tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703913.post1261151522562569280..comments2023-10-02T04:41:34.722-04:00Comments on Marry in Massachusetts: Our Failed Cuba Policymassmarrierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02358207247771711952noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703913.post-87420182880606482822008-03-10T08:35:00.000-04:002008-03-10T08:35:00.000-04:00Hardy har. You set up a straw man with your own de...Hardy har. You set up a straw man with your own definitions of failure. <BR/><BR/>That doesn't cut it. <BR/><BR/>Instead, our inability in nearly five decades to destroy Cuba is a huge international embarrassment. Other than failed invasions and assassinations, we have done nothing as a nation to help Cuba or convert it to a democracy more to our liking. <BR/><BR/>Our policies didn't work in the 1950s and have not since. Nearly 50 years of slamming our head against a wall should inspire us to try something different.massmarrierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02358207247771711952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703913.post-25252076914166542982008-03-10T08:10:00.000-04:002008-03-10T08:10:00.000-04:00One of the most insipid comments heard in politics...One of the most insipid comments heard in politics is (in its many forms) "The US embargo of Cuba is a 'failed policy' and needs to be overturned." <BR/>How do we know the policy has "failed"? <BR/>Because Cuba is still enslaved and Castro is not dead. <BR/>Fine. If that is the standard, let's apply it broadly to other national policies. <BR/>We have a complete ban against killing other human beings. And yet people still kill. <BR/>We have rigid speed limits. Yet people still exceed them. <BR/>We ban the use and sale of certain drugs. And yet drug use soars. <BR/>We demand compliance with our tax code. Something which many proud Americans honor in the breech.<BR/><BR/>So these policies are also abject failures. <BR/>They have not accomplished their intended results.<BR/>I imagine that those decrying the "failure" of the Cuban Boycott will also champion the repeal of these other "failed" policies. <BR/>Legalize murder. Abandon speed limits. Decriminalize killer drugs. Abolish the IRS.<BR/><BR/>What? You say the Dump the Boycott Crowd DOES NOT support these other actions? <BR/>Puzzling. <BR/>So it is not the so-called FAILURE of the Cuban Boycott policy that moves them. <BR/>What then? <BR/>We are left to guess.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703913.post-16375671517329132802008-02-25T11:27:00.000-05:002008-02-25T11:27:00.000-05:00agreed!agreed!Mark D. Snyderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12508873047127283895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703913.post-12389290047953450942008-02-24T16:36:00.000-05:002008-02-24T16:36:00.000-05:00Well, last is first. I'm comfortable with Venezuel...Well, last is first. I'm comfortable with Venezuela trading oil money for doctors and such from Cuba. Don't bother with such a challenge. My post doesn't lead to it and I'm the wrong guy to ask to dump on them.<BR/><BR/>We have dodgy democracy in this country in many ways. We can still bring along other nations, particularly those with stunted economies (largely our fault before and after the 1954 revolution in this case). Trying to cripple them and topple their leaders is not the way and anyway we abjectly failed in Cuba's case. <BR/><BR/>We can and should provide no-strings assistance. If we prove reasonable neighbors who live the democratic ideals and freedom for all we claim to want for other nations, we'd have our buddies there.<BR/><BR/>In light of our own employment, prison and health demographics, we have a long, long way to go before we should be lecturing other nations. This is a classic case of needing to walk it like we talk it.massmarrierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02358207247771711952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703913.post-12435675282363669832008-02-24T16:04:00.000-05:002008-02-24T16:04:00.000-05:00This language "make the island nation into a democ...This language "make the island nation into a democracy" worries me. It is often used as codeword for let our big pharma, food, and big oil companies spread their imperialism and oppression - and rarely means actual democracy. We really brought freedom to Iraq didn't we? <BR/><BR/>I would also challenge you to list a few good reasons to be afraid of venezuela that are based on fact. Venezuela's elections are more fair and democratic than our own. Just ask the international organizations, including that of Jimmy Carter, who oversaw elections there. Chavez is portrayed as a crazy evil dictator in the American media, yet remains well liked around the world and deserves credit for improving the living conditions of so many people in Venzuela since he was elected.Mark D. Snyderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12508873047127283895noreply@blogger.com