I know some of my conservative friends will disagree with this and want the travel and economic embargo kept in place because Cuba is still a communist dictatorship. I understand that sentiment. If the idea is that our embargo will somehow cripple their economy and cause them to change their system it hasn't worked for 53 years now. We have economic travel and trade with China, we had it with racist South Africa back in the 80's and we've had normal relations with many other dictatorships like Chile and Nicaragua in the past. I believe the reason we haven't had the same relationship with Cuba is because Florida is a political football.

The irony is that many of the other oppressive dictatorships I've mentioned have either become full democracies or (in China's case) have undergone SOME economic capitalist style reforms. Eventually, when there is a McDonald's in Havana and Americans and Cubans travel back and forth, I believe both countries will benefit. I'm sure the big 3 auto makers are licking their chops at having access to that automotive deprived market. Even if their political system doesn't change immediately they are no longer a threat to the United States.

Personally, I have Canadian friends who have traveled to Cuba and say it's the most spectacularly beautiful island in the Caribbean and I for one can't wait to go and smoke a real Cuban cigar and have a mojito made with "Ron Cubano", which is Spanish for Cuban Rum. I had a few with a bottle of Havana Club that was smuggled out years ago and it was the tastiest rum I've ever had. Preferably I'll be taking that trip in January 2016... hopefully the travel embargo will be lifted by then because then I'll be able to dodge part of a Billings winter!

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