Raúl Castro has made some economic reforms in Cuba but has not increased human rights.

I think Cuba deserves human rights, but must be careful about how far to permit private business.

Cubans deserve democracy but have no experience in running democracy. They could easily fall into the plutocrats' trap. Even US voters, with much more experience have made the mistake of electing politicians such as Clinton, Dubya and Obama that have surrendered their countries to global business. How, then, to lead Cuba to a democracy that won't allow multinationals to take power?
As long as businesses are small, and have no political power, they are safe and useful -- though it is necessary to police them carefully so that they don't think they can get away with stealing workers' pay and other abuses.

Perhaps the Cuban constitution should prohibit in a broad way the operation of foreign companies in the country. Buying and selling foreign goods, ok; letting a large multinational actually operate in the country, no.

Begging is banned in Lagos, and tens of thousands of people, most of them disabled or mentally ill, have been jailed in horrible conditions without trial.

Around the world, cities either are harsh toward beggars or try to give them help and treatment.

Assange has been questioned in the Ecuadorian embassy.

If Swedish prosecutors really want to prosecute Assange in Sweden, they will be able to do so with little further ado provided they give the formal assurances they won't send him to the US. Their refusal to do so shows that they are not really interested in the crimes alleged against him, and only interested in an excuse to send him to the US.

Soon we will see what the Swedish prosecutors' next maneuver is.

Medicare covers only part of the costs of treating cancer, leaving old Americans with bills they may not survive.

Albuquerque thugs don't just cover up videos of their killings, they alter it too.