Go get an economics book, and read a little about "opportunity cost."
Why should American businesses and consumers be punished because Cuba is a communist state?
This is the sort of nonsense that results when a party defines itself and its moral underpinnings solely in terms of sales.
No, it's the sort of "nonsense" that results when a party defines itself by freedom and the Rule of Law. There is NOTHING in the Constitution that gives the federal government the authority to ban sales with or travel to a country with which the United States is NOT at war.
I bet Hilter would have wished you were president in the 1930's and 1940's. Besides, the intrastate commerce clause of article I section 8 of the Constitution allows for Congress to regulate intrastate commerce. This includes between Cuba and any state.
Except that they're talking about "loss". The statement in question is this: U.S. firms lose between $600 million and $1.2 billion worth of business per year
U.S. firms haven't "lost" one red cent worth of business. To "lose business" means you had it in the first place.
It's true that there are potential business opportunities in Cuba. The question then becomes whether it's in the national interest to feed the coffers of the Cuban Communist Government, and thereby strengthen their grip on power.
If you take the LP's "sales is morals" approach, there's no problem with this. Among normal people, however, there are some other moral considerations involved.
Then travel. Bring back some Cuban Cigars for me. Thanks