[Marxism] Letter to Miami Herald "Support Cuba trade"

["Walter Lippmann" <walterlx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Despite the apparent and evident power which Cuban exile
militants have in US politics today due to their role in
the Bush administration, in addition to what they have in
the preceding four plus decades of support from national
administrations of both parties, we can be sure that this
author is not along, and there have to be others within
the Cuban-American community who feel this way.

Among the people who feel this way are Cuban-American folks
who would like to do more business with the island, or who
may already be doing so legally. This is a very important
aspect of the struggle against the blockade which we ought
to keep in mind, encourage, support and publicize widely.

Notice, too, that this writer doesn't "cover" his proposal
by calling it a better way to overthrow the Castro regime.


Walter Lippmann, CubaNews
http://www.walterlippmann.com
========================================================

Posted on Sun, Mar. 20, 2005    
MIAMI HERALD - LETTER TO THE EDITOR     

Support Cuba trade

As a Cuban American, I am writing to thank Louisiana Gov.
Kathleen Blanco for her recent trip to Cuba where the
island agreed to buy $15 million in agricultural goods from
Louisiana in the next year. I know that some opponents of
trade and travel to Cuba objected to her trip. They are not
concerned about the economic benefits to our nation's
farmers.

Cuba has contracted to buy more than $1 billion in American
farm goods since first taking advantage of a 2001 law
allowing U.S. agricultural goods to be sold to the island
on a cash-only basis.

Cuba buys agricultural products from 38 states. At present,
the U.S. trade deficit totaled $672 billion, the worst in
our nation's history. Concerns about the U.S. trade deficit
have contributed to the dollar's three-year decline against
the Euro and other major currencies. It makes good economic
sense to continue selling agricultural products to Cuba.

I applaud Blanco for taking the courageous step to travel
to Cuba. Isolating Cuba, economically or diplomatically,
only isolates America and hurts Americans.

Our current policy toward Cuba contradicts our policies
toward China and Vietnam. Her trip sends an important
message to Americans and to other public officials who know
in their hearts that engagement is good for both the
American people and the Cuban people.

JAVIER E. SANTOS, Miami         

C 2005 Herald.com and wire service sources. All Rights
Reserved. http://www.miami.com


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