Is it time to end the U.S. embargo of Cuba?

[Disgustipated]

Is it time to end the U.S. embargo on Cuba? Yes, the JFK thread got me thinking of this. I'm literally amazed this still exists. I can only hope when Obama is re-elected (I'm voting for him, are you?), he will end this silly embargo. I don't think Obama will do it before then because he needs to win Florida. It's silly one small group of minorities holds sway over an entire nation. But if you lose that state, you lose the election. What one small group of people want, controls the entire nation. One of the bad aspects of the electoral college, but I digress. So when he's re-elected, the smart move would be to end the embargo. I'm really surprised Clinton didn't do it on his second term. Why not? Anyone have any info. why Clinton didn't do this?

Anyways, I'll include a poll. I expect this poll to get 100% in favor of ending the embargo. We shall see. Feel free to discuss any aspects of the embargo, including the political power of one certain minority group in Florida over an entire nation.

 

[civver_764]

It was time before it even started.

 

[IdiotsOpposite]

I voted no because I'm a contrarian.

Seriously. I did. And my opinion is that this 50-year-old embargo is stupid.

 

[Joecoolyo]

Is it time to end the U.S. embargo on Cuba? Yes, the JFK thread got me thinking of this. I'm literally amazed this still exists. I can only hope when Obama is re-elected (I'm voting for him, are you?), he will end this silly embargo. I don't think Obama will do it before then because he needs to win Florida. It's silly one small group of minorities holds sway over an entire nation. But if you lose that state, you lose the election. What one small group of people want, controls the entire nation. One of the bad aspects of the electoral college, but I digress. So when he's re-elected, the smart move would be to end the embargo. I'm really surprised Clinton didn't do it on his second term. Why not? Anyone have any info. why Clinton didn't do this?

Who are you talking about? Cubans?

 

[kramerfan86]

its a joke, all it has done is make Cubans suffer, certainly hasnt collapsed the regime and the longer it goes on the more it just makes us look like overgrown children when we will embargo Cuba while doing business with people like the Saudis.

 

[emzie]

No. 2013, after Obama wins re-election is the time to do it.

 

[civver_764]

Politics in America: More important than the welfare of Cubans.

 

[kramerfan86]

Politics in America: More important than the welfare of Cubans.

but but we are helping them find FREEDOM!

 

[~Corsair#01~]

If Obama was going to do it, he would have.

People holding out hope that in his second term Obama is going to transform into a genuine left-wing politician are kidding themselves. He's a fraud with no beliefs who'll just follow whatever available road is the easiest.

The embargo will last until Cuba gets a government that is openly friendly to the US, which may take decades.

 

[Traitorfish]

The embargo will last until Cuba gets a government that is openly friendly to the US, which may take decades.

And yet continuing US hostility is one of the only things keeping the Castros in power. So there's a Catch 22 for you.

 

[downtown]

Who are you talking about? Cubans?

Yes. A relatively small group of very wealthy Cubans run very powerful PACs, keeping members of Congress from changing the policy. If it is going to happen, it has to happen in 2013, because doing it now will flip Florida to the Republicans.

 

[kramerfan86]

Yea if Florida werent a battleground state i think a democrat would have ended it already. That is what gives that Cuban minority such power on a national issue.

 

[Silurian]

The longer the embargo lasts the longer relatively cheap and good holidays will be available in Cuba

 

[GhostWriter16]

The only thing I don't agree with is that if a US citizen travels to Cuba from another country they can get arrested. That's just wrong. But we shouldn't be trading with Cuba. In fact, I wish we wouldn't trade with dictators period, but that plain won't work (China.)

 

[Evie]

I don't see much logic in that. All that refusing to trade with dictators (excluding specific goods they may be using to tyrannize the population) has ever achieved is more suffering for the civilians who already have to suffer living under them.

 

[Traitorfish]

The only thing I don't agree with is that if a US citizen travels to Cuba from another country they can get arrested. That's just wrong. But we shouldn't be trading with Cuba. In fact, I wish we wouldn't trade with dictators period, but that plain won't work (China.)

Whatever happened to the free market?

 

[tonberry]

Even at the height of the cold was, the US was importing vodka and exporting wheat from/to the Soviet Union.

I think it will happen when Fidel and Raul both die.

 

[Smellincoffee]

The embargo strikes me as nothing more than a Cold War hangover. It should have been over as soon as the USSR fell in on itself. Frankly, I suspect people keep hanging on to it because ending the embargo might imply maintaining it this long was stupid...and no government wants to cast doubt on its own legitimacy.

 

[History_Buff]

Yes. A relatively small group of very wealthy Cubans run very powerful PACs, keeping members of Congress from changing the policy. If it is going to happen, it has to happen in 2013, because doing it now will flip Florida to the Republicans.

I'm confused. Why are Cuban Americans opposed to lifting the blockade? The insinuation is clearly that they're getting rich of it, but I don't see how, short of smuggling.

 

[NickyJ]

Yes, but only if I get to bring one of their old cars back to the States!