Fidel gone after 49 years

thkyle · 02-19-2008, 08:27 PM

I guess that Fidel is finally gone and now his brother Raul is going to follow in his bother foot steps.

What do you think will happen in Cuba if anything? What would you want to see happen.

I have an interest in Cuba because my wife was born there and came to the states with her family on the last plane out in 1964. She still has extended family there and at one time her father owned a lot of property.

Al Ray · 02-19-2008, 08:40 PM

Well Id like to see us go over there and take the place over. Make it a state, but only after a 5 year period of no taxation (to be an incentive for companies to build resorts and such within the first few years) Get the min wage up to US standards as well within those 5 years. Build roads and whatnot. The place would be huge as a turist destination, plus anyone who owned property (do the citizens even own property there? If not then taht would be bad) could make a substantil amount of money, which would be a blessing after all the crap they've been through over there. The place would be as big of a deal as Hawaii.

HP_Lovecraft · 02-19-2008, 08:42 PM

Its time to lift the embargo.

We won, and the USSR lost. Cuba was never a viable government, and relied on the USSR for its existence. Since then, Cuba has SLOWELY turned to capitalism in order to function.

Presidents have been slow to lift the embargo because Fidel Castro kept thumbing his nose at us, but his brother is very vocal about enacting reforms, so it would be sense to open up channels.

Plus, I'd love to backpack there without having to go through Mexico.

nick

Walking_Target · 02-19-2008, 08:43 PM

huh... i kinda thought i'd hear someone say 'let's take over a sovereign nation'....

quite simply the United States needs to drop the Helms-Burton act and get over it.

Heebs · 02-19-2008, 08:43 PM

The beaches in Cuba are AMAZING. My sister went there for 3 months.

In all seriousness America needs to open negotiations with Cuba, we both would benefit.

Al Ray · 02-19-2008, 08:53 PM

Honestly WT, I think we should take over Mexico too, granted Im fairly shure we could do it on paper, trouble would be funding everything due to the size of the place. Heck if you canadians would go for it Id say take over that too. Sovern, whopte frekin dee. Kings and kingdoms my friend. To be honist the whole deal pisses me off, why the heck should the pesco be worth less than the dollar, or anyone elses currency for that matter. They work just as hard for it. SHure "trade" in the stock market would be funky, if not stop, but its all about greed /usery anyways so the heck with it.

Frink · 02-19-2008, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al Ray

Honestly WT, I think we should take over Mexico too, granted Im fairly shure we could do it on paper, trouble would be funding everything due to the size of the place. Heck if you canadians would go for it Id say take over that too. Sovern, whopte frekin dee. Kings and kingdoms my friend. To be honist the whole deal pisses me off, why the heck should the pesco be worth less than the dollar, or anyone elses currency for that matter. They work just as hard for it. SHure "trade" in the stock market would be funky, if not stop, but its all about greed /usery anyways so the heck with it.

You do realize that our lifestyle in 1st world countries is dependant on the relative poverty in 3rd world nations, right?

If you're going to take over countries like Mexico and Cuba, and assimilate them peacfully, you'll probably raise their "standard" of living (if more TV's, fast food, and SUV's is considered an improvement) but you'll be decreasing your own.

The American way of life isn't necessarily the best way of life.

LUKE · 02-19-2008, 09:12 PM

We've never adopted Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, or other territories as states....I can't ever see it happening with a completely separate country. Nor, would we really want to do that. I would imagine a huge output of money, without any real return. I even remember brief mention way back in college by a few politico types about what should happen if we adopted the maritime provinces of Canada, after Quebec seceded from the country (which never came about). Financially, it would be ruinous. Besides, what makes you think Cubans as a whole would suddenly want to become American?

It came as no surprise that Castro stepped down eventually. It makes sense....if he had died in office, it would have been a jump-ball as to who was going to step in next, when the power vacuum occurred. Now, Castro can guide and oversee his government via his brother, until his passing, and probably has a sense that his style of autocratic rule will continue after.

Whereas the USSR is no more, I don't see Castro "part deux" making any gigantic shift toward a more democratic society from it's current socialist/communist style. Trade may relax some with the US within our lifetime.

I have often thought that if trade and travel restrictions were lifted, some enterprising Americans could buy up dozens of still running (albeit in tough shape) vintage American cars on the cheap, and have them shipped back to sell at a tidy profit to the collectors.

And then, of course, would be the rum and cigars.

Azzy · 02-19-2008, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HP_Lovecraft

Its time to lift the embargo.

We won, and the USSR lost.

I would beg to differ in many, many ways. The old gaurd in russia are still around and gaining power, Putin is up to his old KGB ways, and China is still the powerhouse that they were back in the Stalin days.

Cold war never ended, it just changed tunes. Besides, once the KGB got their work done here in the 60's, all they had to do was sit back and watch as a generation of usefull idiots did the work of bringing the US down for them.

I say take out the cuban upper heads just like we did the Nazi's after WWII. Short trial, and off to the gallows. it might be interesting to finally get the world to wake up to the dissident prisons that Castro's henchmen run down there.

There's and old saying... no one has ever died trying to sail a homeade raft to Cuba.

Raion · 02-19-2008, 09:38 PM

As a comment on Castro’s recovery, U.S. President George W. Bush said: "One day the good Lord will take Fidel Castro away," Hearing about this, Castro, who is an atheist, ironically replied: "Now I understand why I survived Bush's plans and the plans of other presidents who ordered my assassination: the good Lord protected me."

It's funny how the US tell us to hate him and how the majority of people in Cuba liked him :/

02-19-2008, 08:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
thkyle MCB Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Steelers Country Posts: 453	Fidel gone after 49 years I guess that Fidel is finally gone and now his brother Raul is going to follow in his bother foot steps. What do you think will happen in Cuba if anything? What would you want to see happen. I have an interest in Cuba because my wife was born there and came to the states with her family on the last plane out in 1964. She still has extended family there and at one time her father owned a lot of property.

02-19-2008, 08:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
HP_Lovecraft MCB Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Southern Maine Posts: 2,959	Its time to lift the embargo. We won, and the USSR lost. Cuba was never a viable government, and relied on the USSR for its existence. Since then, Cuba has SLOWELY turned to capitalism in order to function. Presidents have been slow to lift the embargo because Fidel Castro kept thumbing his nose at us, but his brother is very vocal about enacting reforms, so it would be sense to open up channels. Plus, I'd love to backpack there without having to go through Mexico. nick __________________ www.montneel.com My Myspace nonsense "the evidence strongly suggests that neither Billy nor Adam (Smart Parts) could have invented the electronic paintgun" -Garr M. King, U.S. Judge

02-19-2008, 08:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
Heebs MCB Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 2,056	The beaches in Cuba are AMAZING. My sister went there for 3 months. In all seriousness America needs to open negotiations with Cuba, we both would benefit. __________________ Heebs Feedback

02-19-2008, 09:12 PM	#8 (permalink)
LUKE Hired Goon Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Lunenburg, MA Posts: 1,290	We've never adopted Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, or other territories as states....I can't ever see it happening with a completely separate country. Nor, would we really want to do that. I would imagine a huge output of money, without any real return. I even remember brief mention way back in college by a few politico types about what should happen if we adopted the maritime provinces of Canada, after Quebec seceded from the country (which never came about). Financially, it would be ruinous. Besides, what makes you think Cubans as a whole would suddenly want to become American? It came as no surprise that Castro stepped down eventually. It makes sense....if he had died in office, it would have been a jump-ball as to who was going to step in next, when the power vacuum occurred. Now, Castro can guide and oversee his government via his brother, until his passing, and probably has a sense that his style of autocratic rule will continue after. Whereas the USSR is no more, I don't see Castro "part deux" making any gigantic shift toward a more democratic society from it's current socialist/communist style. Trade may relax some with the US within our lifetime. I have often thought that if trade and travel restrictions were lifted, some enterprising Americans could buy up dozens of still running (albeit in tough shape) vintage American cars on the cheap, and have them shipped back to sell at a tidy profit to the collectors. And then, of course, would be the rum and cigars. __________________ "We sleep soundly in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm." - Winston Churchill My MCB feedback Sometimes there's justice...and sometimes there's just us BADGE 632 Last edited by LUKE; 02-19-2008 at 09:17 PM.

02-19-2008, 08:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
Al Ray GWC Lifetime Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Grand Junction, Colorado Posts: 2,312	Well Id like to see us go over there and take the place over. Make it a state, but only after a 5 year period of no taxation (to be an incentive for companies to build resorts and such within the first few years) Get the min wage up to US standards as well within those 5 years. Build roads and whatnot. The place would be huge as a turist destination, plus anyone who owned property (do the citizens even own property there? If not then taht would be bad) could make a substantil amount of money, which would be a blessing after all the crap they've been through over there. The place would be as big of a deal as Hawaii.

02-19-2008, 08:53 PM	#6 (permalink)
Al Ray GWC Lifetime Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Grand Junction, Colorado Posts: 2,312	Honestly WT, I think we should take over Mexico too, granted Im fairly shure we could do it on paper, trouble would be funding everything due to the size of the place. Heck if you canadians would go for it Id say take over that too. Sovern, whopte frekin dee. Kings and kingdoms my friend. To be honist the whole deal pisses me off, why the heck should the pesco be worth less than the dollar, or anyone elses currency for that matter. They work just as hard for it. SHure "trade" in the stock market would be funky, if not stop, but its all about greed /usery anyways so the heck with it.

02-19-2008, 09:38 PM	#10 (permalink)
Raion Official PBN Translator Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,314	As a comment on Castro’s recovery, U.S. President George W. Bush said: "One day the good Lord will take Fidel Castro away," Hearing about this, Castro, who is an atheist, ironically replied: "Now I understand why I survived Bush's plans and the plans of other presidents who ordered my assassination: the good Lord protected me." It's funny how the US tell us to hate him and how the majority of people in Cuba liked him :/