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wjbc t1_irtu2j6 wrote

Yes, some people may not realize that the Cuban Revolution ousted a U.S.-backed military dictator, Fulgencio Batista, who presided over a stagnating economy that widened the gap between rich and poor Cubans and awarded contracts to foreign companies. He also negotiated lucrative relationships with the American Mafia, who controlled the drug, gambling, and prostitution businesses in Havana. His secret police carried out wide-scale violence, torture, and public executions.

Batista was definitely a bad guy, and he was a U.S.-backed bad guy. It's no wonder the revolutionaries won support and influenced similar movements in other countries.

Castro also ruthlessly suppressed freedom of expression and exercised totalitarian rule. However, he did make substantial improvements to healthcare and education and won admiration for successfully defying the United States.

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[deleted] t1_irtzkoo wrote

[removed]

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malignantpolyp t1_iru27ip wrote

Maybe some exiles were socially connected Cubans who were profiting alongside the Mafia and the American-backed dictator, and were angry that their corrupt livelihoods were taken away?

Perhaps the lowered standard of living has something to do with the decades-long US embargo? Can you name another Caribbean, Central or South American country which people are clamoring to enter? Having the world's most powerful country vehemently opposed to your existence tends to have a negative effect on your economy.

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