NationStates Jolt Archive

Embargos don't do any good. What nations voted to keep the embargo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_embargo) in place against Cuba, again? Let's see, the Marshall Islands (a US puppet), Israel (a US puppet) and the US (an Israel puppet).

Whatever happened to free trade?

Apparently we wanted to show those socialists that *we* can be anti-free market, anti-capitalist, narrow-minded turds as well? I mean is that really the point - show how wonderful free trade is, by denying it to Cuba? Only problem with that is we deny it to ourselves in the process. It's like punishing your sex partner by not giving him/her sex... only you want to have sex, so you're punishing yourself.

It's sadomasochism, is what it is.

How can we possibly keep a straight face with NAFTA, or SAFTA, or any other "free trade" agreement when we obviously shit all over the concept just to fulfill our legacy of fear regarding this former soviet puppet nation?

It'll never happen, I see that now. Republicans don't believe in free trade and neither do Democrats. It's just another silly example of the xenophobic paranoia in this nation that makes us compromise our own values.

I want my cigars dammit!

I want my cigars dammit!

Cuban cigars are not illegal in the US, that is a misconception. It is only illegal to sell them, not import or trade them.

Once you lift the embargo, the doors of information and education will be pushed open. The Cuban people will see the truth about their dictator and hopefully throw off the shackles of their prison state for good. Keeping the embargo in place only punishes the Cuban people, not Castro. I say lift the embargo, so the rest of the world can see what Cuba really looks like: http://therealcuba.com/index.htm

Cuban cigars are not illegal in the US, that is a misconception. It is only illegal to sell them, not import or trade them.

Ironical!

What if I trade them for some five dollar bills?

Once you lift the embargo, the doors of information and education will be pushed open. The Cuban people will see the truth about their dictator and hopefully throw off the shackles of their prison state for good. Keeping the embargo in place only punishes the Cuban people, not Castro. I say lift the embargo, so the rest of the world can see what Cuba really looks like: http://therealcuba.com/index.htm

Yeah.

Plus then American businesses could move in to Cuba. McDonald's in Havana FTW!

Yeah.

Plus then American businesses could move in to Cuba. McDonald's in Havana FTW!
No. Those bloody Golden Arches have infested enough places as it is...leave some decent restaurants around, PLEASE!

No. Those bloody Golden Arches have infested enough places as it is...leave some decent restaurants around, PLEASE!

Rats don't infest a place unless you've got rat food, and a lack of cats...

Similarly, McDonald's doesn't stay where people aren't willing to pay for and consume machine-produced cuisine. If Cubans want to eat Happy Meals, who are we to deny them?

Rats don't infest a place unless you've got rat food, and a lack of cats...

Similarly, McDonald's doesn't stay where people aren't willing to pay for and consume machine-produced cuisine. If Cubans want to eat Happy Meals, who are we to deny them?
Butbutbut...

There has to be SOMEPLACE other than rural areas such as my nice little town in Colorado free of such awful restaurants...and besides, if they really want McDonald's, they can sail over to Florida.

Butbutbut...

There has to be SOMEPLACE other than rural areas such as my nice little town in Colorado free of such awful restaurants...and besides, if they really want McDonald's, they can sail over to Florida.

You would oppress the proletariat!?

What of the Workers who cannot afford to travel to Florida? What of the Workers who cannot afford a Quarter-pounder with Cheese from their local rural restaurant?

You would oppress the proletariat!?

What of the Workers who cannot afford to travel to Florida? What of the Workers who cannot afford a Quarter-pounder with Cheese from their local rural restaurant?
Well, as much as I am for free enterprise and trade and all that good stuff...it clashes with my need-for-good-restaurants.

...

But then, since when am I ever going to visit Havana anyway? Ah, fine. Cubans, have your freakin' McDonald's. I don't want it.

I'm pretty sure Iran doesn't have any McDonalds. So, I conclude that your Colorado town is an Islamic Theocracy.

