Posted on 03/04/2009 7:54:42 AM PST by curth
ifty years ago, a young lawyer, Fidel Castro, promised to bring change to Cuba. His accomplishments are less than the problems he created. Cubans joke about the three successes of the Revolution: healthcare, education and sports, the three failures being breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Ten presidents ago, the United States initiated a policy that was supposed to eliminate Fidel Castro. The embargo on travel and trade has not succeeded, but the effects of age and disease have caused Fidel to resign. Raul Castro is less rigid than Fidel, but not much has changed for the Cubans in Cuba.
What has changed is the attitude of Cuban-Americans. The younger generation recognizes the inanity of U.S. policy toward Cuba. It is un-American to impose limits on family visits to once in three years. No exceptions, even for birth, illness or death.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) examines the applications of the charities and NGOs that bring small numbers of Americans to Cuba. OFAC is also responsible for monitoring the flow of money from terrorist organizations. Does it not seem foolish to allot any of our tax dollars to “vetting” the do-gooders who bring powdered milk and diabetic supplies to Cuba? Allowing unrestricted travel to Cuba would enable those Treasury Department employees to focus on more pressing issues.
Americans should visit Cuba. What better way to learn about the first of the Revolution’s “successes,” — universal healthcare. There are more than enough physicians in Cuba. Many of them are driving taxis (access to tips makes it more profitable than the salary they would get in Medicine). The hospitals in Cuba are chronically short of medicines and equipment. Patients who are admitted to the hospital (yes, it’s free) are required to supply their own food ... and bed sheets.
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“Look to”? Heck we are going to look like, before to long.
To paraphrase Al Czervik, “Hey everybody, we’re all gonna get rice cookers!”
No electricity, water, transportation and 5 hour speeches by a president for life every other day....No thanks.
Ok..I looked...Hated it.
Venceremos Brigade now forming...hurry and call to reserve your spot in the sugar cane fields.
Check out the website “therealcuba.com” and see what health care is really like in Cuba. Not to mention what life is like for the average person there.
re: The embargo on travel and trade has not succeeded
Most embargoes don’t work when they exist in name only. People continue to travel to Cuba and trade with Cuba. That’s hardly a way to run an embargo.
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