Posted on 05/21/2002 12:19:30 PM PDT by tdadams
Continuing embargo on Cuba does more harm to American freedom than to Castro, Libertarians say
WASHINGTON, DC -- By continuing to support the U.S. embargo on Cuba, President Bush is undermining the freedom of the American people, Libertarians say.
"The U.S. government has no business ordering Americans not to trade with or travel to Cuba or any other nation," said LP Executive Director Steve Dasbach. "By stubbornly refusing to repeal this failed, 40-year- old law, Bush is punishing the American people for the crimes of Fidel Castro."
In an appearance in Miami's "Little Havana" on Monday, Bush called for democratic reforms in Cuba and reaffirmed U.S. support for the trade embargo imposed on dictator Fidel Castro in 1962.
But by focusing on removing Castro from power, Bush has ignored the fact that the embargo is undermining two fundamental American freedoms, Libertarians say: the freedom to trade and the freedom to travel. Federal law imposing sanctions on Cuba makes it illegal for U.S. firms to trade directly with that nation, and travel restrictions created in 1963 impose fines of up to $50,000 on Americans who are caught traveling there.
"The trade ban violates the economic freedom of every American," Dasbach said. "Individuals and businesses in a free country should be able to buy and sell goods freely to whomever they like, without getting government approval.
"According to the U.S. International Trade Commission, U.S. firms lose between $600 million and $1.2 billion worth of business per year by not being able to trade with Cuba. Why should American businesses and consumers be punished because Cuba is a communist state?
"And why should American workers be deprived of jobs simply because their government has singled out one particular tyrant for punishment? After all, the United States trades with or gives foreign aid to other dictatorial states like Jordan, Egypt, and China.
"The Cuban embargo has, in effect, created a list of 'government- approved dictators,' like those in Jordan, Egypt, and China, and 'unapproved dictators' like Fidel Castro," he said. "U.S. politicians should abolish this arbitrary list and let American people and businesses decide for themselves which governments should be punished with a trade cutoff.
"The travel ban is reminiscent of authoritarian regimes like the former Soviet Union, East Germany, and yes, Cuba," Dasbach said. "The freedom to come and go as you please is a fundamental human right. Politicians have no business ordering Americans not to visit 'unapproved' countries, then fining and interrogating them when they return."
And the travel ban is enforced, Dasbach noted. The Treasury Department estimates that 50,000 Americans visit Cuba illegally every year, and an estimated 800 are prosecuted.
One example: Two years ago, Marilyn Meister, a retired, 73-year-old Wisconsin school teacher, went on a Canadian-organized bicycle trip to Cuba. When she returned, she told The Washington Post, she was confronted by a U.S. Customs agent who "flew into a rage and made me feel like the most horrible of criminals." Meister was charged with violating the travel ban and ordered to pay a $7,500 fine.
"What kind of government feels threatened by a 73-year-old school teacher riding a bicycle in Cuba?" Dasbach asked. "Ours does. But when government bureaucrats have the power to berate ordinary Americans for going on vacation - then extort an exorbitant fine - it's time to repeal that law."
That's why the U.S. embargo on Cuba must be eliminated, Dasbach said.
"If Bush really wants to send a pro-liberty message to Fidel Castro, he can do it by ending the embargo on American freedom."
It's just blatant hypocrisy and double-standards. Cuba poses as much of a threat to the U.S. as Rhode Island does.
Some moral ground. Ever hear of the Log-Cabin Republicans?
I don't believe in abortion
Neither does most Libertarians. There are many pro-life Libertarians such as Ron Paul and Carla Howell. We just believe that it should never had become a federal issue. By the way, about a third of all Republicans are pro-choice (baby killing).
withdraw from world politics
Not necessarily from the world, just from the globalist organizations who keep taking our hard-earned tax dollars to prop up their tin-pot regimes.
Cuba---stick!
But not as much as Vermont. I've gots to know. I've been there.
Lukewarm? You must have been watching a different speech than I. Even Tom Brokaw commented on NBC nightly news on the excitement in the crowd.
I heard W's speech on radio...I guess the WILD APPLAUSE AND APPROVAL I heard was canned???
Yet, the libetarians want a pass on way they have a pro-choice platform. A double standard for sure by the people who fume about the GOP not agreeing with them on every single issue.
As Americans, we can travel just about anywhere we want, whenever we want, except for places that are mostly hellholes ruled by despots. A few Cubans (politicians, baseball players, musicians, etc) are not allowed to leave the island except under very limited and VERY CONTOLLED circumstances, and the rest are not allowed to leave at all. If they want to leave the island, THEY HAVE TO ESCAPE.
Now tell me -- between Cubans and Americans -- which ones have freedom and which ones are in bondage?
But we dare not admit this openly, for the phenomenon of mass denial has become our very own sacred cow. Don't touch it. Don't question it. Just do it
OK, OK. I don't believe a dog has ever run me out of a room before. But my cats (especially after a heavy meal)? Peeeeewwwww ...
This is the sort of nonsense that results when a party defines itself and its moral underpinnings solely in terms of sales
We don't define ourselves that way; free minds and free markets are flip sides of the same coin. What is moral about depriving people of the choice to buy or sell with whom they choose? What makes it wrong for Castro to do that to his people but OK for our government to do it to us?
If we can deal with China (which provides far more dangerous weapons to equally dangerous people) we can deal with this pimple on God's ass.
He is no threat and the sooner people start interacting with the Cubean people the quicker reconciliation will take place when he finally dies.
This embargo makes us look worse than a bully, it makes us look like a stupid bully.
Well let me give you one.
When Castro overthrew the Batista Government in Cuba many Americans were heavily invested in Cuba. Cuba had after all been a part of the United States. China has never been part of the USA. Cuba had become United States territory as a result of the Spanish American war. We had later granted it the status of an independant nation. The USA had several territories. Cuba, the Philipines, Hawaii, Alaska, and the Virgin Islands to name a few.
We kept Hawaii and Alaska as territories but we granted Cuba and the Philipines independance because their people wanted it. But for years both were American territories, just as Hawaii and Alaska were. At one time everything west Virgina and Georgia was a territory. So americans buying property in territories was nothing new or different.
When we granted Cuba independance as a nation. Americans were not forced to sell their property in Cuba. Like many territories America had gained in the past, Americans were encouraged to invest in cuba. They were encouraged to invest in Hawaii and Alaska too. Many continued to invest in Cuba after its independance from the United States. A long line of pro American Cuban governments welcomed American investments in Cuba. When Castro conquered Cuba it had the most viable economy in Central Amercian by far.
Americans owned sugar plantations, factories. American hotel chains like Hilton and several others, owned resorts and hotels. Many Americans owned winter homes in our former territory. They had bank accounts, cars, winter homes, and businesses there.
When Castro took over he confiscated all American property and ejected all Americans. They got to leave with the shirts on their backs. That was it. Castro refused to return Americans property. He refused to pay for it, too. In response we instituted sanctions. We have never been paid for our stolen property and the sanctions continue.
The Chinese never stole Americans property. Castro did.
You are living proof that if a dictator steals from Americans and gives us the finger long enough some stupid ignorant American will think that poor little dictator has been abused... boo hoo boo hoo.
If you got out a hisory book and read it. Or even surfed the web trying to find out what happened in Cuba, you would know. For some reason Libertarians never do that.
Only to socialists and libertarians. I wonder why that is?
I don't believe either nation should have MFN status. Does that satisfy you?
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