Slog
News & ArtsThursday, February 4, 2010
International See You in Havana
Posted by Brendan Kiley on Thu, Feb 4, 2010 at 12:02 PM
Courtesy of the Council on Hemispheric Affairs:
As the U.S. Congress considers legislation that would lift the 50-year-old travel ban to Cuba — permitting all Americans, not just those of Cuban descent, unrestricted travel to the island — Cuba is positioning itself for a Vietnam- or China-style economic leap forward.
Nothing would change Cuba's politics and economy faster than a big infusion of foreign investment—the embargo has done more to preserve the Castro regime than any other policy. (Well done, JFK.) As for Cuba's human rights record: Political isolation and economic starvation aren't solving that problem. (And we aren't exactly fastidious about human rights with some of our larger trading partners.)
In a Havana bar a couple of months ago, a bartender dressed in a monk's robe—the building used to be a monastery—was mixing cocktails and bitching about the U.S. Nothing was going to change, the U.S. would continue to let Cuba starve, and Obama? "Obama," he snarled, "is just a black George Bush."
The monk/bartender was bitter, and not without reason. But here's hoping he was wrong.
Full text of the bill is at opencongress.org, along with some public commentary:
Not that I have any desire to travel to this Socialist Hell-Hole, but I don't see any authority in the US Constitution for the Federal Government to tell me where I can and cannot travel to.
Tell 'em, conservatives!
3
I don't see anything in the constitution giving them the right to do this either. But since when has that ever stopped them?
Max is right - don't hold your breath waiting for this to happen.
Max is right - don't hold your breath waiting for this to happen.
4
You know, I've been a supporter of ending the embargo for longer than most of you have been alive, but I would like to point out that there's not a damn thing on earth stopping people from every other country in the world from investing in Cuba to the hilt. Yet they mostly don't do so. I don't see any giant wall of Canadian or Dutch luxury hotels lining the beaches there.
There's a reason for that. Cuba is not going to magically transform itself into a capitalist paradise just because of the US Senate. Cuba is still going to be fucked up.
It's ironic that this embargo, which was supposed to hit Castro in the shorts, has instead helped prop up his regime for these 50-odd years. They need our blockade as much as we think we do.
There's a reason for that. Cuba is not going to magically transform itself into a capitalist paradise just because of the US Senate. Cuba is still going to be fucked up.
It's ironic that this embargo, which was supposed to hit Castro in the shorts, has instead helped prop up his regime for these 50-odd years. They need our blockade as much as we think we do.
5
Any idea how our Senators feel? Would a few calls make a difference?
And 5280, good point. No legitimate commerce clause argument then? Anyway, when has the constitution stood in the way of power? When would the SCOTUS decide such a "political question"?
And 5280, good point. No legitimate commerce clause argument then? Anyway, when has the constitution stood in the way of power? When would the SCOTUS decide such a "political question"?
6
@5, our beloved Supremes seem to be of the opinion that everything is covered by the commerce clause, including things that boggle the mind (like growing pot in your own back yard for your own personal use), so I certainly wouldn't put it past them to find that it applies to the travel ban. I, however, fail to find any justification for it anywhere.
Whether they'd rule on it or not is a different question. Probably not. Remember that they get to pick and choose their cases.
Whether they'd rule on it or not is a different question. Probably not. Remember that they get to pick and choose their cases.
7
Did I miss something, Brendan? Were you in Havana (Cuba, not Pike St.) a couple of months ago yourself?
Oh, and your first link is messed up.
Oh, and your first link is messed up.
8
No, no—not me, rob!. My good friend was there and told me all about it.
You wouldn't know her. She's from Canada.
You wouldn't know her. She's from Canada.
11
De Alto Cedro voy para Marcane
Llego a Cueto voy para Mayari
El cariño que te tengo
Yo no lo puedo negar
Se me sale la babita
Yo no lo puedo evitar
Cuando Juanica y Chan Chan
En el mar cernian arena
Como sacudia el 'jibe'
A Chan Chan le daba pena
Limpia el camino de pajas
Que yo me quiero sentar
En aquel tronco que veo
Y asi no puedo llegar
De Alto Cedro voy para Marcane
Llego a Cueto voy para Mayari
De Alto Cedro voy para Marcane
Llego a Cueto voy para Mayari
De Alto Cedro voy para Marcane
Llego a Cueto voy ...para Mayari
Llego a Cueto voy para Mayari
El cariño que te tengo
Yo no lo puedo negar
Se me sale la babita
Yo no lo puedo evitar
Cuando Juanica y Chan Chan
En el mar cernian arena
Como sacudia el 'jibe'
A Chan Chan le daba pena
Limpia el camino de pajas
Que yo me quiero sentar
En aquel tronco que veo
Y asi no puedo llegar
De Alto Cedro voy para Marcane
Llego a Cueto voy para Mayari
De Alto Cedro voy para Marcane
Llego a Cueto voy para Mayari
De Alto Cedro voy para Marcane
Llego a Cueto voy ...para Mayari
12
Fnarf @4 is right. I'm not up on the geopolitics but I was also under the impression that European and Canadian companies ,for example, can and do invest in Cuba, but just not that much. Why would American companies be significantly more willing? Maybe the proximity would make US companies a bit more willing, but still...
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