I think people overly blame the embargo for too many of Cuba's problems. Many of Cuba's problems are related to it's communist economic system. Cuba has many of the same problems that you saw with other communist countries. This is why even if the embargo is lifted Cuba will still have economic problems related to it's communist polices. Rationing in the Soviet Union - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Rationing in Cuba - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Did you know Cuba has the highest number of Doctors and Engineers in the world? Because of that it has a lower infant mortality rate than the US. Your Wikipedia article mentions that the Cuban government publicized plans for the demise of the rationing system. The reason they depend on it to this day may be that they've been prevented from global trade and virtually sequestered to the island. Yes, an overly centralized government can stiffen economic growth. It's also likely that the position would lesson when flooded with jeans just as Russia did. Certainly it's making things worse even if we did accept your premise. Cuba won't be rebuilt in a day, but a nation of Doctors and Engineers will be much better in the position to trade within it's hemisphere.
^ Cuba has one of the highest abortion rates in Latin America. This reduces the numbers of problem births. Cuban Teenagers Overuse Abortion as Birth Control | Inter Press Service As far as global trade. Depsite the embargo Cuba trades and does business with many different countries and yet it's still under developed. This is probably the results of the mismanagement coming from it's communist gov't. Who's Doing Business with Cuba, Despite Embargo.
A higher abortion rate does likely influence that as well. It's still lower than Poland and the Czech Republic, more affluent countries with higher abortion rates. So having a country filled with doctors seems like a likely casual factor for low infant mortality. So perhaps they don't have it all wrong. And yes. there government has done, but their Dictator family is in their 80's, and they're missing our with trade with the largest economy, and the largest trading partner of all Latin American countries besides Paraguay. I've many Cuban friends and none have said anything positive about the embargo. Island nations are much more trade dependent than most other nations. The reasons to open up trade with Cuba, are to increase trade, improve relations, and improve the quality of live of people living there. Even you haven't said that the situation in Cuba isn't affected by the Embargo, you're just talking about the degree. But regardless, a little help is better than none. China and Russia became more free market based after our markets were open to them, and freedom of expression was improved as well. We have other trading partners which have much worse human rights records than they, such as Saudi Arabia. Embargo don't hurt the Castro's who will most likely be dead in 10 years, they just hurt your average Cubans. What do you see of as advantageous about keeping the embargo?
I don't think the embargo is a good thing either. My issue is that people are overly blaming the embargo for every Cuban problem while ignoring the problems that come from communist economics on the island. Also Castro could have had the embargo lifted or loosened by democraticing the island more. If he allowed for free information through more uncensored news outlets in Cuba then the embargo would have been lifted or loosened years ago.
In truth, not much at all. it is merely symbolic at this point. Certain persons may complain about confiscated property assets, and titles to the confiscated real estate. Those titles are still bought and sold back and forth by Corporations in America, like they mean something. I mean properties like the old Biccardi Distilery and the Domino Sugar Refinery. But Please those confiscations were 50 years ago. The Embargo is an American embargo only, its not a blockade. Cuba can trade with other nations. Cuba will loose the excuse of its privation if The Embargo is removed. But lets not kid ourselves about trade benefits Cuba is a poor country with little to trade. We should be concerned with political repression in Cuba, its political prisoners and lack of freedoms. If Cuba was such a great place it would be receiving immigrants instead of loosing them.
