Cuba

ohsix · Posted: Dec 17, 2014 11:48 am Post subject: Cuba

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-12-17/obama-to-announce-u-s-cuba-relations-shift-as-gross-is-released.html

Thoughts?

/Classic Okie Boarder

I think it's good that we're restoring a diplomatic relationship with Cuba. I don't see any reason not to. I don't know their current relationship with Russia, but it can't hurt for us to have them as an ally right now. Why has it taken this long to make this decision? What are the negative consequences of this?

I thought their may be some business opportunity because of this, but seeing that pretty much every country in the world already does business in/with Cuba, I doubt there's much low hanging fruit.

E.J. · Ladies Man Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 7597 City: Mogadishu

Long overdue.... A step in the right direction.

Not sure what Cuba offers the United States, coffee, cigars, rum and a vacation destination.... Confused

Probably why it's taken so long.

Should be good for Cuba....

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

LOL!

Seems like a good move to me and long overdue. Seems like there was a clinging to old ideas that couldn't get broken through and that may have driven the holdout. Could this cause any changes or influx of immigrants?

Just took a gander at Fox News to see their reaction...it was as expected and it shows a good reason why this took so long.

ohsix · Posted: Dec 17, 2014 1:37 pm Post subject:

jason_ssr · Posted: Dec 17, 2014 1:46 pm Post subject:

Official reasons for not:

Passive support for tyranny
Communism

Official reasons to do so:

Diplomacy
Good will

Unofficial reason to do so:

imports
destination

Unofficial reasons not to:

hate of Castros
IT WILL PUT EVERY AMERICAN INTEREST IN THE CARIBBEAN OUT OF BUSINESS

You think all the polticos with investment houses on St John want Cuba open for business? You think they want the $60k shack they paid $450k for to be worth $40k?

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

It seems like they are more upset about the lifting of embargoes and the normalizing of the diplomatic relationship than they are about the exchange of people.

Bambamski · Posted: Dec 18, 2014 7:55 am Post subject:

Just got back from Cuba a couple of weeks ago. Another amazing kiteboard vacation. I think that was my 6th time in Cuba. Opening up Cuba is going to change it dramatically. Mexico is going to take a hit for sure I'm not sure about the other Caribbean islands though.

You have to understand, Cuba is so different and I'm not sure how American's will react to the resorts there. A Cuba 4 star resort is more like a 2.5 star resort at best. So they might get there and say WTF I'd rather go to Mexico or any of the other islands.

Havana is very cool but as it stands right now, there's no places to stay. Things are totally booked up without the US traveling there. Really, I would think they are 5-10 years away from being able to handle a big influx of US travelers at this point.

jryoung · Ladies Man Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 7664 City: Man Jose

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

Reworded a bit...

It seems like they are more upset about the idea lifting of embargoes and the normalizing of the diplomatic relationship than they are about the exchange of people.

Aubs · Motorboat Queen Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9167

Psyched to travel there!!! LOTS of people in Florida are NOT happy about this.

Bambamski · Posted: Dec 22, 2014 8:48 am Post subject:

Aubs why does Florida care?

eeven73 · Posted: Dec 22, 2014 9:45 am Post subject:

High population of Cuban exiles^

jt09 · Ladies Man Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 22083 City: Austin

more like they are worried about MORE cubans in florida.

Bambamski · Posted: Dec 22, 2014 10:56 am Post subject:

Cuban's can travel now though can't they. I believe they lifted the travel restrictions. They can really go pretty much anywhere. They might have to have a special visa to get into the US though. Most don't travel as they don't have the money to do so.

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

Travel is still restricted for Americans , same as before except business, education, or cultural exchange, but we can now use our credit and debit cards without running afoul of the US goverment.

Aubs · Motorboat Queen Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9167

E.J. · Ladies Man Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 7597 City: Mogadishu

It hasn't happened, as Florida is a swing State, right Question

Nobody wanted to lose votes.

I would like to travel there, but almost would be sweet to see it today, as opposed to Americanized and it becomes Cancun(which I love).

I have a friend that's been twice, says hotels are not great, says it's like 3rd World conditions & after twice, would not go back until the border opens. I'd still like that feel, at least once.

E.J. · Ladies Man Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 7597 City: Mogadishu

Note, AFAIK, nothing has changed much... Some "bring back" conditions for Americans on approved tours, not like we've opened the border.... It's going to be a process.

Bambamski · Posted: Dec 29, 2014 1:02 pm Post subject: