They have rations to make it accessible to all, they are a poor country crippled by a long lasting embargo. Cubans are very sweet people. Their politics attempted to keep they away from american greedy companies. Just look around the caraibean region. Countries that played ball with the US are in a very bad shape, a la economic hit man and such. Cuba managed to keep the people poor but with dignity, education, health care, for all its citizens. They manage with what they have and they’d do much better if it wasnt for the embargo.
I don’t get why this is being downvoted. I’d rather get a comment on why you disagree
I don't know if this is why it's being downvoted, but there are a few too many assumptions here for my taste. To start, it's unclear why they'd do much better if it wasn't for the embargo while you also claim they benefit from keeping themselves away from "american greedy companies."
For example: How do you expect trade resulting from an end to the embargo would be handled differently, and how would Cuba be less susceptible to the relative economic dependence on the US that affects many other countries in the region?
They are a poor country ravaged by a tyrannical regime that has lasted as long as it has because Cuba is but a slight annoyance to the US after the Cuban Missile Crisis- nothing more, nothing less. Even if there was no embargo, the Castros would still be there doing as they wish. God knows they're trying to do the same with Venezuela.
EDIT: None of this means I'm pro-embargo, or into US meddling into things they have no business in. Just that ultimately these embargoes do little in the grand scheme of things to stop dictatorial regimes. A tyrant has no reason to play by the rules, especially when money is involved.
The suggestion that this has anything to do with tyranny or dictators is ridiculous as well. The US has a long and consistent record of supporting hideously repressive Islamist monarchies like Saudi Arabia, and it is clear that they do not actually care about democracy or freedom in practice.
the article you cite also states "the total number of hectares where coffee is harvested in Cuba has fallen from 170,000 hectares (420,000 acres) in 1961 to 28,000 hectares (69,000 acres) in 2013." (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffee_production_in_Cuba)
Specifically, two events: "The plant was introduced by Jose Antonio Gelabert in the 18th century. French colonists later brought their own production methods and by the time of the Cuban revolution in 1959 the country was a major global exporter.
The political context and nationalisation of the industry led to much-reduced production."
Which makes sense when the largest trading partner in the world which happens to be 90 miles from their shores won't do business with them.
The USSR did business with them as a middle finger to the US. The US doesn't do business with them as a middle finger to...the cuban people, the majority of which weren't even alive during the revolution.
The justification is that Florida is a swing state, and full of Cuban expats who really, really hate Castro and want the embargo to continue. These expats have the ability to swing Florida's vote, and thus Presidential elections, so both parties have to give them what they want. It's a wonderful example of how the fucked-up Electoral College distorts national policy, since a large majority of Americans overall think the embargo is stupid and should end.
per Wiki: "Domestic distribution is currently limited to two ounces of coffee rations every 15 days for Cuban citizens.[13]