[PV] Struggling for Relevance in Cuba: Close, Still No Cigars...Ron Paul - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

**Frenchy** · 10-29-2007, 01:17 PM

Struggling for Relevance in Cuba: Close, Still No Cigars

Since Raul Castro seems to be transitioning to a more permanent position of power, the administration has begun talking about Cuba policy again. One would think we would be able to survey the results of the last 45 years and come to logical conclusions. Changing course never seems to be an option, however, no matter how futile or counterproductive our past actions have been.

The Cuban embargo began officially in 1962 as a means to put pressure on the communist dictatorship to change its ways. After 45 years, the Cuban economy has struggled, but Cuba 's dictatorship is no closer to stepping to the beat of our drum. Any ailments have consistently and successfully been blamed on US Capitalism instead of Cuban Communism. They have substituted trade with others for trade with the US , and are "awash" with development funds from abroad. Our isolationist policies with regards to Cuba , meanwhile, have hardly won the hearts and minds of Cubans or Cuban-Americans, many of whom are isolated from families because this political animosity.

In the name of helping Cubans, the US administration is calling for "multibillions" of taxpayer dollars in foreign aid and subsidies for internet access, education and business development for Cubans under the condition that the Cuban government demonstrates certain changes. In the same breath, they claim lifting the embargo would only help the dictatorship. This is exactly backwards. Free trade is the best thing for people in both Cuba and the US . Government subsidies would enrich those in power in Cuba at the expense of already overtaxed Americans!

The irony of supposed Capitalist, free-marketeers inducing Communists to freedom with government hand-outs should not be missed. We call for a free and private press in Cuba while our attempts to propagandize Cubans through the US government run Radio/TV Marti has wasted $600 million in American taxpayer dollars.

It's time to stop talking solely in terms of what's best for the Cuban people. How about the wishes of the American people, who are consistently in favor of diplomacy with Cuba ? Let's stop the hysterics about the freedom of Cubans – which is not our government's responsibility – and consider freedom of the American people, which is. Americans want the freedom to travel and trade with their Cuban neighbors, as they are free to travel and trade with Vietnam and China . Those Americans who do not wish to interact with a country whose model of governance they oppose are free to boycott. The point being – it is Americans who live in a free country, and as free people we should choose who to buy from or where to travel, not our government.

Our current administration is perceived as irrelevant, at best, in Cuba and the message is falling on deaf ears there. If the administration really wanted to extend the hand of friendship, they would allow the American people the freedom to act as their own ambassadors through trade and travel. Considering the lack of success government has had in engendering friendship with Cuba , it is time for government to get out of the way and let the people reach out.
http://www.house.gov/paul/tst/tst2007/tst102807.htm

**Druac** · 10-29-2007, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frenchy

Struggling for Relevance in Cuba: Close, Still No Cigars

Wow...every time this guy scares me away with his radical ideas...he pulls me back in with common sense. There are a lot of things I do like about him though. It is just too bad that he doesn’t have a realistic chance with our current system and that he is running on the Republican ticket. If he would have started as an Independent I might be able to actually consider him.>>

**Frenchy** · 10-29-2007, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Druac

Wow...every time this guy scares me away with his radical ideas...he pulls me back in with common sense. There are a lot of things I do like about him though. It is just too bad that he doesn’t have a realistic chance with our current system and that he is running on the Republican ticket. If he would have started as an Independent I might be able to actually consider him.>>

If he had started as an Independent, his message would never had made it to the national stage.

**Druac** · 10-29-2007, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frenchy

If he had started as an Independent, his message would never had made it to the national stage.

Good point, I need to study up on his views regarding campaign reform and term limits.

**Frenchy** · 10-29-2007, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Druac

Good point, I need to study up on his views regarding campaign reform and term limits.

Everything that you want to know about Dr. Paul!

http://www.ronpaullibrary.org/

Dhunter55 · 10-29-2007, 04:38 PM

I don't need to travel to Cuba. I'm already here.

I don't think Fidel or Raul would give Americans unrestricted access anyway. The tourist dollars will only end up in the Cuban government's (Fidel and soon to be Raul's) coffers. The same as they did under Batista. Little would benefit the people directly. It would be good for Cubans in America to have more freedom to visit family and pass them dollars. I would visit if I could. I wouldn't mind having a few boxes of REAL Cohibas.

slugger6 · 10-29-2007, 04:43 PM

Frenchy, you're only one post away from 7K!

**AZXD** · 10-30-2007, 07:32 AM

How do you argue with an article like this. It makes sense.
"it is Americans who live in a free country, and as free people we should choose who to buy from or where to travel, not our government".
I agree!
We might not be given free access to every part of Cuba. But we did not have access to every part of the USSR when it was in power. Yet we were able to travel there if we went through the proper channels.

I wonder if this article is related to the Remarks by President Bush at the State Department on Wednesday about Cuba, as transcribed by the White House. speech?