Actually, while we're on the subject, I was perusing the McDonalds website and found their list of trademarked terms. One of them sprung out to me, cuz I never heard it before, and hearing it from McDonalds is disconcerting...


The following trademarks used herein are owned by the McDonald's Corporation and its affiliates: 1-800-MC1-STCK, Always Quality. Always Fun., America’s Favorite Fries, Arch Deluxe, Aroma Café, Automac, Big Mac, Big N’ Tasty, Big Xtra!, Birdie, the Early Bird and Design, Black History Makers of tomorrow, Bolshoi Mac, Boston Market, Cajita Feliz, Changing The Face of The World, Chicken McGrill, Chicken McNuggets, Chicken Selects, Chipolte Mexican Grill, Cuarto De Libra, Did Somebody Say , Donatos Pizza, emac digital, Egg McMuffin, Extra Value Meal, Filet-O-Fish, French Fry Box Design, Fruit Buzz, Gep Op Mac, Golden Arches, Golden Arches Logo, Good Jobs For Good People, Good Times. Great Taste., Gospelfest, Great Breaks, Grimace and Design, Groenteburger, HACER, Hamburglar and Design, Hamburger University, Happy Meal, Happy Meal Box Design, Have You Had Your Break Today?, Healthy Growing Up, Helping Hands Logo, Hey, i'm lovin' it, It Could Happen!, "it's what i eat and what i do", Iam Hungry and Design, Immunize for Healthy Lives, Kiwiburger, Lifting Kids To A Better Tomorrow, Mac Attack, Mac Jr., Mac Tonight and Design, McDonald’s Racing Team Design, Made For You, McBaby, McBacon, McBurger, McBus, McCafe, McChicken, McDia Feliz, MCDirect Shares, McDonaldland, McDonald’s , McDonald’s All American High School Basketball Game, McDonald’s All American High School Jazz Bank, McDonald’s All Star Racing Team, McDonald’s Building Design, McDonald’s Earth Effort, McDonald’s Earth Effort Logo, McDonald’s Express, McDonald’s Express Logo, McDonald’s Is Your Kind of Place, McDonald’s Means Opportunity, McDouble, McDrive, McExpress, McFamily, McFlurry, McFranchise, McGriddles, McGrilled Chicken, McHappy Day, McHero, McJobs, McKids, McKids Logo, McKroket, McMaco, McMemories, McMenu, McMusic, McNifica, McNuggets, McNuggets Kip, McOz, McPlane, McPollo, McPrep, McRecycle USA, McRib, McRoyal, McScholar, McScholar of the Year, McSwing, McWorld, Mighty Kids Meal, Mighty Wings, Millennium Dreamers, Morning Mac, Quarter Pounder, RMCC, RMHC, Ronald McDonald and Design, Ronald McDonald House, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Ronald McDonald House Charities Logo, Ronald McDonald House Logo, Ronald Scholars, Sausage McGriddles, Sausage McMuffin, Single Arch Logo, Speedee Logo, Super Size, Teriyaki McBurger, The House That Love Built, The House That Love Built Design, twoallbeefpattiesspecialsaucelettucecheesepicklesoniononasesameseedbun, Vegi Mac, We Love to See You Smile, What’s On Your Place, When the U.S. Wins You Win, World Children's Day, World Children's Day Logo, World Famous Fries, You Deserve a Break Today, McDWireless.

I'm pretty sure Iran doesn't have any McDonalds. So, I conclude that your Colorado town is an Islamic Theocracy.

...

What kind of logic is that?!

And yes. That is rather disconcerting...though considering how McDonald's typically sponsers the U.S. in the Olympics, it's probably talking about that...

That's vaguely disturbing, Santa Barbara....

...

What kind of logic is that?!

Fun Logic (tm)


And yes. That is rather disconcerting...though considering how McDonald's typically sponsers the U.S. in the Olympics, it's probably talking about that...

Probably so, but it still sounds more like it came from propaganda leaflets dropped on Iraq just before the Shock and Awe begins, rather than advertisement for foodstuffs.

