Unjust Attacks on Farmers Over Cuba
To some Cuban Americans and their allies, the U.S. economic embargo of
Cuba is a black-and-white matter: If you favor it, you're a freedom
fighter; if you want it eased, you're a money-grubbing philistine.
"Let's know who is for democracy and human rights and who wants to sell
their stuff no matter how many people are in prison," is how Democratic
Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey put it after legislation to allow
more travel and trade was introduced.
I admire Menendez's passionate commitment to Cuban freedom. I deplore
his unfair portrayal of his opponents.
No question, Cubans deserve sympathy and support. Unlike China, which
grants economic freedom but stifles political expression, Communist Cuba
controls every aspect of life. Human-rights groups rank Cuba among the
world's most repressive regimes. Freedom House says it's among "the
worst of the worst."
Supporters of easing the embargo would be thrilled if it were otherwise.
Many are farmers who love liberty and wish all human beings could enjoy
it. Yes, U.S. ag exports, an exception to the embargo, average $400
million a year. But that's paltry and most farmers likely would forsake
exports if that would end Cuban totalitarianism.
But no one can say it would. We've been restricting travel and trade for
47 years and Cubans are still enslaved. The embargo has become a dreary
joke, an echo of the scene in Mel Brooks' movie Blazing Saddles where
the about-to-be-lynched African-American points a revolver at his own
head and says, "Don't move or the nigger gets it." With the embargo we
shoot only ourselves.
It's not that economic sanctions never work. When nations impose them
collectively, as they did to protest apartheid in South Africa,
sanctions can remake history. Our Cuba embargo, unfortunately, is a solo
act. Other countries trade with and allow travel to Cuba. Last October,
the United Nations General Assembly dissed the embargo for the 17th
consecutive year. The vote was 185 to 3, with only Israel and Palau
supporting the U.S.
Senator Menendez says by trading with Cuba other countries are merely
propping up Fidel Castro's regime, which has "used the resources to
become more oppressive." Perhaps, but continuing what we're doing won't
ease the oppression. Instead, the embargo gives Castro cover for his
inept economic management, allowing him to blame America for Cuba's poverty.
Embargo backers say ending it would forfeit all leverage over Castro's
eventual successors, who might be tempted to grant Cubans more freedom
in return for trade with the U.S.
Maybe, but no one is proposing to end the embargo. All that's on the
table is building on existing exceptions to relieve Cubans' suffering
and allow them some independence from the regime.
President Barack Obama, who is attending a Summit of the Americas, is
using his presidential authority to allow Cuban-Americans to visit
families in Cuba and send them money without limitations. (The Bush
administration allowed visits only once every three years and held
remittances to $300 per quarter.)
Legislation before Congress would go further. Most Americans could
travel to Cuba and Cuba could pay cash for ag imports when the goods
arrive instead of before they're shipped, as the Bush administration
required.
But even if the legislation is enacted, trade in non-agricultural goods
and most U.S. investment in Cuba would still be banned. We would still
have the prospect of ending those bans to use as leverage.
Congressional supporters of easing, like Democratic Senator Byron Dorgan
of North Dakota and Republican Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana, are
confident of victory. Others aren't so sure.
Certainly, despite recent fissures in the Cuban-American community, most
proponents of a tough anti-Castro line will fight on. Fair enough. In a
democracy all are free to lobby for their beliefs.
What isn't fair is accusing opponents of caring only for filthy lucre.
American farmers, certainly, don't deserve that.
Posted at 06:28AM CDT Apr 17, 2009 by Urban C Lehner
DTN/The Progressive Farmer: Agriculture Markets, News and Weather (19
May 2009)
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