The Cuban economy echoes the tale of a clever child selling a turkey, with the government playing the role of the trickster, while the Cuban people find themselves trapped in an endless cycle, unable to escape the ever-shifting rules designed to drain their pockets. This pattern of deception, masked as "economic reforms," has been a long-standing ploy to extract every cent from a weary and desperate populace.
The CUC: The First Turkey
Back in the 1990s, the Cuban government introduced the CUC (convertible peso) as a supposed solution for a nation unable to freely access the dollar due to the embargo. "Trade your dollars for this new turkey called CUC. The exchange rate? 1 dollar equals 1 CUC, equally strong and convertible," they claimed. For years, Cubans had to swap their hard currency, sent by relatives abroad, for paper that only worked in state-run stores with exorbitant prices.
The End of the CUC: Buying Back the Turkey
As in the joke, one day the child decided the turkey—the CUC—was no longer useful. "I'll buy back the turkey. How much? 24 pesos!" And just like that, Cubans were left with worthless paper as the government recycled foreign currency to sustain its bureaucratic and military apparatus.
The MLC: The Digital Turkey
The next trick was the creation of the MLC (Freely Convertible Currency). However, this turkey wasn't tangible; the money was now on a government-controlled electronic card. "Transfer your dollars to this account, and you can shop in our special stores," they said. Yet, the rules remained unchanged: outrageous prices, widespread shortages, and most importantly, people never had real access to the dollars sent by their families. The government retained the dollars, while Cubans received a digital mirage of wealth.
Despite initial promises that CUC stores wouldn't close, reality painted a different picture. Many were shut down or converted to MLC-operating establishments, reducing the population's options for acquiring essential goods.
Back to Dollars: Repeating the Cycle
In a new twist, the government decided to open dollar-only stores where MLC isn't accepted, soon to repeat their rhetoric: "We won't close MLC stores. These dollar stores are temporary, and profits will fund supplies for MLC and Cuban peso stores to bolster the national economy." But how will they value the MLCs now? Clearly, not at 1:1, as these new stores would lose their purpose. Will they again offer CUP for MLC like they did with the CUC?
The Endless Exploitation Cycle
The essence of the turkey joke is a never-ending cycle of exploitation: the man trapped in the closet can never escape, and the child always finds a way to sell the same turkey. In Cuba, this cycle takes center stage through various "economic" reforms. Today, the government promises a strong Cuban peso; tomorrow, a guaranteed convertible peso; the day after, MLC as the savior. Yet, it's always the people left footing the bill.
Breaking Free from the Closet
In the joke, the man remains trapped because the child holds power over him, and he fears being discovered. Similarly, the Cuban people remain stuck as the government controls every aspect of power—legislative, police, military, and economic, from currency issuance to foreign trade. The only way to break this cycle is to "release the turkey," allowing Cubans to manage their own economy, have direct access to foreign currency, import freely, and start businesses without the State's shadow looming over them.
Until that happens, the turkey will keep changing names—from CUC to CUP, from CUP to MLC, and back to dollars. And the Cuban people will remain confined, paying more for essential goods, growing poorer every day. It's time to open the closet and let the people take control of their economic destiny. Only then can the perpetual scam come to an end.
P.S. For those unfamiliar with the turkey joke, here it is:
Understanding Cuba's Economic Manipulation
What is the CUC in Cuba?
The CUC, or convertible peso, was introduced by the Cuban government in the 1990s as a currency supposedly equivalent to the U.S. dollar, intended to replace the dollar amidst embargo-related restrictions.
How does the MLC work in Cuba?
The MLC, or Freely Convertible Currency, is a digital currency in Cuba that requires funds to be transferred to a government-controlled card for purchases in specific stores, limiting access to actual foreign currency.