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Russia is still dealing with the theft and backdoor economy of the Soviet Union. All communist countries suffer from this disease. A better idea is to prevent this kind of underground economy from expanding. Much of South America is crippled by the reality that you have to bribe everyone to get anything. These are not healthy methods or attitudes. They aren't the cure for a healthy economy or a working government. Castro needs to reform or get out of the way.

There are vast differences between the people of the former Soviet Union and as you described the hellhole isla. The compays of the hellhole find very little in common and had little use with the former Soviet occupants of their country, with the exception of the cash they brought with them.

I wasn't speaking of bribes--I wrote of justification of theft. When a government prevents you of living your dreams and taxes you over 95% of your income, and then taxes you additionally when you have accomplished more than others when you puchase a license to operate on your own--there is justification for Cubans to take chunks from the lopsided score against them.

Cuban Customs in the major international airports have video cameras and signs stipulating a policy against bribery. Very different from the Batista era, if you are interested in a track record of bribes. This is not a defense of Castro, just a real life experience a yuma wouldn't know about calling the island a hellhole across the ocean.

I have only been hit up by a cop in Cuba once, many years ago when he wanted $10 for his kid's birthday after an unjustified traffic stop. Very different from what occurs in Mexico--especially in Mexico City on a daily basis from the policia. Mexico has just experienced over 70 years of a one party socialist state(not communist), but corruption and bribery in Mexico City can rival any land of payoffs.

I haven't been hit up for a propina in Cuba as I have been asked at military checkpoints driving through countries in Central America.

Cuba has a number of major imperfections, however everything is not the total ruin you describe, and most of all the people of Cuba have heart qualities our civilized world has forgotten.

May you get the opportunity to be contaminated by them rather than refer to them as the residents of the island hellhole.