Cuban dictator Fidel Castro's health problems have emboldened the American right and Cuban exiles to call even more strongly for democratic and economic reforms in the island nation. They charge that the Castro regime is radically corrupt, as evidenced by his inclusion in the May "Kings, Queens, and Despots" issue of Forbes magazine.
The issue of Forbes, which enumerates the wealthiest heads of state in the world, estimates Castro's wealth at a 63 percent increase over Castro's estimated worth of $550 million in the 2005 issue. According to the magazine, Castro's worth was estimated by calculating the value of state-owned industry.
Cuba's esteemed dictator - loved by leftists and despised by exiles and conservatives alike - has been crucified by the media for his alleged abuse of his people. Liberalism must decry the irony that one of the last bastions of the proletariat revolution is home to the 7th wealthiest ruler on Earth.
I see Castro's alleged wealth as nothing more than compensation for a job well done. Even assuming Forbes' estimate is correct, $900 million is a small price for all the benefits he has brought to the island nation.
Castro achieved two outstanding successes in his tenure. One is Cuba's excellent system of universal health care. Cuba has more doctors per capita than the United States or the United Kingdom.
Moreover, Cuba's health care is available to all of its citizens as well as people from impoverished Latin American nations. That Cuba, under embargo by the U.S. for decades, has been able to institute a universal health care system before its wealthy capitalist neighbors is a nearly unbelievable feat.
The second significant contribution Fidel made to Cuba is a sustainable agriculture system. Without the benefits of foreign oil, Cuba was forced to develop an organic agriculture system with crops located near major population centers. Cuba produces less of an environmental footprint with its agricultural system than the United States.
This is in spite of the fact that U.S. citizens can afford to pay more to have external costs included in market prices. Cuba's agriculture system is a model of sustainable development, compared to our country, where sustainability takes a backseat to Hummers and 4,000-square-foot Scottsdale homes.
With such wonderful additions to the world, why vilify Fidel any longer? What's a little suppression of political dissent when people can get treatment for diabetes? What are a few innocent human rights violations when people have access to locally grown produce without toxins? What's a little communism when Cuba is contributing less to global climate change than the rest of us?
I think it's high time we lure Fidel away from Cuba and help him paint the White House red. Health and vegetables will more than make up for his $900 million compensation.
So while too many of us are busy awaiting his demise, we ought to be helping Fidel recover from his illness. We could bring him to the U.S. and give him access to our medical system. Well, come to think of it, the HMO's would probably refuse to cover the treatment.
Alex Ginsburg is a religious studies senior. He can be reached at Alexander.Ginsberg@asu.edu
