Maryland abolishes death penalty.

[kandrathe]

"Second: I find Cuba a pretty good example."

Two Czech Models detained for photographing Havana slums.-- More...

"She pointed out that it is almost impossible to provide any assistance through official means because the Communist authorities refuse to admit anything in their country does not work."

No news is good news.

Edit: In reflection, I really have no particular animosity towards communal-ism -- that is a group of democratic(not coerced) equals finding a way to share their daily burdens to get along. Throughout the history of the US, there have been many persecuted religious groups who come the the US for that freedom. If the individuals can freely associate, and have the freedom to leave the group (municipality), then it is their choice as to what agreements they enter into.

The only particular part of communism I abhor, as it has been expressed, is the coercion of the State apparatus. I object to any form of government when it is expressed as fascism/oligarchy, or totalitarianism, such as Stalin-ism/Trotsky-ism (incl. Cuba), or Maoism.

For me, it really just gets down to the freedom of the individual. And, I do truly believe in excessive generosity, rather than State enforced altruism. I do think there should be taxes for communal services, to pay for those things we NEED. However, in the US, it has become corrupted into a mechanism for graft, political favors, and vote buying.