Cuba relations thawing

The Poet · 12-18-2014, 09:05 AM

I sympathize fully with Carlos here, as with the full Cuban-American community. I do not believe Raul is much better than Fidel, and do not think the lot of the common Cuban citizen has been much improved in recent years despite the announced "reforms". Still, the fact remains that 50+ years of US embargo has done little to bring the Cuban government to a more amenable relationship with either America or its own people. In fact, the removal of most support following the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the imminent prospect of a reduction of support from a struggling Venezuela has done more to bring about a reassessment by Cuba's leadership of their future. Thus it may indeed be time for the US to try a different approach to this sticky issue.

Albert Einstein famously said that definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting a different outcome. This has been America's tack since JFK first signed the embargo back in 1960. A change now might be an error, but it seems to me that stubborn resistance to change is decidedly one.

Blueface · 12-18-2014, 09:19 AM

I have always been divided on this subject as truly see both sides of the fence.
All I can and will say on the subject of the embargo is Raul Castro has just verbally urged the U.S. to end it.
That speaks volumes to me.
It may not have caused change in their regime but it sure as heck must be one hell of a rope around their neck.

The Poet · 12-18-2014, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blueface

It may not have caused change in their regime but it sure as heck must be one hell of a rope around their neck.

Which begs the question, my brother: Who has been strangled more, the regime or the common folk?

8zeros · 12-18-2014, 06:07 PM

My 2 cents.
I wouldn't go to Cuba. There are plenty of other destitute, and not so, islands in the Caribbean.
I smoke mostly Cuban cigars because they are cheaper for the value. I haven't bought any in a few years because my income doesn't justify having a ten year supply vs. a five year one. I haven't bought any NCs either.
You would be insane to invest or finance anything in Cuba unless you could deal with them like a drug lord. The whole world could if they wanted to and they don't.
Besides it being a brutal, dictatorial, police state, oligarchy, (wait, that sounds familliar

), it may be a nice place.
Nothing has changed as far as trade goes. Where do I go to sell them a few containers full of vitamins and pet supplies?

What would they pay me with? Chinese yuan? Oh yeah, those would be containers from China anyway. I could have them drop shipped.
I hear they got a lot of nice girls out there, a haw haw haw, a haw haw haw haw.
You can go there and bring back $100 worth of stuff, big cheer.

12-18-2014, 09:05 AM	#1
The Poet Il megglior fabbro Join Date: Jun 2009 First Name: Thomas Location: Hickory, NC Posts: 8,420 Trading: (2)	Re: Cuba relations thawing I sympathize fully with Carlos here, as with the full Cuban-American community. I do not believe Raul is much better than Fidel, and do not think the lot of the common Cuban citizen has been much improved in recent years despite the announced "reforms". Still, the fact remains that 50+ years of US embargo has done little to bring the Cuban government to a more amenable relationship with either America or its own people. In fact, the removal of most support following the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the imminent prospect of a reduction of support from a struggling Venezuela has done more to bring about a reassessment by Cuba's leadership of their future. Thus it may indeed be time for the US to try a different approach to this sticky issue. Albert Einstein famously said that definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting a different outcome. This has been America's tack since JFK first signed the embargo back in 1960. A change now might be an error, but it seems to me that stubborn resistance to change is decidedly one. __________________ Ninety percent of everything is crap - Theodore Sturgeon.

12-18-2014, 09:19 AM	#2
Blueface Gramps 4x's Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Horatio Seymore Hiny Location: Boca Raton - North of La Habana Posts: 8,774 Trading: (8)	Re: Cuba relations thawing I have always been divided on this subject as truly see both sides of the fence. All I can and will say on the subject of the embargo is Raul Castro has just verbally urged the U.S. to end it. That speaks volumes to me. It may not have caused change in their regime but it sure as heck must be one hell of a rope around their neck. __________________ Little known fact: I am a former member of the Village People - The Indian

12-18-2014, 06:07 PM	#4
8zeros What's this button do? Join Date: Dec 2013 First Name: Roger Location: Far from everything Posts: 268 Trading: (0)	Re: Cuba relations thawing My 2 cents. I wouldn't go to Cuba. There are plenty of other destitute, and not so, islands in the Caribbean. I smoke mostly Cuban cigars because they are cheaper for the value. I haven't bought any in a few years because my income doesn't justify having a ten year supply vs. a five year one. I haven't bought any NCs either. You would be insane to invest or finance anything in Cuba unless you could deal with them like a drug lord. The whole world could if they wanted to and they don't. Besides it being a brutal, dictatorial, police state, oligarchy, (wait, that sounds familliar ), it may be a nice place. Nothing has changed as far as trade goes. Where do I go to sell them a few containers full of vitamins and pet supplies? What would they pay me with? Chinese yuan? Oh yeah, those would be containers from China anyway. I could have them drop shipped. I hear they got a lot of nice girls out there, a haw haw haw, a haw haw haw haw. You can go there and bring back $100 worth of stuff, big cheer. __________________