.

I don't drink much at all these days Duffers so that is a "No I havn't been at the cocktails" - one small Irish whisky in the last two weeks. & two bottles of  Corona in the two before. 

As for you thinking that you are centre left -  not true, you are way further left than that moosh!!

[Smirnoffexpress]

I think Saveloy just about covered it! Bill, the cause whore!

[exgaffer]

"Yep, I’m sure the population just can’t wait to emulate Cuba and Venezuela.
All that Communist equality of poverty and misery, just the ticket."

and then:
"I don’t recall supporting Pinochet at any point Tuffnell, I sure you’ll be able to tell me if I ever have.
Communism and Fascist Dictatorship are indistinguishable from each other, secret police, ‘disappearances’ etc. etc."

You didn't mention supporting Pinochet, just as I never said you did. But just to note, you never mentioned the fascist dictatorships either. I'm really at a bit of a loss where you think anyone that or I is is left of centre is a communist sympathiser. You yourself would describe your politics as right of centre, are you a fascist sympathiser? Being left of centre doesn't make you a supporter of communism, it makes you a supporter of common decency.

One of Exgaffer’s many double standards. He’ll lump together and caricature everyone left of centre and then reacts with outrage when he thinks someone is trying to do the same for those on the right.

I thought what I said was quite clear but for the cognitively challenged I’ll say it again:

‘Communism and Fascist Dictatorships are the same’.

No double standards there, I abhor them both.

As for caricaturing the left, they do that very well for themselves, I have no need to aid them in that regard.

Left wing regimes only ever bring poverty and misery with them, therefore I oppose the ideology, it’s that simple.

‘Left of centre’ faf, Tufnell has drifted so far from the centre he no longer knows where it is 

[Tufnell_Chimes]

"‘Left of centre’ faf, Tufnell has drifted so far from the centre he no longer knows where it is"

I think that line says more about you Guff.

[exgaffer]

"‘Left of centre’ faf, Tufnell has drifted so far from the centre he no longer knows where it is"

I think that line says more about you Guff.

Well you would wouldn’t you? 

[Smirnoffexpress]

So as soon as their medical professionals qualify they fook off to pastures new! Presumably to live their days in some capitalist country! Good sell Bill.

[exterminator]

Cuba: A country that has suffered an economic blockade by the USA for nearly 60 years, yet has a literacy rate higher than the UK 

.......and who is to blame for the low UK literacy rate- no other than SillyBillyBoy and his teacher mates.

Instead of spending hours on here spouting utter garbage try doing your job and at least try teaching the kids of today to read yfc.

[BilltheCat]

Part of their qualification is to work abroad for a number of years. The host country pays Cuba for their services and the doctors earn considerably more overseas. Most of which is returned to their families.

Unlike you there are working-class people who are committed to making the world a better place rather than just bitching from the sidelines.

[BilltheCat]

Cuba: A country that has suffered an economic blockade by the USA for nearly 60 years, yet has a literacy rate higher than the UK 

.......and who is to blame for the low UK literacy rate- no other than SillyBillyBoy and his teacher mates.

Instead of spending hours on here spouting utter garbage try doing your job and at least try teaching the kids of today to read yfc.

Not sure your teachers did a very good job - judging by your dreadful grammar, yfc!

[BilltheCat]

All I wrote is that the literacy rate in Cuba is higher than that of the UK. Did you even bother to check the statistics?

The UK rate is ridiculously high compared to other countries - as it should be!

I doubt you've ever spoken to a Cuban-American and certainly have not been to the island. As ever, you're reaction is knee-jerk and ignorant.

How do you think our island might have fared if Europe and the USA blockaded us for 60 years?

[Smirnoffexpress]

Bitching from the sidelines? Coming from “sniper” bill

As you search the globe and history for evidence of a Socialist utopia remember the one thing history has taught us. Socialism takes away more than it ever gives.

[Hermann's_no_hermit]

Bill, I have been to Cuba and while I agree with some of what you say, this is a very poor country. The rural communities still go around with ox and cart, the slums in the big cities are as bad as you would see anywhere. As in so many communist countries the only difference from the right wing dictatorships is that most of the wealth is with party officials or generally cronies of the Castros.

[exgaffer]

Bill, I have been to Cuba and while I agree with some of what you say, this is a very poor country. The rural communities still go around with ox and cart, the slums in the big cities are as bad as you would see anywhere. As in so many communist countries the only difference from the right wing dictatorships is that most of the wealth is with party officials or generally cronies of the Castros.

Dead right Hnh.

I think BTC and Tuffers are banking on being wealthy party officials if their socialist utopia ever comes to pass   .

‘You will have nothing and be happy’ they will say as they float past in their party limousines.

Fuck that I say.

[Tufnell_Chimes]

Guff, 4.3 million kids are living in poverty. That’s 200,000 up on last year, 500,000 in the last five years. In 2003, the last Labour government had got that figure down to 600,000. Wages have stagnated for the last ten years, employment rights stripped and now if you try and protest you can be jailed for up to a year. Socialism doesn’t sound that scary after all.

You’re retired, you live alone, you have no children, you’re dislocated from the modern world Guff. Your opinions, wrong as they are, are pretty meaningless and you’re coming across a some sad old bloke waving his fist at clouds.

That suggestion I gave you a few weeks ago about taking in a refugee, I really think you should try it, it will give a new perspective. Afghans who have worked with the British military for the last ten, twenty years and have had to leave flee the country leaving their whole lives behind. We did that. And you seem to have the time and space to help them. Or you could just keep bashing away at that angry keyboard.

[BilltheCat]

"‘You will have nothing and be happy’ they will say as they float past in their party limousines".

Just like here, then?

[Jezzer]

Back in the day Havana was known as the brothel of the western hemisphere catering for American tourists frequenting the luxury hotels, casinos and exclusive, white only clubs that, on the basis of being mulatto, even the ruling dictator Batista couldn't enter. Yes, there was plenty of money around for the priviliged few but it went hand in hand with extreme poverty, institutionalised corruption and racism was commonplace. My point - Cuba was not the utopia that the West would have you believe. 
Like Bill and Hermann i have also been to Cuba. They have pretty much covered it between them although what surprised me most was just how knowledgable the locals were about world affairs - not just politically but culturally as well. This is not something i had associated with communist countries.  Sure there is plenty of propaganda on large billboards (hasta la victoria sempre, viva la patria etc) but this seems to be more for the benefit of the photo-hungry tourists these days rather than the cubans. 
As a footnote i am not a supported or sympathiser for the Cuban regime but I can see where Castro was coming from.