I understand that America has intellectuals and lots of people who are able to think for themselves (I guess it must be the case anyway the top universities are located in America), but unfortunately their voices can not be heard from, gun mentality, Bushes crowd.
But the problem is with imperfection of American Democracy where unsupervised stupid manipulative majority is given chance to choose stupid president like for example G. W. Bush.

As opposed to say someone comming out of the mountains of Colorado, proclaiming himself dictator and staying in power for the next 50 years? Please - and you wonder why I simply can't take you seriously.

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The universe grows smaller every day and the threat of aggression by any group anywhere can no longer be tolerated. There must be security for all or no one is secure... - Klaatu

The embargo is a relic of the cold war, which has been over for almost two decades. Time to re-evaluate.

NEVER!!!!!

Castro's a pinko/commie/liberal/leftist/democrat/Kerry!!!!!1!!!

OK, OK, OK?

Why, please explain.

Because I'm being sarcastic.

Yes, your system is much better. You can choose Fidel, or Fidel.

And when Fidel dies, he'll give the country to his brother.

Wow. We should really try and emulate your glorious system.

Matt

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Cuba is fine, just as it is...which is just as it was 40 years ago. And as it will be 40 years from now.

There will be new toilet articles and toothpaste, and new dictators from Fidel's legitimate family tree, but all else will remain the same.

Which is fine with me so long as their government remains the same.

/shrug

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Fortunately for us, the "Unsupervision" of the people is what is called "FREEDOM" you don't have that.

laca, you do realize that the Cuban Secret Police are monitoring everything that you write and can trace your ISP to your house, right? That said, go ahead and tell Fidel he's full of shit and see how bad we have it compared to YOU when they come knocking on your door to take you away.

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843rd Bomb Wing - Strategic Air Command
"Peace is our Profession"

"Human law must rest its authority ultimately upon the authority of that law which is Divine. . . . Far from being rivals or enemies, religion and law are twin sisters, friends, and mutual assistants.
" - James Wilson, U. S. Supreme Court Justice and Signer of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution

That is funny and very true.

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One day, I will sneak across the border into Canada and be an illegal alien. It will be fun.

If one looks at the history of Cuba, one will see that relations with America were excellent until Castro took over.

Cuban policy is Castro policy.

Some speculate that Castro has racist, elitist vendetta against the USA because he was born into the Spanish elite that had historically ruled over Cuba.

It was Spain that Cuba won independence from with the help of the USA.

Castro was cheated out of his fortunate birth right by the USA when Cuba won independence from Spain.

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One day, I will sneak across the border into Canada and be an illegal alien. It will be fun.

I think Cuba along with North Korea provides examples for nations when they do not trade with the US so perhaps the embargo should stay for now? Otherwise America and the world would have no way of measuring just how great the US is for global growth throughout the rest of the planet for there would be no example to compare it against.

I think when the US does lift the embargo and Cuba's economy drastically improves, the world should thank us for yet again lifting another desparaged 3rd world economy from the gutter and giving them jobs to sell us stuff but im not optimistic, afterall, we are building the global economy faster than at anytime in history with a 600 billion dollar per year trade deficit yet their politicians get elected by tricking their population into blaming everything on America.

I doubt that any of those calling for the end of the US trade embargo on Cuba actually know what that embargo consists of and why it was put in place in the beginning.

After Fidel took power in an armed revolution, with US benign assistance (in that the US government did not support Batista and allowed several civilian groups to help arm Fidel's troops), he was lionized in the US press. After the first year in power his government expropriated businesses owned by US citizens without any compensation. These included sugar farms, electric power plants, and other large businesses.

In retaliation the US government froze Cuban assets in the US (and still holds them) and imposed a trade embargo with the expressed purpose of forcing negotiations for compensation for the seized property. Castro then openly claimed his communist connections and has refused negotiations ever since. The US trade embargo has been modified in various ways over the years, but one can sell food and medicine to Cuba after applying for a special export license.

Of course, the US embargo does not affect Canada, the European Union, or any other country, which can, and do, sell to Cuba just about any goods they are barred from getting from the US. As far as automobiles, food, medicine, and many other products, including oil, the US embargo has only the effect that Cuba wishes to portray to the world. They can buy anything they can afford.

What they can afford is the real problem. Because the Cuban economy is run under a foolish communist system, it is a failure and relies on the support of political friends. In the beginning this was the USSR. When that economy fell apart, and the Russian empire with it, Cuba opened up to capitalism and tried to entice European investments, particularly in tourism.

With a modest increase in living standards brought about by this economic conversion, Cuba again clamped down on "capitalistic tendencies" and the economy floundered. Then Venezuela, and Chavez, became Cuba's friend in need. Chavez offers oil at cut-rate prices and other benefits that allow Cuba to keep its poor economic system. So far.

Eventually, Cuba will fall apart or accept a fair amount of free enterprise (as China and Vietnam have done). In the meantime the US trade embargo has its greatest effect in denying US tourism at any large scale and limits Cuban purchases of large civilian passenger jets (because the companies that make them or their engines are under US export controls).

Castro can posture all he wants. I feel sorry for the people of Cuba who have to live under a dictatorship. Those who have fled to the US are benefiting our economy.

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Don't worry about what people think. They don't do it very often.