U.S. House votes to allow Cuban tourism

[Tony]

http://interestalert.com/brand/siteia.shtml?Story=st/sn/09100000aaa04294.upi&Sys=rmmiller&Fid=NATIONAL&Type=News&Filter=National%20News



WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 (UPI) -- The House ignored GOP opposition and voted Wednesday to approve an amendment allowing American tourists to travel to Cuba.

Supporters of the amendment, which was offered by Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., said the proposal would advance freedom in the communist nation. Opponents said it would only bolster Fidel Castro's dictatorship.

The amendment, attached to the Treasury and Transportation Departments appropriations bill, passed 227-188.

CNSnews.com said House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, issued a statement saying: "This amendment would reward injustice. There is no such thing as a 'Cuban tourism industry.' There is only Fidel Castro and his thugocracy."


Too bad bush is going to veto it.

[rustypouch]

I hope it does not get passed.

Cuba is one of the few places where things are still cheap, non-touristy, and there are few Americans.

I think that if Americans start visiting there, these things will change, for the worse.

[Tony]

Ok, any non-xenophobes want to opine?

[a_unique_person]

The thin end of the wedge. It can't be long before Cuba invades the US and turns it into a workers paradise.

[TruthSeeker]

I strongly recommend travelling to Cuba. It is absolutely beautiful. Take along small toiletries and other little useful gifts to give to people instead of tips. Things are so expensive there that a few dollars can't buy anything but a tube of toothpaste can be a great gift.

Mind you, if Americans are allowed to visit, it might do the economy good. If nothing else, more resorts will be built and they will require staff and these are among the best jobs for many working class Cubans.

Sad but true.

[shanek]

The government of a free country has absolutely no business telling its citizens where they can and cannot travel, ever. They can issue alerts, as they have with Nigeria for example, and of course Americans cannot expect their government to protect them when abroad, but as long as they accept the risks they should have the freedom to go wherever they choose.

[jj]

Originally posted by shanek
The government of a free country has absolutely no business telling its citizens where they can and cannot travel, ever. They can issue alerts, as they have with Nigeria for example, and of course Americans cannot expect their government to protect them when abroad, but as long as they accept the risks they should have the freedom to go wherever they choose.


What about the right to return after travel?

[shanek]

Originally posted by jj
What about the right to return after travel?

Of course, and America should be taking action against those countries who hold American citizens against their will who have committed no crime.

[Nyarlathotep]

I agree with Shanek that it is ridiculous for our government to tell us where we can and can't go. In any case, Castro's government is only helped by having no contact with us, it allows his people to get only his views on what Americans are like without fear of contradiction.

[Jon_in_london]

Originally posted by jj



What about the right to return after travel?

Saying that one of your citizens cant return because he/she has visited a country you dont like is one of the most ridiculous and pathetic things I have ever heard.

[LeFevre]

Originally posted by rustypouch
I hope it does not get passed.

Cuba is one of the few places where things are still cheap, non-touristy, and there are few Americans.

I think that if Americans start visiting there, these things will change, for the worse.

Not to worry, I don't think too many American would want to go there. Too many weak canadians there :rolleyes:

[Q-Source]

It is ridiculos that the most powerful country in the world still considers Cuba as a threat. :rolleyes:

Good for Fidel!
Viva la Revolucion!

O.K. for those US citizens that want to travel to Cuba, take an airplane to Cancun and from there you can fly easily to Cuba (it takes only 45 minutes). Don't worry about a possible Cuban stamp in your passport. They won't put any stamp.


Q-S

[Tony]

Originally posted by Q-Source

Good for Fidel!
Viva la Revolucion!



Yeah viva la oppression, viva la murder, viva la starvation, viva la poverty, viva la unjust imprisonment and viva la cigars.

[HarryKeogh]

Originally posted by Tony


Yeah viva la oppression, viva la murder, viva la starvation, viva la poverty, viva la unjust imprisonment and viva la cigars.

i don't know what youre talking about but from my research on cuba (the first 35 minutes of the godfather part 2), cuba seems wonderful

btw, loved your 2nd post on this thread.

one simple thing i never understood, trade with china, no trade with cuba?

[Segnosaur]

Originally posted by shanek


Of course, and America should be taking action against those countries who hold American citizens against their will who have committed no crime.

