I say this with the utmost disbelief in myself. I am finding myself agreeing with Rand Paul more and more often. I'm not sure who's changing, me or him. Some self-examination is required.

I say this with the utmost disbelief in myself. I am finding myself agreeing with Rand Paul more and more often. I'm not sure who's changing, me or him. Some self-examination is required.

 

It goes back to my last point . Paul can't be placed as a conservative liberal or moderate. His positions on what side he is on changes with every issue. It is insane to me how so many candidates can be 100% for any ticket.

 

It's why as I've evolved over the years the Libertarian stance seems like the most honest stance. If you are a true Libertarian you will never agree with either party all the time.

It goes back to my last point . Paul can't be placed as a conservative liberal or moderate. His positions on what side he is on changes with every issue. It is insane to me how so many candidates can be 100% for any ticket.

 

It's why as I've evolved over the years the Libertarian stance seems like the most honest stance. If you are a true Libertarian you will never agree with either party all the time.

 

I definitely don't see myself as a Libertarian. I do agree that I don't agree with any candidate 100%. It's why I've registered as an Independent.

I agree 100% rockmom. I thought Rand Paul was a disaster waiting to happen. I thought his foreign policy stances were unrealistic and even a bit scary. I now find myself agreeing with him on many issues. I believe it is the Libertarian platform that is what works for you, me and perhaps others - less government, fiscal conservative, liberal social positions.

 

As to Lipton Bash's comments about honesty, I don't see Paul any more or less honest than any other politician. He is being true to his beliefs, which I think is true of most politicians. What you, Lipton Bash, are seeing and like, just like myself and rockmom, is a politician who is not toeing the Republican, Tea Party or Democrat line. He is a Libertarian and that is where his positions and beliefs come from. It is refreshing. It also may position him as someone who can work with both R's and D's.

Edited December 20, 201411 yr by Voice of Reason

I just don't know if I fully fall in line with the Libertarian platform. Some of it's much more extreme in position that I fall.

 

As to the Cuban and Cuban-American views on this. I find it interesting because I have been reading a lot of reactions online today. It all brings to mind a conversation I had with a Cuban gentleman who worked with me at The Brown. We used to chat a lot, and I asked him once about his family. His wife and her parents were here in the US with them, all living together in South Louisville. But he hadn't seen his children in 20 years and had never seen his grandchildren. His hope was to someday see them all again. I think that the feelings of immigrants may be mixed. And I can certainly understand why. Most that I read reaction from online actually had their families here. I think there are may be those who had to leave without their families who may be the most conflicted. I personally have always thought it was a stupid position for the US. After decades of no effect on Castro, the only think that was accomplished was a direct negative effect on the lives of ordinary Cubans. I think it's a good thing, as stated above, and it's not like Congress hasn't softened their stance in the recent past.

 

This also presents an interesting political dilemma for both parties, as they try not to alienate either the Cuban-American population who oppose the action, nor those that condone it.

Dictator R. Castro has a made a statement that we should not expect any changes to the way Cuba is governed. Maybe with us trying to pry open the evils of this dictatorship and the deaths of both Castros, we could hopefully see changes with a new generation of Cuban leaders. Most likely a pipe-dream, but potential change will only come when Fidel and Raul join Che in Hades.

Dictator R. Castro has a made a statement that we should not expect any changes to the way Cuba is governed. Maybe with us trying to pry open the evils of this dictatorship and the deaths of both Castros, we could hopefully see changes with a new generation of Cuban leaders. Most likely a pipe-dream, but potential change will only come when Fidel and Raul join Che in Hades.

Exactly why this is a bad thing! No Cuban that has left Cuba is going to be able to go back and reunite with their family. If they tried you can bet they'd end up in prison and tortured. Again, this is an oppressive, brutal, communist regime that doesn't care about it's people.

Capitalism and free markets are the best way to undermine a communist regime. If you want the cuban people to eventually experience freedom and basic civil liberties, they must have economic freedom. Free trade with the country which espouses these ideals is a good way to set an example.

 

A failed embargo is not. The argument could be made that the embargo has only helped the communist regime and done absolutely zero for the cuban people.

Capitalism and free markets are the best way to undermine a communist regime. If you want the cuban people to eventually experience freedom and basic civil liberties, they must have economic freedom.

 

Who says the Cuban people are gaining their economic freedom from this? The Castro's appear intent on suppressing their freedoms even with economic help from their new buddy. The Cuban economy was in the dumper and we threw them a lifeline. This does nothing but strengthen their power.

Who says the Cuban people are gaining their economic freedom from this? The Castro's appear intent on suppressing their freedoms even with economic help from their new buddy. The Cuban economy was in the dumper and we threw them a lifeline. This does nothing but strengthen their power.

 

What country has had immediate 100% economic freedom? I can't name one. This is am important step in uplifting the people of Cuba, no matter if they're still oppressed by a communist dictator.

 

Free trade is a basic fundamental of a free market system. How are you supposed to empower the people of Cuba without basic economic freedom?

 

Embargo's and trade restrictions not only hurt US consumers in the form of higher prices, but also the most vulnerable in targeted nations, in this case Cuba.

 

In the words of Ronald Reagan, "The freer the flow of world trade, the stronger the tides of human progress and peace among nations.”

What country has had immediate 100% economic freedom? I can't name one. This is am important step in uplifting the people of Cuba, no matter if they're still oppressed by a communist dictator.

 

Free trade is a basic fundamental of a free market system. How are you supposed to empower the people of Cuba without basic economic freedom?

 

Embargo's and trade restrictions not only hurt US consumers in the form of higher prices, but also the most vulnerable in targeted nations, in this case Cuba.

 

In the words of Ronald Reagan, "The freer the flow of world trade, the stronger the tides of human progress and peace among nations.”

 

Except again the Cuban people aren't receiving any of the things you keep mentioning. I agree with your points in theory they just don't apply to Cuba. I suggest read up on what Raul Castro has saI'd to the media since this news broke.

Except again the Cuban people aren't receiving any of the things you keep mentioning. I agree with your points in theory they just don't apply to Cuba. I suggest read up on what Raul Castro has saI'd to the media since this news broke.

 

What are the Cuban people not receiving?

What are the Cuban people not receiving?

Human rights for one.

Human rights for one.

 

 

Again, full lifting of the embargo isn't going to immediately rectify human rights. Not sure who is arguing that point. Raul Castro and his regime have a long way to go before that happens.

 

However, this is a very important step and a basic free-market building block that is needed for the Cuban people that will grant them the power to undermine the regime.

 

If you're against the full lifting of the embargo, you don't understand how trade promotes freedom and development.

 

You can't argue for more human rights for the Cuban people and then impose harsh sanctions by limiting competition. The only group that helps and protects is the Cuban Communist regime.

And just for the record, we are already one of Cuba's largest trading partners.

 

But the vast majority of US companies still cannot trade due to the restrictions of the embargo.

 

They are eager to tap into that market. And it will be the best thing to happen to the Cuban people.

 

US Companies Eager to Embrace Cuba Face Hurdles - ABC News

 

Economists at the Peterson Institute for International Economics estimate that the export of U.S. goods to Cuba could eventually reach $4.3 billion annually, up from just $360 million in 2013. And Cuban exports of goods to the United States could reach $5.8 billion, from zero now.

 

A full lifting of the U.S. trade embargo could benefit, among others, U.S. farmers, auto and tractor makers, airline and hotel companies and telecom equipment makers. The United States now sells Cuba about $350 million a year in farm products, including rice corn, soybeans and frozen chicken parts, according to the American Farm Bureau. A 2000 law relaxed restrictions on food and medical exports.