10-29-2007, 01:17 PM	#1
Frenchy XDTalk 10K Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Mid-Missouri Posts: 13,153	[PV] Struggling for Relevance in Cuba: Close, Still No Cigars...Ron Paul Struggling for Relevance in Cuba: Close, Still No Cigars Since Raul Castro seems to be transitioning to a more permanent position of power, the administration has begun talking about Cuba policy again. One would think we would be able to survey the results of the last 45 years and come to logical conclusions. Changing course never seems to be an option, however, no matter how futile or counterproductive our past actions have been. The Cuban embargo began officially in 1962 as a means to put pressure on the communist dictatorship to change its ways. After 45 years, the Cuban economy has struggled, but Cuba 's dictatorship is no closer to stepping to the beat of our drum. Any ailments have consistently and successfully been blamed on US Capitalism instead of Cuban Communism. They have substituted trade with others for trade with the US , and are "awash" with development funds from abroad. Our isolationist policies with regards to Cuba , meanwhile, have hardly won the hearts and minds of Cubans or Cuban-Americans, many of whom are isolated from families because this political animosity. In the name of helping Cubans, the US administration is calling for "multibillions" of taxpayer dollars in foreign aid and subsidies for internet access, education and business development for Cubans under the condition that the Cuban government demonstrates certain changes. In the same breath, they claim lifting the embargo would only help the dictatorship. This is exactly backwards. Free trade is the best thing for people in both Cuba and the US . Government subsidies would enrich those in power in Cuba at the expense of already overtaxed Americans! The irony of supposed Capitalist, free-marketeers inducing Communists to freedom with government hand-outs should not be missed. We call for a free and private press in Cuba while our attempts to propagandize Cubans through the US government run Radio/TV Marti has wasted $600 million in American taxpayer dollars. It's time to stop talking solely in terms of what's best for the Cuban people. How about the wishes of the American people, who are consistently in favor of diplomacy with Cuba ? Let's stop the hysterics about the freedom of Cubans – which is not our government's responsibility – and consider freedom of the American people, which is. Americans want the freedom to travel and trade with their Cuban neighbors, as they are free to travel and trade with Vietnam and China . Those Americans who do not wish to interact with a country whose model of governance they oppose are free to boycott. The point being – it is Americans who live in a free country, and as free people we should choose who to buy from or where to travel, not our government. Our current administration is perceived as irrelevant, at best, in Cuba and the message is falling on deaf ears there. If the administration really wanted to extend the hand of friendship, they would allow the American people the freedom to act as their own ambassadors through trade and travel. Considering the lack of success government has had in engendering friendship with Cuba , it is time for government to get out of the way and let the people reach out. http://www.house.gov/paul/tst/tst2007/tst102807.htm __________________ ~SC Harvey~ 2008 Election..."Imbrace your ignorance, and vote your preference". It's quite simple, really... *If you vote for Obama, you are a fuking idiot. If you vote for McCain, you are a fuking idiot.* *If your vote is for the lessor of two evils, then you can be comforted knowing that you're less of a fuking idiot than the other guy! Because Fritz says so! RON PAUL IN 2008**

10-29-2007, 04:38 PM	#6
Dhunter55 XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Bikini Paradise Posts: 3,727	I don't need to travel to Cuba. I'm already here. I don't think Fidel or Raul would give Americans unrestricted access anyway. The tourist dollars will only end up in the Cuban government's (Fidel and soon to be Raul's) coffers. The same as they did under Batista. Little would benefit the people directly. It would be good for Cubans in America to have more freedom to visit family and pass them dollars. I would visit if I could. I wouldn't mind having a few boxes of REAL Cohibas. __________________ Chuck Baldwin 2008 Go Fins! 2008 Last edited by Dhunter55; 10-29-2007 at 04:56 PM.

10-29-2007, 04:43 PM	#7
slugger6 XDTalk 20K Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 20,125	Frenchy, you're only one post away from 7K! __________________ "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us". - Ralph Waldo Emerson

10-30-2007, 07:32 AM	#8
AZXD XDTalk 10K Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Valley of the GUN Posts: 14,636	How do you argue with an article like this. It makes sense. "it is Americans who live in a free country, and as free people we should choose who to buy from or where to travel, not our government". I agree! We might not be given free access to every part of Cuba. But we did not have access to every part of the USSR when it was in power. Yet we were able to travel there if we went through the proper channels. I wonder if this article is related to the Remarks by President Bush at the State Department on Wednesday about Cuba, as transcribed by the White House. speech? __________________ SCOTUS judge appointments ... Will last much longer than Obama or McCain. Who do you want selecting people who have the ability to support or remove individual rights ?? AZXD At least I don't need any Viagra just to get myself to a point where I can do the Palin librarian fantasy Veep thing. KEVWYO There are a bunch of you that need to hit the head and grab your jar of vaseline and just get it over with. KEVWYO

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