4 ms·

It also illustrates the importance of not getting caught on the wrong side of the global hegemon right next door who can choke you out and prevent you from impo

It also illustrates the importance of not getting caught on the wrong side of the global hegemon right next door who can choke you out and prevent you from importing energy and integrating with the global economy. A lot of food for thought all around.

mothballed 8mo ago
That's definitely part of the equation, but the blockade has been over for a long while. They have suffered not only the brutal effect of US colonization/hegemony but also the brutal effect of the legacy of Castro's brand of economics. If they were just suffering one or the other, they'd be significantly better off. Edit since I am throttled on posts and cannot reply below: The US briefly blockaded Cuba in the 60s, but they have only embargoed them since then. They are not blocked from international trade by the US, except with the US. There is no meaningful block from Cuba engaging in the greater international non-US "global economy" such as EU,Asia, etc.
- user982 8mo ago
  > the blockade has been over for a long while. What are you talking about?
  - bryanlarsen 8mo ago
    The embargo was partially lifted in 2015. The article is about the effects of the re-tightening in 2025.
    - user982 8mo ago
      > The embargo was partially lifted in 2015 And then reinstated in 2017. How has that been "over for a long while"?
      - mothballed 8mo ago
        Put down Motorcycle Diaries long enough to learn the difference between an embargo and a blockade. And then note, blockade was the word I used.
- roumenguha 8mo ago
  Do you mean Batista? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulgencio_Batista https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulgencio_Batista
- neves 8mo ago
  You are wrong. Any company that wants to do business with USA must also join the embargo.
  - mothballed 8mo ago
    This is a bald-faced lie. For instance, I can buy Malibu rum, no matter that Pernod Ricard does business with Cuba. Or flights in USA with Air France, no matter that they also do business in Havana. Or ZTE phones which are imported into both USA and Cuba from China (carrier limitations but only because USA government won't do business with ZTE associated businesses, not because they can't be sold in USA). Or Sinopec (oil) which does business in USA including a large investment of presence in Texas but also does business with Cuba. Yes your blanket any is a lot more applicable if you said the truth which is any business that wants to do business with USA federal government which is much closer to the truth (but even then, Sinopec for instance has through its subsidiaries been allowed to bid on strategic oil reserve transactions no matter their ownership is a major trader with Cuba). Cuba is actively trading with EU, Asian, etc companies that are also trading with USA.
  - throw0101c 8mo ago
    > You are wrong. Any company that wants to do business with USA must also join the embargo. Air Canada flies to the US and flies to Cuba: * https://www.aircanada.com/en-ca/flights-to-cuba https://www.aircanada.com/en-ca/flights-to-cuba
nradov 8mo ago
It also illustrates the importance of not wrecking your own economy through pursuing socialist policies and driving the most productive people out of the country.
- lokar 8mo ago
  Is that your summary of the causes, goals and impacts of the Cuban revolution?
  - nradov 8mo ago
    Causes and goals, no. Impacts, yes. Regardless of intent, socialism inevitably destroys everything it touches.
    - lokar 8mo ago
      Or, a prolonged embargo, threats of invasion, actual attempts at invasion, diplomatic pressure to isolate, etc all by the most powerful empire in history on your doorstep destroyed everything. It’s pretty hard to sort out after the fact.
      - nozzlegear 8mo ago
        That's just a longer way of saying socialism inevitably destroys everything it touches.
        ofrzeta 8mo ago
        Is it? It's more like "you can't succeed with any political system if your powerful bullies dislike it". What do you think about Vietnam? Everything destroyed as well?
        nozzlegear 8mo ago
        I don't think anything about Vietnam, I was just making a joke.
imtringued 8mo ago
That's not enough to keep people fed. I think the primary reason why Cuba remained socialist is that all the "capitalists" (perceived as boogieman for social ills) are voluntarily fleeing Cuba rather than opposing the government.

mothballed 8mo ago

That's definitely part of the equation, but the blockade has been over for a long while. They have suffered not only the brutal effect of US colonization/hegemony but also the brutal effect of the legacy of Castro's brand of economics. If they were just suffering one or the other, they'd be significantly better off. Edit since I am throttled on posts and cannot reply below: The US briefly blockaded Cuba in the 60s, but they have only embargoed them since then. They are not blocked from international trade by the US, except with the US. There is no meaningful block from Cuba engaging in the greater international non-US "global economy" such as EU,Asia, etc.

user982 8mo ago
> the blockade has been over for a long while. What are you talking about?
- bryanlarsen 8mo ago
  The embargo was partially lifted in 2015. The article is about the effects of the re-tightening in 2025.
  - user982 8mo ago
    > The embargo was partially lifted in 2015 And then reinstated in 2017. How has that been "over for a long while"?
    - mothballed 8mo ago
      Put down Motorcycle Diaries long enough to learn the difference between an embargo and a blockade. And then note, blockade was the word I used.
roumenguha 8mo ago
Do you mean Batista? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulgencio_Batista https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulgencio_Batista
neves 8mo ago
You are wrong. Any company that wants to do business with USA must also join the embargo.
- mothballed 8mo ago
  This is a bald-faced lie. For instance, I can buy Malibu rum, no matter that Pernod Ricard does business with Cuba. Or flights in USA with Air France, no matter that they also do business in Havana. Or ZTE phones which are imported into both USA and Cuba from China (carrier limitations but only because USA government won't do business with ZTE associated businesses, not because they can't be sold in USA). Or Sinopec (oil) which does business in USA including a large investment of presence in Texas but also does business with Cuba. Yes your blanket any is a lot more applicable if you said the truth which is any business that wants to do business with USA federal government which is much closer to the truth (but even then, Sinopec for instance has through its subsidiaries been allowed to bid on strategic oil reserve transactions no matter their ownership is a major trader with Cuba). Cuba is actively trading with EU, Asian, etc companies that are also trading with USA.
- throw0101c 8mo ago
  > You are wrong. Any company that wants to do business with USA must also join the embargo. Air Canada flies to the US and flies to Cuba: * https://www.aircanada.com/en-ca/flights-to-cuba https://www.aircanada.com/en-ca/flights-to-cuba

nradov 8mo ago

It also illustrates the importance of not wrecking your own economy through pursuing socialist policies and driving the most productive people out of the country.

lokar 8mo ago
Is that your summary of the causes, goals and impacts of the Cuban revolution?
- nradov 8mo ago
  Causes and goals, no. Impacts, yes. Regardless of intent, socialism inevitably destroys everything it touches.
  - lokar 8mo ago
    Or, a prolonged embargo, threats of invasion, actual attempts at invasion, diplomatic pressure to isolate, etc all by the most powerful empire in history on your doorstep destroyed everything. It’s pretty hard to sort out after the fact.
    - nozzlegear 8mo ago
      That's just a longer way of saying socialism inevitably destroys everything it touches.
      - ofrzeta 8mo ago
        Is it? It's more like "you can't succeed with any political system if your powerful bullies dislike it". What do you think about Vietnam? Everything destroyed as well?
        nozzlegear 8mo ago
        I don't think anything about Vietnam, I was just making a joke.

imtringued 8mo ago

That's not enough to keep people fed. I think the primary reason why Cuba remained socialist is that all the "capitalists" (perceived as boogieman for social ills) are voluntarily fleeing Cuba rather than opposing the government.