Comments on: Cuba Libre II: Wishful Thinking About Cuba http://blog.psaonline.org/2008/08/29/a-response-wishful-thinking-about-cuba/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:45:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Chris Balducci http://blog.psaonline.org/2008/08/29/a-response-wishful-thinking-about-cuba/comment-page-1/#comment-1239653 Chris Balducci Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:29:02 +0000 http://blog.psaonline.org/?p=597#comment-1239653 I think Julio Calabaza, who has commented on other "Cuba Libre" blogs, is a recent immigrant from Cuba who likely grew up hearing nothing but anti-U.S. and anti-Cuban exile propaganda from the Castro government. As you know, when you tell a big lie long enough, people will start to believe it. There are likely many in Cuba who think like him - disliking the Castros but suspicious about the exiles who left many years ago, who they have been told intend to return to Cuba, dispossess the natives, and recreate their privileged lifestyles at the expense of the Cuban majority. I don’t see how that can be done, when most of those who left Cuba in the late 50s and early 60s as adults, the ones who supposedly benefited from the Batista regime, are dead. I would like to add that any exiles who are filled with bitterness and hatred toward the Castros and anyone else in Cuba you are estranged from should let it go. By holding onto them, you are not only being self-destructive but giving the Castros and others a victory over you. Do the Christian thing and take that victory away by forgiving them. God bless you. I think Julio Calabaza, who has commented on other “Cuba Libre” blogs, is a recent immigrant from Cuba who likely grew up hearing nothing but anti-U.S. and anti-Cuban exile propaganda from the Castro government. As you know, when you tell a big lie long enough, people will start to believe it. There are likely many in Cuba who think like him – disliking the Castros but suspicious about the exiles who left many years ago, who they have been told intend to return to Cuba, dispossess the natives, and recreate their privileged lifestyles at the expense of the Cuban majority.
I don’t see how that can be done, when most of those who left Cuba in the late 50s and early 60s as adults, the ones who supposedly benefited from the Batista regime, are dead.
I would like to add that any exiles who are filled with bitterness and hatred toward the Castros and anyone else in Cuba you are estranged from should let it go. By holding onto them, you are not only being self-destructive but giving the Castros and others a victory over you. Do the Christian thing and take that victory away by forgiving them. God bless you.

]]> By: Across the Aisle » WAITING FOR GO … RBACHEV http://blog.psaonline.org/2008/08/29/a-response-wishful-thinking-about-cuba/comment-page-1/#comment-1230727 Across the Aisle » WAITING FOR GO … RBACHEV Mon, 01 Sep 2008 14:44:15 +0000 http://blog.psaonline.org/?p=597#comment-1230727 [...] Henry Luis Gomez is right. My original post is probably no more than wishful thinking. Maybe there really is absolutely [...] [...] Henry Luis Gomez is right. My original post is probably no more than wishful thinking. Maybe there really is absolutely [...]

]]> By: theCardinal http://blog.psaonline.org/2008/08/29/a-response-wishful-thinking-about-cuba/comment-page-1/#comment-1229273 theCardinal Mon, 01 Sep 2008 02:06:17 +0000 http://blog.psaonline.org/?p=597#comment-1229273 as a libertarian, I barely recognize government at all - technically I'm for all out free-trade. Henry, you are right though, Cuba HAS NOT implemented any changes. My point is that if they do implement changes that we should be willing to deal. I would not deal as openly as the original piece on the blog stated, but I would want to deal. I would want the original claims resolved of course, along with some of the proposals recommended by George - most critically the release of all political prisoners. as a libertarian, I barely recognize government at all – technically I’m for all out free-trade. Henry, you are right though, Cuba HAS NOT implemented any changes. My point is that if they do implement changes that we should be willing to deal. I would not deal as openly as the original piece on the blog stated, but I would want to deal. I would want the original claims resolved of course, along with some of the proposals recommended by George – most critically the release of all political prisoners.

