By Robert S. Siegel
President Obama proposed a “New Beginning,” with Cuba at the Summit of the Americas talks on Friday. He spoke of “Engaging the Castro government on a wide array of issues,” according to the New York Times.
Opponents of the President are concerned that lifting the restrictions will weaken the U.S. leverage on Cuba and provide hard currency that will strengthen Raul Castro’s position. Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart told NPR’s Robert Siegel (no relation to this writer but I hear he brags that we share a last name:) ) that the President’s move will, “provide hundreds and millions to the regime” for “nothing in exchange.”
I was impressed enough with Congressman Diaz-Balart’s interview to put him on my list of politicians that may do some long term good. Note that this is list is rather short. However, as impressed as I found the Congressman I still feel that regarding Cuba, the United States is missing an important opportunity.
I recommend we throw open all trade opportunities between the U.S. and Cuba. Let the Castro brothers try and contain communism after we whet the Cuban people’s appetite for IPods, IPhones, Xboxes, and plasma televisions. Some of my favorite bloggers fear the benefits of capitalism won’t reach the people. I think we should let the Castros try to keep the people from getting the benefits once they have a taste of our consumer goods.
The Castro regime has survived through half a century of the U.S. boycott. It works for them. The dictator and his friends don’t want our culture. I say let’s give it to them.
Generación Y from Havana
The ball is in Cuba’s court after Obama threw it yesterday, as he announced new flexibility in his policies toward Cuba. The players on this side seem a bit confused, hesitating between grabbing the ball, criticizing it, or simply ignoring it. The context couldn’t be better: loyalty to the government has never seemed more perverse and ideological fervor has never been as feeble as it is now. On top of that, few still believe the story that the powerful neighbor will attack us and the majority feel that this confrontation has gone on too long. The next move is up to Raúl Castro’s government but we sense we will be left waiting.
Cuban leaders knew how to control the people with the constant threat of a U.S. invasion but those leaders have been weakened without validity to that threat. People excited for consumer goods and free speech helped to bring down the Iron Curtain (to my readers that believe that Reagan’s defense spending brought the wall down, I hope you’ll acknowledge that American style consumer goods and freedom helped, a lot!).
I have tremendous faith in the power of free markets, free speech, and freedom in general to bring about good. American culture has been a powerful weapon in the past. This president is the ideal president to use that weapon again.
