Thaw in US - Cuba relations

[Gups]

The economic embargo imposed on Cuba by the U.S. during the Eisenhower administration will remain in place for now.

Can anybody think of a similar totally ineffective policy that has been kept around for 60+ years?

War on drugs

[lustindarkness]

There goes Puerto Rico's tourism.

[garbon]

The economic embargo imposed on Cuba by the U.S. during the Eisenhower administration will remain in place for now.

Can anybody think of a similar totally ineffective policy that has been kept around for 60+ years?

War on drugs

I don't think that has hit 60 years...

[derspiess]

Why is any of our fucking business?  Yeah, democracy is nice, but what in the world is the sense of demanding it just so that we stop doing the stupid thing?

I'm not a huge neocon these days, but Cuban citizens are our neighbors and brothers.  I don't like seeing them oppressed.

And watch your language

[Gups]

Yeah, depends when you date it forom. Prohibition of drugs then. The war on drugs was jusrt racheting up in response to the failure of the skirmish with drugs

[garbon]

Yeah, depends when you date it forom. Prohibition of drugs then. The war on drugs was jusrt racheting up in response to the failure of the skirmish with drugs

Well here is what the DEA Museum has about drug history:

http://www.deamuseum.org/museum_ida.html

Since the 19th century when Americans first discovered new wonder drugs like morphine, heroin, and cocaine, our society has confronted the problem of drug abuse and addiction.

When the 20th century began, the United States--grappling with its first drug epidemic--gradually instituted effective restrictions: at home through domestic law enforcement and overseas by spearheading a world movement to limit opium and coca crops. By World War II, American drug use had become so rare, it was seen as a marginal social problem. The first epidemic was forgotten.

During the 1960s, drugs like marijuana, amphetamines, and psychedelics came on the scene, and a new generation embraced drugs. With the drug culture exploding, our government developed new laws and agencies to address the problem. In 1973, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration was created to enforce federal drug laws. In the 1970s, cocaine reappeared. Then, a decade later, crack appeared, spreading addiction and violence at epidemic levels.

Today, the DEA's biggest challenge is the dramatic change in organized crime. While American criminals once controlled drug trafficking on U.S. soil, today sophisticated and powerful criminal groups headquartered in foreign countries control the drug trade in the United States.

[Norgy]

It's almost like this Obama character actually believes in change and all that.

[Habbaku]

Why is any of our fucking business?  Yeah, democracy is nice, but what in the world is the sense of demanding it just so that we stop doing the stupid thing?

I'm not a huge neocon these days, but Cuban citizens are our neighbors and brothers.  I don't like seeing them oppressed.

So since the embargo has done nothing but oppress them, you'll be happy for it ending. 

[Berkut]

Why is any of our fucking business?  Yeah, democracy is nice, but what in the world is the sense of demanding it just so that we stop doing the stupid thing?

I'm not a huge neocon these days, but Cuban citizens are our neighbors and brothers.  I don't like seeing them oppressed.

And watch your language

Even given that as a goal, isn't it pretty clear IT HASN'T WORKED????

[Gups]

Jesus Berkut, it's only been half a century. You have to learn to be a bit more patient.

[derspiess]

This won't work, either.  Economic engagement will help prop up the regime. 

But keep holding your breath.

[Admiral Yi]

Russia is still in the Crimea.  When do we lift those sanctions?

(Marco Rubio's point.)

[Habbaku]

Sanctions on everyone forever!

[Berkut]

This won't work, either.  Economic engagement will help prop up the regime. 

But keep holding your breath.

Maybe, maybe not.

Personally, I have faith that our system is better, and that in fact economic engagement, and more importantly cultural engagement wins out in the end. Our way is the better way, and the more we allow people to see that, the more the inevitable forces involved will push more of the world into our system, rather than away from it. The examples of this happening are myriad, and the examples where it has not worked are all "exceptions that prove the rule" in that it requires some kind of outside force to counter act it, or an active and extreme internal force to reject it.

But that isn't even the point - the point is that you say this won't work. Well, maybe you are right, and maybe you are wrong. Hard to say for sure.

What we do know for sure is that what we have been doing for the last 2+ generations has NOT worked. That data point we can be quite certain about.

[Martinus]

The economic embargo imposed on Cuba by the U.S. during the Eisenhower administration will remain in place for now.

Can anybody think of a similar totally ineffective policy that has been kept around for 60+ years?

Religion.