Why not end the embargo on Cuba?

I don’t understand the embargo on Cuba. Oh, I can understand well enough, I believe, why it started, I just don’t get why we’re still doing it. From my perspective, the objective of the U.S. with regards to Cuba is to encourage the formation of a democracy rather than the current dictatorship. To that end, it would seem that the embargo hasn’t helped this happen. During the same time period, our open relations with China have led to a radical and positive shift in that country. Sure, they have a ways to go, but just look at where they were 20 years ago compared to today.

By removing the embargo and encouraging trade we could lift the living standards of the Cuban people. People who have higher living standards tend to be more educated. Educated people are less likely to tolerate a dictatorship than uneducated people. And these days a higher living standard often means access to information via the Internet which can be a catalyst for democratic motivation.

But I’m open to learning something new here. I’d love for somebody to explain to me why we’ve continued the embargo all these decades and why we should continue it.