Ok, I can accept your belief that Americans should be able to travel anywhere they want.

And I can accept your belief that America should take action against countries that hold people for no reason.

But....

Isn't there a conflict there? If people really want to travel to a country that perhaps the US thinks is too dangerous to travel to, then why should the rest of the US citizens be responsible for getting that person out of trouble?

[Upchurch]

fwiw, I'm all for opening up travel between Cuba and the US.

[LW]

Originally posted by Q-Source
It is ridiculos that the most powerful country in the world still considers Cuba as a threat.

A person that I know (or used to know, haven't seen him in 5-6 years) was an exchange student in the US sometime in late 80s. He had once had a discussion with some of his classmates about wars and military in general. After making a comment along the line that the greatest threat to Finland is the ~1100 km common border with Soviet Union, one of the American students had answered: "Yeah, I know, it's like us and Cuba".

(And no, I don't want to imply that all folks in US are like that).

[arcticpenguin]

CNSnews.com said House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, issued a statement saying: "This amendment would reward injustice. There is no such thing as a 'Cuban tourism industry.' There is only Fidel Castro and his thugocracy."
I don't care for the simplistic black & white attempt to demonize the opponent. Not a sign of a deep thinker.

Republicans hold a majority in the House. There must be considerable dissent on the issue if it was able to pass in the House.

[jj]

Originally posted by shanek


Of course, and America should be taking action against those countries who hold American citizens against their will who have committed no crime.

But what about the right granted by the USA to return to the USA after travel. Nice dodge....

[jj]

Personally, I'd think that seeing the results of our eevul capitalism vs. how people are getting on in Cuba would only serve our ends and not Castro's.

Communism doesn't work, and Cuba is but another proof.

[shanek]

Originally posted by jj
But what about the right granted by the USA to return to the USA after travel. Nice dodge....

What dodge? Of course citizens should have the right to return to the USA! What are you even on about? Do you even know?

[shanek]

Originally posted by jj
Personally, I'd think that seeing the results of our eevul capitalism vs. how people are getting on in Cuba would only serve our ends and not Castro's.

Communism doesn't work, and Cuba is but another proof.

Which is why we should open our borders to Cubans, too. After all, these people are literally dying to get to our country! And it's not because of our welfare state—it's because of the prosperity that (what's left of) our free market provides!

[jj]

Originally posted by shanek


What dodge? Of course citizens should have the right to return to the USA! What are you even on about? Do you even know?

Even if they've:

Caught Ebola?

I'm just trying to see how far your principle goes...

I generally know what I'm on about, by the way.

[jj]

Originally posted by shanek


Which is why we should open our borders to Cubans, too. After all, these people are literally dying to get to our country! And it's not because of our welfare state—it's because of the prosperity that (what's left of) our free market provides!

It's because the welfare will keep them alive until they can prosper from the free market, you mean. Takes both to make a productive citizen from a refugee, no matter how skilled, willing and able.

Btw, I'm in agreement that we should let them in. No real debate there.

Just have to make sure that Castro doesn't send us all his criminals again ....

[shanek]

Originally posted by jj
It's because the welfare will keep them alive until they can prosper from the free market, you mean. Takes both to make a productive citizen from a refugee, no matter how skilled, willing and able.

The experience with the immigrants in the 19th Century proves you wrong.

[jj]

Originally posted by shanek


The experience with the immigrants in the 19th Century proves you wrong.

Talk about denying your own evidence!

The death, starvation, and such are well documented. Not only does your evidence not prove me wrong, it utterly, totally defeats your own assertion in the most basic, fundamental way possible, that of actual known evidence.

[shanek]

Originally posted by jj
The death, starvation, and such are well documented.

We were talking about productivity. And it's also well known that even the problems you mentioned weren't as bad as they were where they came from.

[KelvinG]

Originally posted by rustypouch
I hope it does not get passed.

Cuba is one of the few places where things are still cheap, non-touristy, and there are few Americans.

I think that if Americans start visiting there, these things will change, for the worse.

Agreed. We need a sanctuary free of loud, boorish Americans. (please note: All Americans who are not loud and boorish may disregard this statement)

[Mike B.]

Originally posted by Tony
Ok, any non-xenophobes want to opine?

:D :D :D