Probably so, but it still sounds more like it came from propaganda leaflets dropped on Iraq just before the Shock and Awe begins, rather than advertisement for foodstuffs.
"Cease fighting and surrender to US troops, and get 50% off a quarterpounder with cheese on production of your GITMO uniform. Voucher only redeemable in Arkansas"

McDonalds would be buggered in Cuba, as there's no commercial advertising there.

But I think that the embargo should be lifted.

Embargos don't do any good. What nations voted to keep the embargo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_embargo) in place against Cuba, again? Let's see, the Marshall Islands (a US puppet), Israel (a US puppet) and the US (an Israel puppet).

Whatever happened to free trade?

Apparently we wanted to show those socialists that *we* can be anti-free market, anti-capitalist, narrow-minded turds as well? I mean is that really the point - show how wonderful free trade is, by denying it to Cuba? Only problem with that is we deny it to ourselves in the process. It's like punishing your sex partner by not giving him/her sex... only you want to have sex, so you're punishing yourself.

It's sadomasochism, is what it is.

How can we possibly keep a straight face with NAFTA, or SAFTA, or any other "free trade" agreement when we obviously shit all over the concept just to fulfill our legacy of fear regarding this former soviet puppet nation?

It'll never happen, I see that now. Republicans don't believe in free trade and neither do Democrats. It's just another silly example of the xenophobic paranoia in this nation that makes us compromise our own values.

Yes, it would seem that it would be difficult to encourage such economic treaties as NAFTA and CAFTA while not furthering trade with Cuba. However, the embargo was put into place with a primary stipulation: that Cuba end its communist regime and open its borders to free trade. The two are, by nature, incompatible.

Oh, and there are ways to get Cuban products...if you know where to look...:D

You would oppress the proletariat!?

What of the Workers who cannot afford to travel to Florida? What of the Workers who cannot afford a Quarter-pounder with Cheese from their local rural restaurant?

Don't forget that Cuba has the metric system. They wouldn't even call it a Quarter-pounder with Cheese.

Don't forget that Cuba has the metric system. They wouldn't even call it a Quarter-pounder with Cheese.

Fine. A Half-kilo with Cheese.

Fine. A Half-kilo with Cheese.

That's one frickin' big quarter pounder.:D

That's one frickin' big quarter pounder.:D

Wait.

*Brain: Whirrrrrr-clik. Whirrrrrrrr-clik. Clik-clik. Whirrrrrrr-clik.*

Oh. Yeah.

The Hectogram-er with Cheese.

Don't forget that Cuba has the metric system. They wouldn't even call it a Quarter-pounder with Cheese.

We have the metric system and we do...

Don't forget that Cuba has the metric system. They wouldn't even call it a Quarter-pounder with Cheese.

It'd be called a 113.5 Gram-er with Cheese, but to stop it sounding rubbish, we actually call them Quarter-pounders with Cheese, even in Europe.

Yes, it would seem that it would be difficult to encourage such economic treaties as NAFTA and CAFTA while not furthering trade with Cuba. However, the embargo was put into place with a primary stipulation: that Cuba end its communist regime and open its borders to free trade. The two are, by nature, incompatible.

In other words, the embargo was put into place in order to force the downfall of the Cuban government. Yeah, sounds like something I'd do if I believed in free trade, alright.

And doesn't it seem a bit... childish, silly, hypocritical? "Free trade is good and we of the US believe in it. Oh, you Cubans won't have free trade? FINE WE WON'T EITHER!"

I mean, look, either you're for free trade or you're not, you can't just espouse the ideals and benefits of free trade and then throw it out the window just because someone else does.

The whole thing stunk from the beginning, and it CERTAINLY stinks now when we're supposed to be the sort of nation that doesn't go around coercing other governments just for jollies. Particularly if we violate our own principles in the process.

It'd be called a 113.5 Gram-er with Cheese, but to stop it sounding rubbish, we actually call them Quarter-pounders with Cheese, even in Europe.

You mean a 113.3980925 Gram-er with Cheese?

