I believe in democracy, I would like to see democratic institutions implemented in Cuba, I despise Castro, I want to see him deposed, I want the Cubans to have the freedom to seek whatever self-determination they choose, collectively as a nation, but more importantly as individuals, I am a capitalist, I believe in free enterprise, I believe economic success in Cuba would benefit the entire hemisphere, I support a COMPLETE economic/trade embargo of Cuba so long as Castro stays in power, I support every word Dubya said in his Miami speech, I think Carter and Dodd are completely wrong.
I am thoroughly confused at some of your responses -- for example, who in the world said anything about loaning money to Castro, or his regime ?? What has "loaning" money got to do with trade with Cuba, now or in the future ??
TRADE means we exchange goods or services for money. It IS NOT "trade" if we loan them money, and then they use it to "buy" something from us. That's not trade -- that's charity and that's not what I'm talking about at all. And, that's not what I mean by investment.
And, I'm not talking about competition with China -- we should not be sustaining that evil, communistic empire with our dollars, period.
My point was, in the future, Americans would rather trade with a new democracy in Cuba, just 90 miles off our shores, than to send dollars to China where children and prisoners toil in sweat shops supporting a state that intends ultimately to destroy us.
You have so thoroughly misunderstood my position that I am at a loss how to proceed except to return to my original argument.
Today, if Cuba wants to buy a new John Deere tractor, they send us $30,000 (cash on the barrelhead, as you say) and we ship them back a tractor. That is an example of trade. That is not what Dodd wants. He wants Sara Lee to go down there, build a Hanes underware facility and let Cuban workers sew tee-shirts and briefs for a $1 an hour, ship 'em back to the U.S. and we'll consume them for $9.95 a 3-pack. That's Dodd's idea of trade.
What are YOU talking about ??
I say no trade paid for by guaranteed govt. loans. No, zip, zero, nada exchanges in any way shape or form that will bring money into Castro's pocket. So until there is no Castro and no communism, there is no way to approach this.
Regarding China. I am debating Cuba. China is another whole can of worms and quite frankly I get tired of people saying well, if we deal with China, why not Cuba? I reply, so we should punish the Cuban people by legitimizing Castro because China is a communist country too? That makes no sense and to me and if it makes sense to them, I wonder what their real argument and agenda is.