Issues: Cuba

I have decided to research all the issues that CNN claims to be the most important during this election season in a random order. I did this to educate myself and I am writing about it in hopes to also educate you if you care. I believe every issue is important whether it impacts me directly or not. I am not America I am a part of America and my vote will effect not just me, but everyone who chooses to live in this country. It will also effect how the rest of the world looks at us and America needs the rest of the world just as much as the world needs America. Vote for who you want, but DO NOT be selfish with your vote.



Cuba: Should the U.S. lift its embargo on Cuba?

Before Fidel Castro took over Cuba the United States and corporations owned by Americans owned over 40% of the land in Cuba. When Fidel and communism took over in '59 they passed The Agrarian Reform Law which allowed expropriation of all land holdings. Basically Cuba was taking its land back for its own people whether the actual owners liked it or not. Of course the U.S. were the ones who did not like this nor did they feel the compensation Cuba offered was good enough for the amount of land they lost and money they would lose. On top of that Cuba was starting to become closer partners with U.S. cold war rival Russia.

On February 7,1962 the U.S. imposed an economic, commercial and financial embargo on Cuba. Basically they prohibited America and its businesses to trade or deal in any form of commerce with Cuba. In 1992 America passed the Cuban Democracy Act because they felt Castro's government (which was dominated by its military) was violating the freedoms of its people. The act fined any business that went into Cuba and forbid all travel to the island. On top of that the act promised that any other country who provided aid to Cuba would risk losing aid from the U.S.

In 1999 Bill Clinton modified the embargo by forbidding subsidiaries of U.S. companies from doing business with Cuba. Basically American companies had found a loop hole by creating a sister company (subsidiary) in another country then had that new company make dealings with Cuba. So if I had a company called Rawson Inc in America and created an offshoot in Mexico called ....I dunno....The Jim Gray Eats Babies Company they could then legally deal with Cuba until this new modification by Clinton. He did, however, allow sale of certain items to Cuba for relief.

Most of these embargoes have been put in place with the assumption that when Fidel lost power or passed on that things would change in Cuba. However when his health began to decline and he stepped down from power, his brother Raul was elected president. Raul has promised changes, but it seems to be talk more then anything else.

The embargo of course has had its fair share of criticism. Most people believe that the embargo hurts the people more then it does the government. The food shortages that have plagued the country for many years now were blamed (by the U.S.) on the fall of communism and the end of the USSR back in the early 90's. However most people believe that it is the embargo itself that has caused the food shortages and The United Nations has claimed the embargo is a violation of international law.

McCain - John McCain has said he will keep the embargo and not allow economic aid to the island. He will push the government into freeing its political prisoners and push it to democracy . He wants to see Cuba adopt free speech, free media, allow labor unions and begin internationally mandated elections. McCain says he supports the Cuban peoples quest to be free and he would continue to fund radio support to talk directly to the Cubans.

Obama - Barack Obama would not lift the embargo until Cuba begins to democratize itself, but he would meet with Cuban leadership to discuss matter in a hope to at least normalize relations with the island. He would also allow family travel and remittances to the island.

Notes - Obama has been accused of flip flopping on this issue. In 2004 he said he would lift the embargo completely. It is important to note that issues like this change like the weather. Anything can cause a difference in opinion on foreign matters even in just 4 short years. The election of Raul Castro to the Cuban presidency soured many people on the idea of lifting the embargo. It is also important to note that during the 2000 election, while running against George Bush during the Florida primary, John McCain said he would lift the embargo and talk to Cuban leadership.

My View - I believe that after over 40 years of this embargo it is clear that it is not working. It has only oppressed the people of Cuba even more than its government has. The government of Cuba will take what little goods it has for itself and the leftovers will go to its people. Its not that Cuba is totally oppressing its people anyhow. They actually have a better health care system then the U.S. currently does. If the U.S. wants the people of Cuba to revolt it is clear that the embargo will not help that happen. On top of that Russia is quickly regaining its strength, power and money. It would be smart to make peace with an island that is only 90 miles away from American shores before the Russians start giving money/aid and decide to make it a base again. Plus we need the points with the U.N. and the rest of the world.
So....point Obama.

Obama - 1

McCain - 0