It seems as though conservatives are often on the side of sanctions, embargos, and the like as a means of punishing “rogue” nations. But since when have they worked? Finally, someone in the GOP is addressing this when it comes to Cuba. Sanctions haven’t worked on Cuba after 47 years. Castro is still in power, and when he soon dies, his regime will live on. Sanctions didn’t work on Iraq. They haven’t worked on Iran or North Korea. On the other hand take a look at China. China has made rapid strides towards becoming a free society over the past 20-30 years, and free trade is arguably the principle cause. As trade between China and the US flourished, the US benefitted as a result of cheaper products (albeit some tainted with lead, but these are few and far between relatively speaking and it’s not as though US-made products are perfect either), but China’s population saw a massive rise in their standard of living. As their standard of living increased, they started demanding more freedoms, and although they may be slow in coming, they are coming, and China’s transformation into a completely capitalist country is not all too far away.
Meanwhile, Cuba languishes. Its people are impoverished and suffering. The government blames the US for its woes and retains a tight grip on power. But if we opened trade with Cuba and ended the embargo, what then? My opinion is that it wouldn’t be long before the people of Cuba would throw out their government. Trade with the US and other countries would bring in new products, allow exports, raise the standard of living, and give the people of Cuba hope for something better, and they simply would not be able to stand a repressive government for very long. I believe the same goes for North Korea, Iran, and other countries.
Granted, I’m not talking about free trade of materials that can be made into weapons or anything, I’m talking about iPods, music, food. Our greatest weapon in fighting tyranny is not our military, it is our culture. The faster we open trade with Cuba and get our culture in there, the faster the Cuban people will demand the freedom to decide what type of government they want, and I have a feeling it won’t be the Castro regime.
But hey, I’m not Cuban nor an expert on the Cuban situation, I’m just a guy who thinks about things, and I’d love to hear some other points of view.
It’s generally accepted that a country’s economy can only change a limited amount before it’s government and society must change wit it, so I think your reasoning that allowing the economy to change a LOT would force the government to change and/or be changed. However I don’t think the U.S. government has always been focused on changing Cuba’s government–the political need to please the powerful Cuban expatriot community has been a major, if not the ruling factor, in determining US policy towards Cuba. Many of those Cubans who lost their homes and businesses when they fled Cuba, do not want to see Castro get any relief, but rather want to keep applying pressure in any way possible. Presidential candidates generally want/need the Florida vote (and the Cuban donations), so they court them by adopting a hard-line towards Castro.
Change may be near though–granted, that’s been said so many times and for so many years regarding Castro, that along with poverty and long speeches…oops…see! Castro can’t give his long speeches any more! Change IS coming! Primarily because the old Cuban expatriots are becomming out numbered by the young Cuban-Americans who are not as bitter towards Castro, and who are just tired of the same old thing and are ready to try something new. So now a new president is in, who may not need the Cuban expatriot vote, that vote may be less influential than it used to be, and with the economy dominating the minds of voters and a 13 million person economy 90 miles from Miami (granted, they don’t have much money to spend on US goods!)…you see the picture–now is an easier time to change policy towards Cuba than perhaps any time since the missiles of October.
Will Obama do it? He’s a little bit distracted right now, but then…so are we…so it might be a good time to try.
SHOULD he do it?! I think trade would help Cubans, hurt Castro, and help the US economy (a smidgeon), and reduce Russian influence if that matters much, and so I would like to see travel and trade with Cuba grow.