Don't tell Michael Moore...

While Mr. Moore has been busy lobbying for an auto bailout, Moore's favorite example of socialized medicine--the nation of Cuba--has just celebrated 50 years of communist rule. Those lucky Cubans and their socialized medicine: It must be nice, eh? Or maybe not.

Cartoon of the day

Free-market taxis in Cuba

While the U.S. is slowing moving leftward with big government bailouts and massive government programs, the Cubans are starting, albeit very slowly, to allow market reforms. The ban on private taxis in Cuba has been lifted.

No real changes in Raul Castro's Cuba

From the Christian Science Monitor

On Monday morning, Pollán and nine other Damas were roughed up by a mob and arrested near the offices of President Raúl Castro. "We are here to demand the release of our husbands and won't leave until they are free or they arrest us. We have waited long enough, we want to talk to the new president," Pollán said, according to Reuters.

Moments later, a bus pulled up and about 20 female corrections officers tried to arrest the women, who sat on the sidewalk, clasped arms, and refused to move. A mob of about 100 Cuban government supporters, mainly women from nearby government buildings, joined the fray, picking the Damas up, throwing them into the waiting bus, and yelling insults, Reuters reported.

Comment: While there have been some small amounts of liberalization in Cuba since Raul Castro took control from big brother Fidel in February 2008, the island nation continues to exhibit its brand of intolerant socialism. This is a reality check for those who believed that sweeping reforms would move quickly through the country once Fidel gave up the reins. F.A. Hayek once said: “Dictatorship is the most effective instrument of coercion and the enforcement of ideals.” Cuba remains a dictatorship until further notice. Stay tuned.