Re: Fidel Resigns Presidency!
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Originally Posted by Xanith
How much sugar does the US actually produce? It was my impression that the US imported most of the sugar they used. If Cuba exports its sugar already the supply on the market wouldn’t change any so prices wouldn’t be affected simply by Cuba importing sugar into the US. Also with the US not making a lot of its own sugar I can’t see it adversely affecting that to any great degree either.
X
America's Bittersweet Sugar Policy
and the rationale behind it from wikipedia:
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...the U.S. sugar-industry, which donated $2.7 million to US House and US Senate incumbents in the 2006 US election, more than any other group of US food-growers. Especially prominent lobbyists include The Fanjul Brothers, so-called "sugar barons" who made the single largest individual contributions of soft money to both the Democratic and Republican parties in the political system of the United States of America.
Re: Fidel Resigns Presidency!
I won't compete with TS's post, but I smell sugar production every time the wind comes from the north, or whenever there's a strong inversion, because there's a sugar beet factory not far from here.
Re: Fidel Resigns Presidency!
If its already US trade policy to protect the US Sugar industry how would a lifting of the embargo on Cuba change anything? Those imports would still be blocked with sugar imports still being restricted to a certain level.
X
Re: Fidel Resigns Presidency!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Xanith
If its already US trade policy to protect the US Sugar industry how would a lifting of the embargo on Cuba change anything? Those imports would still be blocked with sugar imports still being restricted to a certain level.
X
It wouldn't change anything. The trade embargo has little or no economic effect on either side and lifting it wouldn't change much of anything except that Cuba would then have access to the US market and the markets of every other country in the world as opposed to having access to every market in the world except the US.
There would be no effect on the sugar industry.
Re: Fidel Resigns Presidency!
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Originally Posted by FunkyDexter
Nope, inside the USA he's hated. [I]
If the US government really cared to one-off Castro, it would be easily done in a Noriega minute. Something should tell you that if Bush doesn't pay attention to Castro, certainly, most Americans don't either.
But the Cuban exile community in Miami does.
In 1959 after Castro gained control of Cuba, the fallen government patriots fled to Miami to seek political asylum from political executions by Castro.
Those fallen Cuba patriots had a lot of wealth due to their previous roles, and the community they built in Southern Florida along with the 2 million Cuban exiles has built a very strong lobby in the US Congress, thanks to Florida having a large number of Representatives.
Castro wanted to execute the former leaders, however, it wasn't until one of these wealthy ex-patriots began flying private airplanes into Cuba airspace and dropping incendiary devices at the regime quarters, that Castro became annoyed that the US officials seemed indifferent to stopping these flights.
The official US response at the time was indifferent, simply because it was seen a Cuban conflict, and it would work itself out.
However, the final nail for Castro was the refusal for the lifting of US tariffs on Cuban sugar, which would make it cheaper than domestic US sugar. Castro then began selling to the Soviet Union - of all possible places -which bought the sugar at a premium in what obviously amounted to an exchange for missile batteries in Cuba.
And it was at that moment, people in the US got pissed. Unfortunately, little could be done with the Soviet Union backing Castro. And 30 years later, when the Soviet Union fell, most people had long moved on and didn't care anymore.
I am for lifting the embargo, as are most Americans. But that doesn't matter since the Cuban Americans themselves are the ones pushing for the embargo.
Bush allowed medical and some agricultural supplies to be exported to Cuba in the early part of this decade. But Castro again defaulted on payments - just like he has defaulted on 10 billion of EU money - so they stopped.
And to be frank, I honestly don't know what is with the perception in Europe and elsewhere of Castro being some untouchable foe of the United States that would lead to admiration. He isn't untouchable - simply old and powerless. So who cares?
Re: Fidel Resigns Presidency!
Hopefully, Raul will shortly follow his brother, and in a moment of senility declare all Cuban women shall wear daisy-dukes like they do in Miami... now, THAT, would be admirable!
Re: Fidel Resigns Presidency!
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Originally Posted by FishGuy
Excuse my ignorance but why is Fidel seen as a hate figure yet Che Guevara is seen as ikonic?
Because of a few liberal minded college students that think it's cool to wear Che t-shirts. Yet, they don't realize how much they can offend other's by wearing them. It's just as bad as wearing a Hitler t-shirt.
Re: Fidel Resigns Presidency!
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Originally Posted by Thunder!
so does this mean the end of all the communist dictators in the world, or will his brother just do the same as fidel?
His brother is taking over. :-(
Honestly though, I have my life built here in America. I went to college, married, had kids, bought a house, and I pay my taxes.
So if Cuba becomes free, it will be many years before it's a livable environment. I won't move back, but I will probably vacation over there once in a blue moon.
Re: Fidel Resigns Presidency!
Quote:
Originally Posted by silentthread
Yet, they don't realize how much they can offend other's by wearing them.
I thought that WAS why kids wore the things they did.:ehh:
