Raul is straight trippin'

Cuba is about to get futuristic and luxurious up in here: they can now stay in luxury hotels and buy all sorts of electronics that up until now were reserved for foreigners and companies.

Holy shit. Too bad most Cubans can't afford that stuff.

But - nevertheless - some people see this as progress. You can never tell by America media reports, but some Cubans feel like freedom is around the corner. But this woman put it best I think:

"Authorization to stay in hotels is fine because it was unfair discrimination of Cubans with respect to foreigners," said Tatiana, a doctor in the capital's Vedado district. "But, I have to ask, 'What Cubans can pay a night in a hotel with a normal salary?'"

I suppose you have to question progress that still leaves so many people in poverty. And what exactly is the benefit of buying more shit? Is the benefit having the option to buy more shit? I'm not sure how these deregulations will affect existing class tensions, but the pessimist in me is a little nervous.