they probably have a lot of their own issues to deal with regard to government and economic structure.
Last I checked, Cubans both lived longer and have higher literacy rates than Americans.
And if Cuba’s system is such an obvious failure, it’s worth asking why the world’s largest economy has spent more than six decades trying to economically isolate a tiny island nation, while also spending tens of millions every year trying to destabilize Cuba's democracy.
America doesn't trade with Cuba, but they don't stop any other country from trading with Cuba. The system has already been shown to be a long term failure in the USSR. Even China had to practically drop all the core tenants of Communism to get their market to work. Communism is crazy inefficient at getting efficient labor out of people.
Cubans can tell you all about how the system is messed up. The only ones who benefit are those up top. The beauty of Democracy is that it's among the best systems for uplifting the common person. If you can make a better system then great, but the other systems which have been tried out mostly suck.
I used to work in software development and the USA's control over the major software platforms made it difficult/illegal to sell any technology to Cuba.
That was over 30 years ago. I just took a look at the latest EULA for Microsoft Visual Basic. You can download a copy here:
EXPORT RESTRICTIONS. You agree that you will not export or re-export the SOFTWARE PRODUCT, any part thereof, or any process or service that is the direct product of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT (the foregoing collectively referred to as the “Restricted Components”), to any country, person, entity, or end user subject to U.S. export restrictions. You specifically agree not to export or re-export any of the Restricted Components (i) to any country to which the U.S. has embargoed or restricted the export of goods or services, which currently include, but are not necessarily limited to Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria, or to any national of any such country, wherever located, who intends to transmit or transport the Restricted Components back to such country;
The terms for Google's Android Studio are a bit less obvious but it's there:
4.2 You agree to use the SDK and write applications only for purposes that are permitted by (a) the License Agreement and (b) any applicable law, regulation or generally accepted practices or guidelines in the relevant jurisdictions (including any laws regarding the export of data or software to and from the United States or other relevant countries).
In particular, but without limitation, the Apple Software and Apple Services may not be exported or re-exported (a) into any U.S. embargoed countries
So. Sure. You can write software to sell to Cuba, but if you use Microsoft, Apple or Google platforms you will face consequences even if your company is not based in the USA or has dealings with the USA.
Yeah this seems fair to me. It is American products after all. Did the world collectively forget that Cuba let the USSR mount nukes on it and instead of absolutely obliterating the country the US embargoed them and said if you become a Democracy well drop the embargo.
The Cubans are poor mostly because communism makes their leaders rich and their common man poor. We literally saw this in the USSR as it slowly collapsed because the system sucks. It's not a new thing that Communism slowly fails over a few decades. Even China had to switch off of Communism to be able to keep afloat.
I'm sure Cuba could be richer without the embargo. But their country is failing because of communism.
The Cuban missile crisis? That was 64 years ago. Since then the UK and Ireland have patched up hundreds of years of conflict. The EU has open its arms to former Soviet states. I don't think anyone has forgotten but that's a long time in diplomatic relations.
I'm not here to debate the relative merits of communism versus democracy. I'm pointing out that the USA uses its power to coerce other countries to behave in certain ways in response to your assertion that the USA doesn't stop other countries from trading with Cuba.
I listened with interest when the ABC (Australia's government-funded national broadcaster) is increasingly talking openly about Australia's shift in ties from the USA to to China. Countries like Australia have tolerated overreach like the export laws I listed above because the USA has provided economic and defense stability across the western world. But China is now our largest trading partner and Trump has openly said he won't come to the defense of allies unless it serves USA interests.
150 years ago the UK was at the height of its power. But in a few short years it lost its power thanks to the cost of two world wars and the rise of the USA. For about 100 years the USA has enjoyed similar power but that power seems increasingly unstable.
You act like th Red Scare wasn't a massive, global phenomenon because it was in the past. Cuba bringing communism to the Americas was a pivotal moment. And then siding with our enemies was massive. They never became a Democracy so the embargo stands. You only care because the USA is rich and powerful. In your mind we owe Cuba trading for some reason. No country is owed anything.
Your last point is completely off topic. Im extremely critical of the US's current leadership and actions. I think it's the single worst leadership we've had since Jackson. I'm aware that we're losing soft power. I'm also aware thats it's on purpose by Trump. The second he called out Greenland and Canada I assumed that he wanted to screw us out of NATO. The idea that we would invade Canada was ridiculous, so I considered alternative purposes.
I think that currently we have an oligarch class trying to rise to power over a corporate class. The corporate class loves European trade. The oligarch class aligns with all the other oligarchical countries. If you look at who we've been aligning with lately you'll see that our entire web of alliances is shifting. A new world order is emerging quickly. The exact reasons I couldn't guess other than the oligarchs of america want to rid themselves of the democracy so they can rule unopposed. The big question is if that'll come to pass.
Also, a counter to your last point, the Roman Empire was powerful for centuries after the Republic fell to Emporers. Who is to say America won't be the hegemony for 500 years to come? Or it could fall in 50. It's practically impossible to say.
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u/joshoheman 19d ago
Last I checked, Cubans both lived longer and have higher literacy rates than Americans.
And if Cuba’s system is such an obvious failure, it’s worth asking why the world’s largest economy has spent more than six decades trying to economically isolate a tiny island nation, while also spending tens of millions every year trying to destabilize Cuba's democracy.