It'd be called a 113.5 Gram-er with Cheese, but to stop it sounding rubbish, we actually call them Quarter-pounders with Cheese, even in Europe.

Well, the French don't for example. They call it a Royale with cheese.

Dunno how it's called Germany, because I prefer Burger King.

You mean a 113.3980925 Gram-er with Cheese?

Oh, no, what have I started?:headbang: :D

Oh, no, what have I started?:headbang: :D

A thread that's making me hungry?

Or maybe I was always hungry, I just didn't realize it until I started to read this thread.

Embargo what Embargo?

The embargo has a big hole, yes some sanctions remaining.

No millions of American tourists, and no American loans and credits, while Cuba receives loans and credits from other nations, of which it owes $ billions of $ Dollars worth to those nations.

Limited family visits, and yet Cuban Americans can send up to $100 Dollars a month and $1200 Dollars a year to their relatives in Cuba.

Cuban Americans can send care packages to thier relatives in Cuba.

Cuban Americans communicate with thier relatives in Cuba through letters and phone calls, on which the Cuban government makes money from those phone calls.

Over two million tourists mostly Europeans, Canadians and others visit Cuba each year.

Cuba trades with most of the world, the EU nations, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Japan, Israel, China and oil rich Venezuela, and others, including
limited trade with the USA.

Cuba buys over a hundred million $ Dollars worth of goods from the USA each year on a cash as you buy basis.

Where are the so-called democratic changes of trade, European investements, diplomatic relations and dialogue with Fidel, they dont exist.

European nations that invest in Cuba, pay the Cuban government in $ Dollars or Euros per worker, the Cuban government pays the Cuban workers in Pesos, and keeps the diffrence.

European companys cannot hire and fire thier own workers,
a Cuban government employment agency hires and fires the workers under thier own rules and regulations.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Cuba to Purchase More Food From Nebraska By OLGA R. RODRIGUEZ, Associated Press Writer
Wed Apr 19, 4:47 PM ET

HAVANA - Cuba agreed Wednesday to buy another $30 million in food from Nebraska, strengthening trade relations with a U.S. farm state already selling corn, wheat, soybeans and other products to the communist island.

Nebraska Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy and Agriculture Director Greg Ibach led the trade delegation, which included meat and other agriculture producers on the four-day trip.

In August, Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman visited Cuba and signed a separate deal to export $30 million in agricultural products in an 18-month period. Most of those deals have since been completed, said Pedro Alvarez, head of the Cuban food import firm Alimport.

"We've had a great commerce experience with Nebraska and this shows the desire of many (U.S.) states to work for free trade with the United States," Alvarez told The Associated Press at Havana's historic Hotel Nacional during a breakfast hosted by Farmland Foods Inc. featuring Nebraska pork and other meat products.

Sheehy said the new deal will include the export of pork, cattle, poultry, wheat, corn, soybeans, dry beans and dairy in the next 18 months.

"Agriculture is the No. 1 industry in the state and Gov. Heineman saw an opportunity in Cuba to expand our market," Sheehy said.

Alvarez said the new trade deal includes a $2.8 million meat purchase from Farmland Foods Inc.

"We're consolidating the links between the state of Nebraska and our country, links that would be strengthen if (trade) restrictions were eliminated," Alvarez said.

A 45-year-old U.S. embargo against communist Cuba severely limits travel and trade with the island, but an exception created in 2000 allows food and agricultural products to be sold directly on a cash-only basis.

Alvarez said Cuba expects to spend between $450 to $550 million on U.S. food products this year from a total of about $1.7 billion allocated for food imports.

For the past four years, Cuba has contracted to buy more than $1.4 billion in farm goods from 38 U.S. states, including shipping and hefty bank fees to send payments through third nations, according to Alimport.

"Cuba has been a very valuable trading partner for us," Heineman said via telephone at a news conference later Wednesday. He also announced plans to visit Cuba in the fall.

Fidel tells the EU and the world, trade, invest, and go to hell, I am not going to change my dictatorship ways, all you have to do is listen to Fidel own statements on the subject.

