Guest view,10/10: Taking exception to Cuban ‘opportunity’
http://journalstar.com/news/opinion/editorial/columnists/article_94a98d56-d405-11df-a73a-001cc4c03286.html

By FRANK CALZONJournalStar.com | Posted: Sunday, October10, 2010 12:15 am

The stated premise of your editorial (Loosentrade with Cuba, 9/29/2010) that "recent moves by Fidel and RaulCastro present a new opportunity" is simply wrong and, I fear, leading youto recommend policy changes that offer no relief from poverty to the Cubanpeople and will leave American taxpayers holding a worthless Cuban IOU.

It is correct that the Cuban government has announced it will "lay offa half a million workers," about 10 percent of Cuba's workforce. It doesnot follow that this means "a move toward the free market system."

In 2002, Fidel Castro announced the closing of 71 of the country's 156 sugarmills, leaving thousands of workers unemployed. Like the new layoff, the oldlayoff was a move toward greater misery, poverty and despair for workers andfamilies.

Closing the mills also was the demise of an industry that had fueled Cuba'seconomy and development since the 18th century and a testament to the crueltyof the tight control the Castro communist government exerts over the island'seconomy.

The 178 "self-employment" jobs open to Cubans include: animalcaretaker, barber, baby sitter, servicing carts pulled by animals forchildren's use, clown, re-filler of cigarette lighters, repairman of wickerproducts, salesman of paper flowers, future teller, collector of grasses foranimal feed, mattress repairman, doorman, peeler of natural fruits, pet-hair cutter,servants, umbrellas repairman, and exhibitor of trained dogs.

Cuba is a beggar state, dependent on the remittances of exiles to preventwidespread hunger. The Castro Regime imposes high taxes on those remittances,ignoring President Barack Obama's request to reduce those taxes and rejectingproposals to normalize postal service. Re-establishing postal service wouldhelp millions of desperate Cubans, but the regime a
wards its supporters withprivate freight concessions and takes a cut of their profits.

Here is the historic record: By 1962, the Castro government had assumedcontrol of all major economic activity in Cuba and had confiscated about $1billion in American-owned properties. By 1968, virtually every vestige ofpre-Castro free-enterprise had been eliminated, including fruit stands andbarber shops.

Even by communist standards the Cuban government has exercised anunparalleled level of economic control. Today, Cuba is broke. Its governmenthas no clue as to how to deal with the most serious economic crisis in theisland's history, except to freeze the bank accounts of foreign investors"due to a liquidity crisis" and urge American tourists to visit andrescue it.

The biggest economic reform it could muster is to allow"Paladares" to increase seating to 20 from 12. Paladares arerestaurants in the home of the cook. This is a far cry from the economicactivity allowed by the also repressive Vietnamese and Chinese communistregimes.

In 2007, America sold Havana $437.5 million dollars in foodstuffs. In 2008,the number was $710 million. Unlike exporters from other nations, the U.S.exporters got paid because the United States requires that any trade with Cubabe made on a "cash and carry" basis. The United States cannot extendcredit to Havana without also providing export insurance and guarantees thatforce American taxpayers to pick up the tab when Cuba defaults. Havana alreadyowes billions to European nations.

Counterintuitive as it may sound, it simply is not in the best interests ofthis country to lift sanctions unilaterally. With U.S. dollars flowing into itscoffers, the Cuban government most likely will strengthen its repressive,domestic security forces, halt any pretense of economic reform, and increaseits worldwide anti-American campaigns. That's been the history of Castro'sCuba, and it is why Cuba remains on the State Department's list ofstate-supporters of international terrorism.

Those who believe that "increased economic contact with Cuba cannothelp but increase the desire among Cubans for freedom of speech and otherpolitical rights" should know that that desire already is strong. Whatpro-democracy advocates in Cuba need is support and solidarity with the UnitedStates in keeping pressure on the Castro government to reform. Have you everheard anyone trading with Havana, call on the Castro regime to reform itseconomy? Hold free elections? Uphold human rights? What you hear from those nowtrading with Havana is silence.

Change will come to Havana. When it does, U.S. policy, no doubt, willfacilitate a successful transition to democracy and market economics. For now,let's help the Cuban people by denying subsidies to their oppressors.

Frank Calzon is executive director of the Center for a Free Cuba inArlington, Va. His e-mail address is frank.calzon@cubacenter.org.
Frank Calzon excellent article, hit the bull’s eye. Liftingthe embargo and travel ban, without meaningful changes in Cuba, would:

1.Guarantee the continuation of the current totalitarian structures.
2.Strengthen state enterprises, since money will flow into businesses owned bythe Castroit regime.
3.Lead to greater repression and control since the Castroit regime fear thatU.S. influence will subvert its power.
4.Delay instead of accelerate a transition to democracy on the island.