johnwaltzforcongress.com

Lifting Cuban Embargo Will Embolden American Freedom

The embargo that began in 1962 as a measure to compel the communist dictatorship in Cuba to revise their course has not brought their leaders any closer to the American idealism of democracy. What it has done is send the Cuban economy and its people in an infinite downward tailspin. The blame for the troubles of Cuba has been turned on America to the point where the liability has been solely put on our foreign policy ideals. Our isolationist policies have failed, and Cuba is being fully supplied with trade and developmental funds from other countries. Currently both America and Cuba are in the midst of a leadership change, which should be taken full advantage of by opening up dialogue and by removing trade and travel restrictions.

Over the last 46 years the actions of the United States has been hypocritical at best. The Bush administration called for billions of taxpayer dollars to be used for the goodwill of Cubans in order to accommodate internet access, education, and business development. This of course would only take place if Cuba changed its ways, but in the same breath, the US government claimed that lifting the embargo would only embolden the dictatorship. This is a contradiction of policies, but the government claimed that it would work, because government subsidies would supplement those in power while free trade would create better relations between the two countries.

I propose that it is time to stop the talking of what is solely best for Cubans and start looking at what is best for Americans as well. It is time to stop the constant worrying about the freedom of Cubans, which is not our government’s responsibility and the time to consider the freedom of the American people.

Americans crave to have the freedom to travel and trade with their Cuban neighbors. Americans are the ones who live in a free country where the government does not decide how one can travel and trade. This belief is voiced by our founding father Thomas Jefferson when he stated, “Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations — entangling alliances with none.”

It is for this reason I believe we should amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, and any other related Federal laws, in order to repeal the embargo placed upon all trade with Cuba. Secondly, we should prohibit any monetary foreign assistance to Cuba and not forgive any debts. Lastly, we as a nation should begin to mend our relations with Cuba thus providing open diplomatic discourse with their government. It is with these appropriate actions that America will truly be an exemplify our ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.