You should all be very happy, that the dictator for life is doing quite well.

------------------------------------------------------------

Keep in mind that Cuba will sign anything
to make it seem better :

For the past four years, Cuba has contracted to buy more than $1.4 billion in farm goods from 38 U.S. states,

Israel (a US puppet) and the US (an Israel puppet).

Wait a second...

If the embargo with Cuba, the one that has outlasted the Soviet Union, is lifted, the communists win.

Wait a second...

It's a sick and twisted relationship. With lots of strings.

If the embargo with Cuba, the one that has outlasted the Soviet Union, is lifted, the communists win.

Teh, I am very surprised of this post from you of all people, reading some of your posts before, shocked?

Teh, I am very surprised of this post from you of all people, reading some of your posts before, shocked?
You obviously don't pay too much attention.

Cuban cigars are not illegal in the US, that is a misconception. It is only illegal to sell them, not import or trade them.
you can bring 3 in legally for personal use. therefore, without leaving the country, I have none.

I repete. I want my cigar dammit!;)

You obviously don't pay too much attention.

I could have sworn you stated in a post along time ago, that you are a native born Cuban living in the USA, is this true, or did I not pay much attention again?

well you americans did arest a european golfer for having a load of cuban cigrs after we caned you in the Ryder Cup

I could have sworn you stated in a post along time ago, that you are a native born Cuban living in the USA, is this true, or did I not pay much attention again?
You arn't even in the ballpark.

You arn't even in the ballpark.

I wonder where I got that idea, you do write excellent spanish, as I am wrong, I apologize.

Embargos don't do any good. What nations voted to keep the embargo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_embargo) in place against Cuba, again? Let's see, the Marshall Islands (a US puppet), Israel (a US puppet) and the US (an Israel puppet).

Whatever happened to free trade?

Apparently we wanted to show those socialists that *we* can be anti-free market, anti-capitalist, narrow-minded turds as well? I mean is that really the point - show how wonderful free trade is, by denying it to Cuba? Only problem with that is we deny it to ourselves in the process. It's like punishing your sex partner by not giving him/her sex... only you want to have sex, so you're punishing yourself.

It's sadomasochism, is what it is.

How can we possibly keep a straight face with NAFTA, or SAFTA, or any other "free trade" agreement when we obviously shit all over the concept just to fulfill our legacy of fear regarding this former soviet puppet nation?

It'll never happen, I see that now. Republicans don't believe in free trade and neither do Democrats. It's just another silly example of the xenophobic paranoia in this nation that makes us compromise our own values.
Isreal has reason to continue the embargo.
'Why' you ask?

Simple the closeness of the Islands of Isareal and the Cuban penninsula is so close that Cuban have been hitting their Baseball's into Israel, this has infuriated Israel for two reasons.

1)Israel can't play Bat to ball games for shit except for Danish runders but they wont admit it because they are still being sissy about a few Danes who were in the SS.

2)They kept getting them confused with Iraqi Scud Missile attacks and wasting their preciously gifted( by the US) Anti-missile missles.
It also stops them praying to the God that doesn't love them anymore, something they also wont admit even though they really accept Jesus is God they just wont admit they accept this.

I wonder where I got that idea, you do write excellent spanish, as I am wrong, I apologize.
I've never even used Spanish.

Isreal has reason to continue the embargo.
'Why' you ask?

Simple the closeness of the Islands of Isareal and the Cuban penninsula is so close that Cuban have been hitting their Baseball's into Israel, this has infuriated Israel for two reasons.

1)Israel can't play Bat to ball games for shit except for Danish runders but they wont admit it because they are still being sissy about a few Danes who were in the SS.

2)They kept getting them confused with Iraqi Scud Missile attacks and wasting their preciously gifted( by the US) Anti-missile missles.
It also stops them praying to the God that doesn't love them anymore, something they also wont admit even though they really accept Jesus is God they just wont admit they accept this.

Exactly. Now why can't anyone else see this?