[21boat]

Obama is opening up more relations and dialog with Cuba. If the Cubans accepted the U.S. lifting all sanctions against Cuba, And travel out of the U.S. to Cuba was a common thing, what would be the pros and cons? Would it help or hurt The U.S. or the Cubans?

[earl237]

I think the embargo and travel restrictions became obsolete after the collapse of the Soviet Union. It makes no sense now to maintain it, especially since the U.S. does trade with communist China and with other countries with worse human rights records such as Saudi Arabia. Lifting the restrictions would help improve the U.S. image in the world community. Lifting the restrictions might lead to closer relations with the U.S. instead of Cuba getting closer with Venezuela and Russia.

[N0help4u]

I want a vacation in Cuba if 'n when they do.
I think it WAS a beautiful place at one time. Hopefully it can be restored and not so oppressed.

[excon]

travel out of the U.S. to Cuba was a common thing, what would be the pros and cons? Would it help or hurt The U.S. or the Cubans?

Hello boat:

Freedom helps everybody. They can get parts for their '55 Chevy's and we can get good cigars.

excon

PS> Oh yeah, N0 can go on vacation too.

[21boat]

Freedom helps everybody

.

Without a doubt it does.

I see a serious cost in the long run to U.S. taxpayers in the states if Cuba becomes a player in the tourist industry and manufacturing industry.

If it was opened up to the point that they allowed some of our manufacturing industry to move there then there will be I feel a HUGE cost to taxpayers in the States.

I for one would love to visit Cuba.. I was told WE can legally go there but need to leave from Canada. I was also told you can go there as Americans (off base) but can't spend U.S. money legally there

[N0help4u]

If they don't
The companies will just move elsewhere anyway.

[BIGBOPPER]

Living in the bull's eye of it all, here are the pros:
It allows Cubans in Florida to freely visit their families, and provide economic relief for them.
The island can once again establish itself as a economic player in the Latin American world.
Cons: Those Cubans, that left when this started, want their old properties back. Obviously, they cannot get them, and the Cuban Government is in no condition to offer reparations.
There's no guarantee that the Cuban Government will not back peddle and go back to being a Communist regime.
The "Old Guard" on Calle Ocho (8Th Street, in Miami,) is really upset about the normalization of relations. They are writing, and screaming about it on T.V. and the papers.
Personally I do hope that the travel restrictions get lifted completely. I feel sorry for people, who because of B.S. can't see their loved ones.

[21boat]

They can get parts for their '55 Chevy's and we can get good cigars.

We still get Cuban cigars here no matter what.. Duh. Its much easier then smuggling in coke/pot etc.

As far as the cars the transportation system is so bad that its not uncommon for a local to hop in a police car for a ride. The bus system is basically defunked.

What I see economically is a disaster to the U.S. in residual cost to tax payers if Cuba opens up to allow US to build manufacturing plants there. It will cost Billions in tax payer money.

The simple reasons goes back to Puerto Rico. There are HUGE U.S. manufacturing Drug companies in P.R. along with the car building industry etc. P.R. is already in the 65% of 4 million people on some type of Government assistances. If the U.S. main land relocates Puerto Rico plants to Cuba Be ready for a serious tax hike across the U.S. Cuba is 60 miles off Florida verses over a 1,000 miles shipping from Puerto Rico.

Now imagine the total collapse In Puerto Rico. Add Puerto Rico is wanting Equal parity for assistance like it's a state since obama promised it to them.

This would and is going to add 2.8 billion dollars more of the 255 million we send in assistance now. Not to mention the 15 billion annually sent there already.

So in essence we trade Cuba for Puerto Rico . The other difference there is Puerto Rico is part of the U.S. and on Gov assistance in most of there economy.

Since P.R. is part of the US and the manufactures pay taxes to the U.S. add the revenue tax loss on the manf product not going to the U.S. or Puerto Rico..

So we end Up with a mini China in labor cost to build our products and 1/100th less the cost in shipping to the U.S. and in turn ruin what's left of an economy in Puerto Rico and foot the bill basically for ever there form here from that impact..

Puerto Rico is in jeopardy here if Obama talks Cuba into opening up its island for U.S. manufacturing there. Lets compare PR to Ireland in population and economy at its present state. Ireland population is almost exactly what Puerto Rico is.
Ireland http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_th...ion_of_Ireland
Puerto Rico http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Rico

Ireland's economy stats http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009...omy-world-news
Puerto Rico 65% is on U.S. Gov Assistance before the economy collapse in the U.S.. . So if Cuba completely opens up in time then PR will become a TOTAL Welfare island we will pay for out of our U.S. tax dollars.