In the news:
Originally published Friday, February 10, 2012 at 3:32 PM
The U.S. embargo of Cuba is supported by politics, not by results
The Seattle Times editorial board argues that U.S. embargo on trade and travel to Cuba has not worked and should end.
Seattle Times Editorial
LAST Tuesday was the 50th anniversary of the U.S. embargo of Cuba. In half a century this punitive policy has achieved several things, but we cannot name one of them of lasting benefit to the people of Cuba or the United States.
Supporters of the embargo argue that it promotes democracy and human rights, meaning, we suppose, that America can promote freedom in Cuba by not buying Cuban products, not selling American products to Cubans and not allowing Americans to travel to Cuba.
Supporters of the embargo might explain how this is supposed to work. After 50 years it does not seem to have achieved anything good.
Is the embargo necessary to keep Americans safe? No.
Has it made Americans more prosperous? A few, and in every case at the expense of the many.
By forbidding the import of Cuban sugar, U.S. law creates an artificial market for Iowa corn syrup. The U.S. ban on Cuban cigars benefits cigar makers in the Dominican Republic. The ban on Cuban rum helps Puerto Rican rum.
American law allows the export of some food and medicine to Cuba. Other than that, nothing. For Boeing to sell a jetliner to Cubana Airlines is forbidden.
Why? The ordinary American is not angry about Cuba or thinks about Cuba at all. Who wants the embargo? The Cuban Americans in Florida, at least the older ones, are the ones who want it, and their votes matter because Florida is a pivotal state in presidential elections. The Bush-Gore contest of 2000 came down to Florida's 25 electoral votes — and in this year's election, Florida will have 29 electoral votes.
This accidental fact of U.S. political geography is the only reason the embargo of Cuba still exists.
Another group has reaped huge benefits from the U.S. policy: the Communist Party of Cuba. Fidel Castro and his brother Raul, who is now president, have been able to blame all the economic failures of their system on the perfidious Yankees.
Fifty years. What a disaster.
