Cuba, Cigars and Southeast Texas rice
U.S. Congress this week killed a proposal to do away with a trade restriction that requires Cubans to pay for U.S. goods before the leave U.S. ports. The House and Senate approved the proposal, but it died in a conference committee after President Bush theatened to veto the bill it was part of.
I've never really understood this whole U.S. trade policy toward Cuba. Do you?
The trade embargo surfaced during the Cold War era of the early 1960s and stiffened following the missile crisis in October 1962. I can understand that.
The idea, I suppose, is to show Fidel Castro that we won't stand for his oppressive, bloody dicatatorship. Maybe some of the silverbacks in Congress are still mad because they remember a time when Havana was their hedonistic playground, so they're punishing Castro economically. Maybe that explains why we trade with countries such as Vietnam, China and the former USSR. Or maybe they think Cuba doesn't have much to offer.
Whatever the reason, it seems like a fine time to kick down the restrictive trade barriers and start doing business with Cuba. This would benefit Southeast Texas, a rice producer. Cuba gets a lot of rice from Vietnam, but we're a whole lot closer.
Cuba doesn't exactly have a thriving economy, so trade could help improve quality of life and help that country take a step toward regaining its former glory and prosperity. A little tourism would be nice, too.
Some Congress members contend that trading with Cuba would strengthen its communistic resolve, but I don't believe that. With Western culture being one of the most effective weapons of mass destruction on Earth, it would be just a matter of time before they're rocking to System of a Down and rapping to 50 Cent over there.
How cool would it be to take a jet, a boat or maybe, if it's possible to build a bridge, a car over to a Cuban resort for the weekend? Apparently, while much of the country is struggling, the luxury hotels and gambling casinos - which are off-limits to Cuban citizens - are cranking.
With a license from the U.S. government, Americans can go to Cuba, but the Treasury Department only allows them to bring back up to $100 worth of Cuban goods, including those fine cigars.
I suppose there is the chance that regardless of what we do, Castro will be a butt and maintain his cholk-hold on his country, but it's hard to ignore the fact that the very tourism he stomped out when he took control almost a half century ago is now his economy's bread and butter.
I'm not much of a smoker, but I do like a good cigar every now and then, and I can testify from experience that Cuban cigars are excellent. Somebody at my bachelor party back in 2000 brought a whole jar of them, and I burned through three of them in one night.
I could go for one right now, in fact.
I've never really understood this whole U.S. trade policy toward Cuba. Do you?
The trade embargo surfaced during the Cold War era of the early 1960s and stiffened following the missile crisis in October 1962. I can understand that.
The idea, I suppose, is to show Fidel Castro that we won't stand for his oppressive, bloody dicatatorship. Maybe some of the silverbacks in Congress are still mad because they remember a time when Havana was their hedonistic playground, so they're punishing Castro economically. Maybe that explains why we trade with countries such as Vietnam, China and the former USSR. Or maybe they think Cuba doesn't have much to offer.
Whatever the reason, it seems like a fine time to kick down the restrictive trade barriers and start doing business with Cuba. This would benefit Southeast Texas, a rice producer. Cuba gets a lot of rice from Vietnam, but we're a whole lot closer.
Cuba doesn't exactly have a thriving economy, so trade could help improve quality of life and help that country take a step toward regaining its former glory and prosperity. A little tourism would be nice, too.
Some Congress members contend that trading with Cuba would strengthen its communistic resolve, but I don't believe that. With Western culture being one of the most effective weapons of mass destruction on Earth, it would be just a matter of time before they're rocking to System of a Down and rapping to 50 Cent over there.
How cool would it be to take a jet, a boat or maybe, if it's possible to build a bridge, a car over to a Cuban resort for the weekend? Apparently, while much of the country is struggling, the luxury hotels and gambling casinos - which are off-limits to Cuban citizens - are cranking.
With a license from the U.S. government, Americans can go to Cuba, but the Treasury Department only allows them to bring back up to $100 worth of Cuban goods, including those fine cigars.
I suppose there is the chance that regardless of what we do, Castro will be a butt and maintain his cholk-hold on his country, but it's hard to ignore the fact that the very tourism he stomped out when he took control almost a half century ago is now his economy's bread and butter.
I'm not much of a smoker, but I do like a good cigar every now and then, and I can testify from experience that Cuban cigars are excellent. Somebody at my bachelor party back in 2000 brought a whole jar of them, and I burned through three of them in one night.
I could go for one right now, in fact.
posted by Brian Pearson at 9:06 AM
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