The View from Coral Gables
In the manicured estates of Coral Gables and the high-rises of Brickell, the conversation is not about survival, but about entry points. Here, the Cuban-American elite gather in rooms cooled by central air, discussing the eventual collapse of the Cuban government as if it were a predictable market correction. They speak of "reconstruction" and "privatization" with the clinical detachment of hedge fund managers. For this group, the island is a collection of undervalued assets: real estate in Vedado, lithium deposits, tourism infrastructure, and untapped telecommunications markets. They are not just waiting for political change; they are preparing to capitalize on the vacuum it will leave behind.
Wealthy exiles often view themselves as liberators. Their rhetoric focuses on restoring democracy and bringing the island into the global fold. However, their definitions of freedom often mirror the mechanics of capital. While they advocate for the end of the US embargo—a policy they claim stifles the Cuban people—the economic models they propose for a post-revolutionary Cuba rely heavily on the very structures that could further marginalize those who stayed. The transition they envision is less about social safety nets and more about the rapid conversion of state-owned property into private equity.
The Arithmetic of Scarcity
The disconnect between Miami and Havana is measured in calories and kilowatts. In Miami, the elite discuss the " [Error: Request aborted because model 'gemma-4-26B-A4B-it-qat-q4_0-mlx-aligned' is being unloaded]
