This is an interesting subject, but easy to lose focus and not start discussing apples and oranges; at least as I interpret the comments, so please correct me if I'm wrong in my interpretations.
I thought that the original comments about Cuba's future had to do with the future of its music and the impact of Americanization on the music. I think there is little doubt that once there is real freedom in Cuba, not the kind of government controlled "freedom" that Communist countries like China flirt with, that we will see a real economic explosion in Cuba. What exists now, and what we will probably continue to see in the foreseeable future, is the kind of government control over every experiment in capitalism (freedom) that allows very little actual trickle down benefit to the masses while the corrupt government elite continue to take the lion's share of the influx of American $'s. Factoid: cost to an expat of renewing a Cuban passport $475 (!!!) (with additional "fees" every couple of years). Says it all in my opinion. But, I digress; back to the music. I think the point being made re the future of the music was that once there is true free exchange between Cuba and the U.S. (a mere 90 miles away) most of what we will see as Cuban culture and music will be indistinguishable from what exists in Miami now.
I thought that the original comments about Cuba's future had to do with the future of its music and the impact of Americanization on the music. I think there is little doubt that once there is real freedom in Cuba, not the kind of government controlled "freedom" that Communist countries like China flirt with, that we will see a real economic explosion in Cuba. What exists now, and what we will probably continue to see in the foreseeable future, is the kind of government control over every experiment in capitalism (freedom) that allows very little actual trickle down benefit to the masses while the corrupt government elite continue to take the lion's share of the influx of American $'s. Factoid: cost to an expat of renewing a Cuban passport $475 (!!!) (with additional "fees" every couple of years). Says it all in my opinion. But, I digress; back to the music. I think the point being made re the future of the music was that once there is true free exchange between Cuba and the U.S. (a mere 90 miles away) most of what we will see as Cuban culture and music will be indistinguishable from what exists in Miami now.