]]> By: Henry Gomez http://blog.psaonline.org/2008/08/29/a-response-wishful-thinking-about-cuba/comment-page-1/#comment-1229005 Henry Gomez Sun, 31 Aug 2008 23:23:03 +0000 http://blog.psaonline.org/?p=597#comment-1229005 Oh and as a libertarian you must recognize the constitutional duty of the federal government to negotiate trade with foreign governments. It's one of the few original powers actually granted to the central government. Oh and as a libertarian you must recognize the constitutional duty of the federal government to negotiate trade with foreign governments. It’s one of the few original powers actually granted to the central government.

]]> By: Henry Gomez http://blog.psaonline.org/2008/08/29/a-response-wishful-thinking-about-cuba/comment-page-1/#comment-1229001 Henry Gomez Sun, 31 Aug 2008 23:20:35 +0000 http://blog.psaonline.org/?p=597#comment-1229001 theCardinal, Cuba has not implemented any of the widespread economic reforms that China has. You pose hypotheticals but the original essay is not about possible contingencies to moves made by the regime. It calls for a lifting of the embargo and establishment of full diplomatic relations under the status quo. But you know that. You are simply trying to confuse the issue with possibilities that have not manifested themselves. When Cuba privatizes its economy then we can have that debate. theCardinal,

Cuba has not implemented any of the widespread economic reforms that China has.

You pose hypotheticals but the original essay is not about possible contingencies to moves made by the regime. It calls for a lifting of the embargo and establishment of full diplomatic relations under the status quo. But you know that. You are simply trying to confuse the issue with possibilities that have not manifested themselves.

When Cuba privatizes its economy then we can have that debate.

]]> By: theCardinal http://blog.psaonline.org/2008/08/29/a-response-wishful-thinking-about-cuba/comment-page-1/#comment-1226871 theCardinal Sun, 31 Aug 2008 01:26:50 +0000 http://blog.psaonline.org/?p=597#comment-1226871 Henry is wrong - As a libertarian I of course value the principle of property rights and find it to be the easiest road to development, however, the Chinese have been able to successfully transition their economy without adequately addressing the issue of property rights. Henry assumes that everything remains static, and for all we know he is right, but what happens if things do in fact change? What happens if tomorrow the regime says that they no longer need to be majority holders in any entity, what happens to his argument? US - Cuba relations are in the state of flux because of the end of Fidel. It has not created a real opening but it has inspired many on this side of the straits to hope and wish for a change. The embargo was not a failure as many have touted - it did it's job. It isolated the Cuban regime during the Cold War. That War has been over and won long ago. To continue to demand an all or nothing exchange is not only unrealistic but petulant. If businesses go into Cuba and get nationalized, honestly that is their problem. I do agree that change has to come from Cuba but we should be ready and willing to negotiate bit by bit piece by piece. People change and it may even be possible that Raul Castro may be a different man than Fidel, if for no other reason that his force of personality is not like his brother's and people will not give him the free pass they gave Fidel. Love him or hate him Mandela, at least in the realm of economics, was a much better leader than the Socialist he said he was. The same goes for Lula. Alan Garcia has amazed us all. Granted Raul was a murdering thug, but he may have changed. We won't know until we test him. Henry is wrong -

As a libertarian I of course value the principle of property rights and find it to be the easiest road to development, however, the Chinese have been able to successfully transition their economy without adequately addressing the issue of property rights. Henry assumes that everything remains static, and for all we know he is right, but what happens if things do in fact change? What happens if tomorrow the regime says that they no longer need to be majority holders in any entity, what happens to his argument? US – Cuba relations are in the state of flux because of the end of Fidel. It has not created a real opening but it has inspired many on this side of the straits to hope and wish for a change.

The embargo was not a failure as many have touted – it did it’s job. It isolated the Cuban regime during the Cold War. That War has been over and won long ago. To continue to demand an all or nothing exchange is not only unrealistic but petulant.

If businesses go into Cuba and get nationalized, honestly that is their problem. I do agree that change has to come from Cuba but we should be ready and willing to negotiate bit by bit piece by piece. People change and it may even be possible that Raul Castro may be a different man than Fidel, if for no other reason that his force of personality is not like his brother’s and people will not give him the free pass they gave Fidel. Love him or hate him Mandela, at least in the realm of economics, was a much better leader than the Socialist he said he was. The same goes for Lula. Alan Garcia has amazed us all. Granted Raul was a murdering thug, but he may have changed. We won’t know until we test him.

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