Capitalism Should Be Our Weapon of Choice in Cuba

LISTEN TO TLR’S LATEST PODCAST:


By Sen. Rand Paul

Engagement or embargo? That is the question not just in Cuba but also in places like Iran, Russia, and China. Should we trade, or should we withhold our trade in hopes of changing the behavior of other nations? Which will have more impact?

For over half a century, we have had an embargo with Cuba. Not only did the Castros survive it, but they milked it for everything it was worth. As the only source of information on the island for decades, they stoked the nationalism of those Cubans who remained in Cuba to blame America for any of their shortages, instead of the true culprit: socialism.

The embargo did nothing to defeat Castro—absolutely nothing. It is possible it kept him in power longer because of the ability the embargo gave him to further control his people.

President Obama and I agreed on very little, but his slight opening with Cuba was one of those areas. Since his decision to allow more travel and commerce with Cuba, Americans are visiting in record numbers and on their trips they are displaying the greatness of American capitalism: wealth. Every dollar left in the hands of cab drivers, hotel workers, waitresses, and valets is a show of what awaits Cubans if they reject socialism.

We can’t spread democracy through force, as we have shown time and again in our recent foreign policy. But we can model capitalism to the world, export it through our people and goods, and win the debate without one bullet being fired.

When I was a kid, my family was virulently anti-communist. We still are. We were opposed to the opening of “Red” China and all that entailed. We were wrong. China may still have aspects of socialism, but no one can argue it isn’t more capitalist and freer than before we opened diplomatic relations and trade.

Instead of hiding our capitalism behind a failed embargo, we should tear down the walls of trade restriction and open up travel and trade even more. Instead of allowing the socialists to continue their propaganda unopposed, we should have sufficient confidence in capitalism to let them go head to head.

Let’s see what Cubans will choose when they come face to face with iPhones, modern cars, and tourists with fistfuls of dollars buying Cuban services and goods.

I don’t fear the government of Cuba. I don’t fear competition between capitalism and socialism. End the embargo now and capitalism, like the endless waves that lap the Cuban shore, will erode the weak grasp of socialism, day by day, until freedom comes to Cuba—not with a beach landing of troops, but in the realization that poverty and socialism are, in fact, synonyms.

EDITOR’s NOTE: The views expressed are those of the author, they are not necessarily representative of The Libertarian Republic or its sponsors. This article was originally written for Reason and is used with expressed permission.

WATCH TLR’S LATEST VIDEO:

Related posts

28 comments

doubleu casino online casino June 29, 2020 at 7:45 pm

online casino usa real money

golden nugget online casino

online slots real money July 1, 2020 at 11:53 pm

online casinos for usa players

best online casino

canada viagra July 3, 2020 at 4:07 pm

female viagra

viagra 100mg

slot games online July 6, 2020 at 1:14 am

real casinos online no deposit

online casino games real money

real money casino July 8, 2020 at 5:32 am

online casino

online slots real money

tadalafil cialis July 11, 2020 at 4:46 am

cialis online reviews

viagra vs cialis

cash advance July 13, 2020 at 12:52 am

payday loans online

cash advance

loan online July 16, 2020 at 12:23 am

pay day loans

cash advance online

cash payday July 19, 2020 at 1:49 am

loans for bad credit

cash loans

viagra 100mg July 22, 2020 at 3:38 am

viagra 100mg

viagra for sale

new cialis July 24, 2020 at 11:14 pm

generic cialis

5 mg cialis

cialis buy July 29, 2020 at 1:56 am

5 mg cialis

cialis buy

buy cialis July 31, 2020 at 12:48 pm

20 cialis

cialis buy

5 mg cialis August 3, 2020 at 1:26 am

buy cialis

cialis to buy

cialis buy August 6, 2020 at 7:18 am

cialis internet

generic for cialis

online casinos usa August 9, 2020 at 5:17 am

casinos online

chumba casino

slots real money August 12, 2020 at 6:50 pm

online casino real money

real money online casino

best real casino online August 16, 2020 at 2:07 pm

golden nugget online casino

online casino games real money

real online casino August 20, 2020 at 10:47 am

online slots

casino world

generic for viagra August 23, 2020 at 11:57 am

viagra pills

sildenafil viagra

viagra from india August 25, 2020 at 4:42 pm

online pharmacy viagra

viagra discount

generic viagra 100mg August 28, 2020 at 4:06 pm

viagra cheap

herbal viagra

tadalafil cialis September 1, 2020 at 1:07 am

tadalafil liquid

buy cialis online overnight shipping

buy generic cialis online September 4, 2020 at 10:06 pm

cialis buy online

generic cialis

casino slot September 14, 2020 at 9:24 pm

casino gambling

real online casino

play casino September 18, 2020 at 2:50 am

doubleu casino

slot games

Buy cheap viagra November 13, 2020 at 10:42 pm

Best viagra alternative

Us discount viagra overnight delivery

bonanza178 March 7, 2024 at 12:48 pm

… [Trackback]

[…] Find More on on that Topic: thelibertarianrepublic.com/capitalism-weapon-choice-cuba/ […]

Leave a Comment