Mathematician
Reason, and reason again
He exchanged a system of corruption for just something worse. Not much difference in my mind's eye. As has already been said, there was no freedom of speech, jail and executions for dissenters, no freedom to leave the country, to either join family in other countries to just to travel and see the wonders of the world. Imagine, doomed to spend your entire life on a tiny island because of the whims of a dictator! What I don't understand is why, during interviews, Castro wasn't asked exactly why he believed his system for Cuba, his people's lack of basic freedoms, etc. was right for Cuba. Come right out and ask him these questions. I'll bet the ground rules for interviews forbade these type of questions, but why? If Castro believed his "system" was right, then he should be proud of it and tell us why people in Cuba shouldn't have freedoms. But he wouldn't do that, probably because he knows it's wrong and he can't justify it.
I also can't figure out why his Cuban army supported him. After all, they are also stuck on that damn island their entire life too!
Cuba under Castro is not worse than it was under Batista. This is pure media sensationalism. Cuba is one of the strongest economies in Latin America, and possibly the strongest Caribbean island. Its social services are stupendous, receiving praise from the UN each year.
Freedom of speech exists in Cuba, albeit the restrictions in place limit assembly. The Cuban government fears American infilitration into its political process, for obvious reasons. We've acted quite literally as a terroristic threat to Cubans, specifically with our backing of Flight 455 (which only killed innocent civilians).
Criticism of the revolution and Fidel Castro are allowed in speech, film, and print. La muerte de un burocrata (1966) mocks Cuba's bureaucracy. Memories of Underdevelopment (1968) is both a movie and book that revolves around a bourgeoisie narrator's conflicting thoughts over the revolution and his own aspirations. Lista de Espera (2000) shows how an ideal communist society would work; some Cuban movie critics have said it is a critique on the current Cuban government. Habana Blues addresses poverty, filth, and electrical shortages in Cuba.
In addition to the wonderful culture, Cubans also enjoy a very open political process. Cuba has one of the highest turn outs in the world for a country that doesn't enforce voting (Australia). 14-year olds are encouraged to be a part of election counting; at 16 everyone can vote. Voters are allowed to deface their ballots or write down their personal objections if they want the current government to end, but that act has not been found in more than 7-9%. Cuba will soon surpass the United States by allowing gay civil unions thanks to a conjoined effort by the GLBTQSA community, including Raul Castro's own daughter.
Cuba is the only country in the world that enforces a policy of the "right to eat." Per capita it has spent more on economic aid than any other country; offering contributions to even the United States. Before America and Britain even thought of getting involved, Fidel denounced the apartheid in South Africa and sent troops to help uproot the social system.
Cubans can't leave the island because no country will take them. In the 80s Fidel specifically addressed the exiles; saying he would allow foreign boats to dock at Cuba's ports if other countries wanted to take away people who had a problem with the government. No ships came.
No, it would just be naive to say Cuba is worse off now than it was under America's brute. Is it perfect? No. Does the system need change? Yes, and Raul Castro (the original communist) is doing a wonderful job of it.