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."
Just how many other american companies exactly are there already doing biz with Cuba? If there are multiple american companies already doing biz in Cuba then why this debate over to trade or not trade with Cuba? Since obviously if multiple american companies beside ADM is already doing biz in Cuba, then there is no true US embargo on Cuba then is there?
LG responds: "Show me one single mention by Cato of the existence of an ADM manufacturing plant in Cuba.
This musty be another one of those lies opinions of yours."
The keyword here used by me was initiate.
You should take a break from this before you totally lose it. Your continued infantile rants to prove me a liar are only making you look more and more pathetic.
Good luck to you LG. You now have free reign to mischaracterize me more...you know, "deranged, unintelligent, loser, liar, liar, liar...etc etc" and whatever else suits your fancy. Heck, you may even hail yourself a winner. Congratulations!!!!!
Main Entry: 1ini.ti.ate
Pronunciation: i-'ni-shE-"At
Function: transitive verb
Etymology: Late Latin initiatus, past participle of initiare, from Latin, to induct, from initium
Date: circa 1573
Inflected Form(s): -at.ed; -at.ing
1 : to cause or facilitate the beginning of : set going
2 : to induct into membership by or as if by special rites
3 : to instruct in the rudiments or principles of something : INTRODUCE
synonym see BEGIN
- ini.ti.a.tor /-"A-t&r/ noun
The article from the Massachusetts News initiated some research which led to the article by Cato, not the other way around.
In order for one thing to "initiate" another, the "initiating" item would have to actually have to have an older date than the article that it initiated, don't you think?
Look at the dates each article was posted.
ROTFLMAO!!!!
No wonder you're running! This thread has been a disaster for you!
Two things, you jerk: Do you, or do you not, admit they overflew Havana in 1995?
And also, you jerk, you've admitted your own people shamelessly violate the very law y'all insist that WE follow! Did it ever occur to you that's why people call y'all the "Cuban Mafia"? Go back to Cuba! (Or don't you have the cahones?) We're much better off without you!
BTW a$$wipe, when I say NO ONE should be trading with Fidel, I mean NO ONE.
The prinicipled party is before you. You do not have to wait for some illusive dream from repubs that will never happen. The lines have been drawn...the choices are freedom as an american citizen with constitutional protections v. slavery to a socialist state.
The only thing that awaits is your recognition of your condition. Use your eyes and shoot straight. When you open your eyes to shoot straight, you'll recognize truth.
LOL! Would that be the one whose members cannot agree whether abortion violates the non-aggression principle? The one that believes DUI laws should be stricken from the books out of deference to some fictional superhuman (probably an Ayn Rand character) who can drive drunk through a crowded school zone at 80 mph and harm no one? The one that would allow heroin dispensing machines to be placed in the schools and a bordello to open up next door to your house? The one that would allow citizens to maintain their own stocks of biological weapons and nerve agents as an extension of the 2nd Amendment? The one whose members complain of authoritarian statism but who have themselves been throttled by Harry Browne's iron fist for much of the past decade?
The "Party of Principle" is an idea straight out of a Loony Tunes cartoon starring Daffy Duck.
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