Poll: end the economic block of Cuba

[Craig234]

The cold war is over, and we no longer need to 'prove' anything about the communist system by boycotting the nation who went another direction to our south.

The roots of the Cuban independance are deeply rooted in some of the policies the US did that are not up to our values, supporting dictators and tyranny.

The benefits - human, economic, even political - of ending the banning of trade with Cuba far outweigh any benefits of the restrictions IMO.

For the benefit to the people of the US - maybe we'd get sugar-based sodas like the rest of the world - and the people of Cuba, let's get rid of this outdated (at best) policy.

This poll is to see people's opinions (mine above obviously), and if you disagree, post why.

 

[Double Trouble]

I'd agree. There really is no point to this ban. We do business with China all day long, but then try to bully Cuba because it doesn't have the economic clout. Time to kiss the by-gone cold war restriction goodbye.

 

[bobsmith1492]

Ending the ban means Fidel and crew get richer. I don't see any positives.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

It is absolutely time to end the ban. How can anyone say with a straight face that Cuba treats its people any worse than China?

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Ending the ban means Fidel and crew get richer. I don't see any positives.

The ban only hurts the people, not the rich in Cuba. If Fidel and Raul want American goods, believe me, they have no trouble getting them.

 

[BoberFett]

Ending the ban means Fidel and crew get richer. I don't see any positives.

Got any facts to back that up? Embargoes don't affect the wealthy, they affect those who can least afford it. Time to end our ridiculous Cuban policies.

 

[SAWYER]

It is absolutely time to end the ban. How can anyone say with a straight face that Cuba treats its people any worse than China?

exactly, politics aside this is mind boggling to me

 

[MovingTarget]

Although my gut says to support the ban, my brain has to point out the historical success of the ban - nil. All it has done is to make the grip of the Cuban government even stronger on the Cuban people by stoking the fires of nationalism against the US. From a strategic/geopolitical standpoint, ending the ban would allow the US to gain more influence in Cuba than we currently have, which could be a change for the better.

 

[OCGuy]

End it. I would love to drink some rum in Havana.

 

[Double Trouble]

The ban hurts the general population, it clearly doesn't do anything to loosen the grip of the government on the people. Fidel has become so old and irrelevant anyway, there's just no point. I'd say, let it go and move on.

 

[Throckmorton]

Common sense seems to make most people realize the embargo makes NO sense.

The problem is the Cuban immigrant demographic in Florida, which has a lot of power because FL is a swing state. That is exactly why the electoral college is a disaster.

 

[OCGuy]

Well one thing I have to ask the people who are against it:


Why do you want the US Government telling you that you cant go to a certain country???

 

[woolfe9999]

Definitely end it. With the cold war over, Cuba is no threat to our security, and it's communist system will fall by the wayside faster if there is economic activity going on between us and them. If it's human rights violations we are so concerned with, there are many other countries we should be boycotting before Cuba.

Besides, they make damn good cigars.

- wolf

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

We're in bed with the Chinese. It makes no sense to continue this obsolete policy.

 

[spittledip]

Should have ended years ago.

 

[BoomerD]

Should have ended years ago.

This...a thousand times...this.

If we end the embargo...can we send all the Cubans back?

 

[Fern]

-snip-

The roots of the Cuban independance are deeply rooted in some of the policies the US did that are not up to our values, supporting dictators and tyranny.

Can't pass up an opportunity to bash the USA, even when irrelevent?

Cuban "independance" (sic) was about their struggle to gain independence from Spain (not the USA).
---------------

I don't much care, I don't see any real benefit to us by lifting the embargo.

In any case, Cuba can trade with literally everyone else in the world, so I don't even see the benefits you claim they would get.

For the benefit to the people of the US - maybe we'd get sugar-based sodas like the rest of the world

Bah, that's ridiculous.

FFS, just setup an import company in Mexico to purchase Cuban sugar, then repackage and bring into the USA. There's no 'world changing' big benefit in purchasing directly from Cuba. Sugar is a fungible commodity and cuban sugar can not be differentiated from sugar made elsewhere. The use of corn syrup as a sweetner in soft drinks has zip to do with the cuban embargo, it's another set of problems.

Fern

 

[KMFJD]

Lifting the ban will see a regime change much faster than this embargo

 

[CrackRabbit]

Can't pass up an opportunity to bash the USA, even when irrelevent?

Cuban "independance" (sic) was about their struggle to gain independence from Spain (not the USA).
---------------

Fern

Actually the Cuban revolution was a result of an attempt to overthrow a corrupt government that had come to power via a coup.
The new Cuban government then began confiscating American businesses (mainly sugar and banana plantations) and shutting down the mob run gambling operations.

 

[Chaotic42]

End it. Not only do we trade with worse nations, we also need to really start building a good relationship with Latin America.

 

[Schadenfroh]

It needs to end, but then again, both the U.S. and Cuba would be better off if Cuba was a U.S. state (with all of the rights and privileges associated with it). I am not advocating imperialism, just an observation, hard to integrate a country into a republic against the population's will.

 

[Kirby]

I don't much care, I don't see any real benefit to us by lifting the embargo.

Fern

Tobacco, although I've heard the quality has gone down in the last few years.

 

[CrackRabbit]

It needs to end, but then again, both the U.S. and Cuba would be better off if Cuba was a U.S. state (with all of the rights and privileges associated with it). I am not advocating imperialism, just an observation, hard to integrate a country into a republic against the population's will.

We had a chance for that at the end of the Spanish-American war, instead we let them be independent. It wouldn't of been so bad but the government was in a nearly constant state of turmoil until Castro took over.

 

[manimal]

I for one will be the first to buy a Cuban Cigar when they become legal imports.

As others have said embargoes in general should go the way of the dodo. They do more harm than good and in this case specifically has hurt the common man in cuba for decades. I am heartened that this thread didn't turn into partisan drivel.

Indycolts fan- If Cuban Cigars do come back to the US Ill buy you one at a cigar bar here in indy!!

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Indycolts fan- If Cuban Cigars do come back to the US Ill buy you one at a cigar bar here in indy!!

And I will gladly take you up on that offer! I once had a Cuban cigar that found its way into my hands through a friend who had traveled to South America and surely must have "forgotten" that he had it with him when he got home. It was an incredible smoke.