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[huckabmm]

The Obama administration confirmed Monday that it will soon ease some restrictions on travel to Cuba by Americans and on the remittances they send to relatives on the island.

- Washington Times

What do you think: Has the US embargo done what it was designed to do? Should it be rescinded for all US citizens, not just Cuban-Americans? Have you or would you go to Cuba despite the various human rights violations: here, and here?

[starlagurl]

Wow, good on them!

I don't think the US embargo has done what it was intended to do, no. They are still operating communistically...is that a word?

And they get more and more Canadian tourism every year!

[mmbcross]

It's the most failed US policy ever. The trade embargo has been going for well on 50 years, yet there has been virtually no change in Cuba. In fact, the policy is worse than useless, as it has probably kept Fidel in power all this time.

If the USA had opened its borders with Cuba to trade and tourism, Fidel would have been long gone. The whole policy is based on revenge by the Cuban expats in Miami.

As it is, the USA harbours one of the few true communist states left in the world, and it's just 90 miles from Key West. Does that sound like a successful policy to you?

[starlagurl]

Hmmm, interesting point... the argument that capitalism brings democracy, is that really a true one though?

[littlekate]

No, it does not. And Democracy is not the only form of life on Earth, I mean lack of democracy is not critical. The government must not terrorize the population - this is critical, I think. I'm not sure about Cuba, I know only that they are really very-very poor, but is their communism really terrible?

[kris]

there's a lot worse off democratic countries in the world and IMO one of the best off from its neighbours in Latin america and Caribbean.. low crime, low HIV, free education and health services, some free public transport.. free housing, free food, blah blah, free sun sand and sea..
and definitely not 'really very very poor'..

also it would be hypocritical to go to the US but not go to Cuba on human right violations..

[big_red_truck]

Hmmm, interesting point... the argument that capitalism brings democracy, is that really a true one though?

Capitalism may not bring true democracy, but it sure does loosen the stranglehold of communism. Take a look at China...the government there is losing more and more of their control over the individuals with every year.

[mmbcross]

One of the best off from its neighbours in Latin America and Caribbean.. low crime, low HIV, free education and health services, some free public transport.. free housing, free food, blah blah, free sun sand and sea..and definitely not 'really very very poor'..

Indeed there are countries far worse off than Cuba in this continent. There is more real poverty in Brazil than in Cuba. Though this is good, it is regrettable that the Cuban people are not free to say what they like or come and go as they please.

[littlekate]

it is regrettable that the Cuban people are not free to say what they like or come and go as they please.
[/quote]
That means they are a sort of "terrorized", that is what I meant, and that is much worse than any lack of democracy. We had the same thing under Soviets.
Once I saw a photo made in Cuba of a horse driven public transportation thing. Was it anything really existing?

[mmbcross]

Once I saw a photo made in Cuba of a horse driven public transportation thing. Was it anything really existing?

You probably did, and there is no denying that compared to many other countries in America they may seem backward. The main reason for this is probably the US trade embargo. Nevertheless, horse-drawn vehicles are much better for the environment that gas powered ones. Life seems to go at a slower pace in Cuba. We could probably learn much from them.

Transport was one of the sectors most seriously affected by the lack of foreign exchange, and public transport services for passengers and cargo were particularly affected. This was because land transport in Cuba was very dependent on imports. These included vehicles (buses, cars, coaches, trucks), spare parts and fuel. With replacement parts difficult to obtain, the transport fleet was unable to operate efficiently and there were major reductions in public service routes and numbers of journeys. Most motor transport vehicles originated from Eastern Europe and the USSR, and it became increasingly difficult to obtain imported replacement parts or even the raw materials to produce them in Cuba.

As a result in the decline of public transport services, hundreds of workers were left with no means of transport to get to work punctually each day. Thus, from 1991 there was resurgence in the provision of animal traction public transport services.

[littlekate]

Thanks. That is what I wanted to hear. Then it's true!

[skylab]

The second the embargo is gone, I'm heading to Cuba..

[starlagurl]

Offtopic:

I will never understand...why every developed nation doesn't have universal healthcare.

[mmbcross]

I hear the eternal lament here in the US that with universal healthcare you will have to wait too long and queue up to have anything done, and that you won't be able to select your preferred doctor. Is this true? If it is, is it worth having one of the world's most expensive and inefficient health care systems just so you can choose your own doctor.

[starlagurl]

Well, in Canada there are lines, yep. The confusion comes when introducing a "second tier" of private healthcare, only for the elite. Is this fair?

Oh no...we should maybe start another topic. Yes, I will.

[big_red_truck]

I've gotten to deal with the government-controlled "free" system here in Brasil trying to get a yellow fever vaccination. Yes, the shot didn't cost me a thing (even as a foreigner), but it took 2 entire days of driving to different clinics to find one that had the shots (and I was with a Brasilian coworker who knows the system). When we did finally find a clinic that would have the shots, we were told to come back the next morning. So then we had to queue up at 6:15am the next morning to get a shot by 8:00am.

The "cost" of losing 2 days of work to get healthcare is far greater than the benefit of it being free.

[mmbcross]

If I'm not much mistaken, yellow fever shots are not covered by most insurers here in the USA. I remember when I went to Africa, I had to pay for all my shots, even though I was fully insured.

[big_red_truck]

I've heard the same thing Martin, they're not covered by insurance. But I gladly would have paid for them if it meant not having to lose two days and the frustrations with driving all over Porto Seguro trying to find them...

[starlagurl]

The "cost" of losing 2 days of work to get healthcare is far greater than the benefit of it being free.

To you, yes, but to someone who can't afford to pay it no matter how cheap it is, it's priceless.

[mmbcross]

Well, I ask you. All this happened in Porto Seguro. Don't you think it would have been a bit faster in Rio or Salvador?