[Nateman]

Sorry but the SUGAR BARONS are the ones who use slave or close to slave labor to harvest their crops.

You could argue that Cuba uses slave labor but we already prevent their imports. "Close to slave labor" sounds like "A little bit pregnant" You are either a slave or you are not. If someone is willing to do the horrible toil of growing and harvesting sugar by hand , are you willing to even strip them of that small chance for survival? These backward countries are poor because they are not free, because some fat politician can make arbitrary decisions like " we will not allowed imported sugar! " .The solution is not to IMPORT their tyranny! Its amazing how much people can achieve when you simply get out of the way.

[hedgetrimmer]

but we already prevent their imports

Oh but the candy factory that moved to Canada for the cheap sugar? Guess what? They use Cuban sugar, because Cuba is a supplier to Canada. "Free trade" is so great, it always promotes the law of the jungle, where the suppliers who use slave labor or close to slave labor wins.

So the candy company relocated so they could use product from a communist dictatorship, rather than purchase it from clean, high quality US farms that do contribute to the US economy. I'll bet Castro really gets a kick out of that. And if the "free traders" get their way in the WTO negotitations and with CAFTA, Castro will really have the last laugh on us, won't he.

[hedgetrimmer]

"Close to slave labor" or indentured servants. Take your pick.

[hedgetrimmer]

If someone is willing to do the horrible toil of growing and harvesting sugar by hand

Mechanization is what saves humans from the "horrible toil". It is a way to prevent slavery in crop production. Producers SHOULD mechanize. It is the safest, cleanest, most effiecient and most pro-human choice for food production.

[hedgetrimmer]

they are not free, because some fat politician can make arbitrary decisions like " we will not allowed imported sugar!

Pro Cuba?