I've visited Cuba and lived in Brazil. The desperation you see in Brazil for much of the population isn't there in Cuba. The people are very poor but they have access to food regardless of their income levels. Cubans are some of the most highly educated people in the world. It's a police state and there are awful things about the corruption. And things are much worse in many other Latin American countries that are pro-US. I would say the impacts of poverty are worse in the US even if you withdraw those states. In absolute terms Americans are richer but in terms of healthcare and general well being, what I saw 20 years ago was that Cubans have it better.