Refreshing to hear the voice of an elected official speak out so forcefully and candidly on Cuba the other day in Tallahassee. Never an ideal venue to speak truth to power on this subject.
“If we wouldn’t have had this embargo for 40 years, (Fidel) Castro would have been gone a long time ago,” said the official. “History shows you’re more likely to get rid of a dictator if you undermine his support by trading with him.”
Alas, that speaker wasn’t a Floridian. It was the barnstorming U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, the Texas libertarian and long-shot presidential candidate with a new book out. No, Paul won’t be president, and, no, he has no clout in Florida. But it’s another reminder that those who understand history, economics, contemporary geopolitics and humanitarian priorities–unless they are beholden to exile-community politicians–see the blatant folly of the counterproductive Cuban embargo that has now outlived the Cold War by nearly a generation.
No, there won’t be a President Paul. But there is a President Obama. Would that he would acknowledge seeing the Cuban embargo in the same context as Paul. You know he does.
Dear Joe,
I read your article on Ron Paul and his take on Cuba. Good article re: RP’s take…but (and you knew it was coming), in a span of 4 short paragraphs you managed to “remind” readers twice that Ron Paul “won’t be president.” What makes you so sure?
I have to tell you, as a physician, many people are waking up to the lies and deceit that main stream news and the government produce for us. I have no clue where you stand politically; but, there is clearly a revolution of ideas taking place in this country in stark contrast to the policies of Obama, Bush, and bigger government, and maybe you could cover that in one of your stories? As the dollar continues it’s decline in place of rising gold and silver, and as our debt continues to grow, Americans will soon realize that big government politicians and Federal Reserve policies (ie. monetizing the debt leading to dollar devaluation)are the major reasons for the problems.
Ron Paul WOULD have a chance to win the presidency, if things continue. A
question for you – who would have ever thought a black man, raised in Indonesia, raised in muslim schools, would be able to be elected president of the U.S. less than 10 years after 9/11? Ponder that…
I wish you well. best regards,
Tim Boyett