On Fri, 2 Dec 2016 09:46:56 -0800 (PST), Tim
wrote:

11:12 AMTrue North
- show quoted text -
Yes and up to 1959 'the mob' had a big influence on things down there.
I would imagine the Cubans used Canadian dollars to help them survive...especially since 1990.
...

Could be. I know Havana was a haven of gambling, prostitution, and corruption n general, but a lot of money flowed the streets. People still drive 1957 cars there. Loaded with bailing wire and homage parts but still running. I'd say that 1959 on was the end of their prosperity...


11:12 AMTrue North
- show quoted text -
Yes and up to 1959 'the mob' had a big influence on things down there.
I would imagine the Cubans used Canadian dollars to help them survive...especially since 1990.

Castro was the end of the prosperity ... at least for the 5%. The guy
living out in the countryside chopping sugar cane probably has not
seen that much difference, It may have actually got better because he
is doing almost as well as the doctor he gets to see for free. You
notice, with the exception of the criminals Castro shipped us from
Mariel, the Cubans who move here are striving for more than a
subsistence job and they are highly motivated.
I think that is true of most latinos. (perhaps with the exception of
those who go to sanctuary cities with a robust welfare system)
That is one reason why I don't have a lot of sympathy for black people
here. We have Latinos clawing their way across the desert or swimming
across the Rio Grande with nothing but what they can carry. They
usually don't speak the language and with the exception of the Cubans
they have little or no education. There is certainly the same or
greater levels of discrimination but they still seem to find work,
advance and become productive Americans in an economic climate where
there are a record number of anglos and blacks who say there is no
work.
When I am hiring people, price is not the main thing I think of and I
still want a crew of little brown guys. I do get criticized from the
building people we know. They say I have union mexicans because I pay
them what the ask and toss in a generous completion bonus.