Social Outreach
September 1, 2003
We are aware of the social reality of Cuba, where a totalitarian system, acting against the interests of its people, has plunged the country into generalized poverty. The most affected sectors are the elderly and children; young people see their dreams and aspirations fade after graduation, as there are no jobs, and those who do find work receive shamefully low wages. Among other consequences, this has led to alarming levels of suicide among youth who, in search of freedoms and rights, engage in desperate acts such as setting out to sea in extremely dangerous vessels—acts that reflect the depths of desperation in which they live. Social assistance is practically nonexistent in a country whose economy has been in decline for decades, with the lowest wages in its history, and a severe lack of housing and employment.
All of the above has resulted in a deterioration of society’s moral values, giving rise to the human miseries typical of the poverty into which the country has been sunk, such as prostitution and theft as means of subsistence (even among opportunists who support the regime), corruption at all levels of the system, double standards, lack of patriotism, disinterest in politics, and the erosion of Cuban identity. All this occurs in a society deprived of the most basic human rights, where a housewife cannot decide what to cook for her family, what to listen to on the radio, or what to watch on television, while her children are denied access to the internet—citizens deprived of the ability to think for themselves, much less to express themselves publicly.
Under this regime, lies, repression, and the manipulation of information—complicit with the international left—serve to keep a gangster-like clique in power.
What do we want? A state governed by the rule of law and a civil society conscious of its responsibility to oversee elected officials so that they are honest and efficient, and that facilitates the conditions for accelerated economic performance. In short, we want no persons, groups, or interests to stand above the law.
What do we propose to do to achieve this society?
In a society where individual responsibility must play a decisive role, certain essential public services must be guaranteed, such as education and health. Education must instruct young people in those civic commitments so important in states governed by the rule of law; it must help restore moral and ethical values, interest in the homeland and in politics, in addition to providing scientific and technical training that places them on par with the times in which they live. Young people will have the right to choose the fields of study they wish to pursue regardless of race, sex, religion, or political affiliation. Guaranteeing this sector as a public service to society does not limit private initiative, which will comply with the regulations of this ministry. In this effort to restore Cuban society, important roles will be played by the Catholic Church, Protestant denominations, fraternal organizations—such as the Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Light, Boy Scouts—and other institutions interested in this worthy endeavor. A special role will be played by those dedicated to the mass media and by intellectuals, who must be aware that they are the shapers of public opinion and that a significant part of this recovery rests in their hands.
Public health services provide great security to society; they must have a high scientific and technical level and emphasize preventive medicine in order to reduce costs and improve the quality of life. In this sector, there must be no limitations on private initiative, which will comply with the regulations of this ministry.
Social security must be efficient and swift for those whose need is proven; there must be a rigorous procedure to determine cases, without making the process lengthy, so that those in need receive assistance promptly.
We believe that in the phase following the elimination of the current regime, the necessary logistics must be implemented to channel international humanitarian aid that will arrive in the country, creating the facilities required for these organizations to carry out their work.
For workers, there will be a future. Within a serious legal framework, labor laws will protect them and provide mechanisms to resolve disputes with employers, with the right to form independent trade unions. A minimum wage will be established in the country, along with all necessary regulations to ensure that workers can perform their jobs with dignity.
We will prevail!
Board of Directors.
Republican Party of Cuba.