Has hope gone for unfettered US travel to Cuba?

[mykeuva]

Therefore you would prefer no government at all?As a governments role is "the act of governing; the exercise of authority; the administration of laws; control; direction; regulation; as, civil, church, or family government"

So,I assume you would still like to have some government.

This is the point for me,a government with some social aspects for the good of all.

Meanwhile,our leaders are on bended knee to the Chinese........

Peace and love.

Where did I suggest no government at all? That's simply a false choice, either a lot of government or none at all. It's a strawman.

There are basic functions of government that are necessary. It's once people start to think that government's job is to regulate the economy, and that the answer to every question is: "government needs to step in" or "government needs to regulate this" is where problems begin. As the saying goes, a government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take away everything you have.

And as I posted above, those "social aspects" usually mean wealth distribution. The problem that those in favor of this either refuse to acknowledge or do not understand is that this wealth distribution destroys wealth, it does not create it, nor does it simply spread it around.

[Leopolis Semper Fidelis]

Lol. Congrats on your new-found solidarity Brothers of the Right! Color me unimpressed.

Speaking for myself, I don't accept the label of being on the Right (whatever that means). Drawing attention to the horrors of Communism doesn't imply that evil doesn't exist elsewhere. However, I do consider that I am right (as in correct) in what has been discussed - based on the experience of those who witnessed, and were victims of, Marxism in action. For those of the Leftist persuasion, it should be pointed out that the original sense of left was "weak, worthless". Consider also that the word sinister means "left" in Latin. If folk say they "respect" (instead of accepting/agreeing with) my position, does that mean they gloss over the death of many innocent unfortunates as if it were no big deal?

[El Presidente]

Communism, Capitalism, one dead and the other dying as it destroys itself.

Believe in freedom, believe in opportunity, believe in responsibility but for heavens sake stop believing and fighting for labels be they political constructs (left/right/Dem/Rep/communism/capitalism) or religious tags.

[PigFish]

Communism, Capitalism, one dead and the other dying as it destroys itself.

Believe in freedom, believe in opportunity, believe in responsibility but for heavens sake stop believing and fighting for labels be they political constructs (left/right/Dem/Rep/communism/capitalism) or religious tags.

Gotta' disagree with you here mate! The problem with the labels is not the labels themselves it is the perception of them along with an intrusive governments desire to control their use. While I admit I am a part of the political "right" and wear the badge proudly, I have found very few who understand what it is to posses the right wing mindset. We go by many labels, those of us on the right and the left, and I am sure the each individual label carries with it not only nuance of meaning but stigmata as well. I live with it!

As higher organisms we communicate via a written and spoken word. Those words have meanings. Banishing certain words (IMHO) constitutes political correctness. A prohibition on labels is a tool of the left, and while it has crossed over as a weapon of both sides to exploit instances of hypocrisy, it is a hugh part of the problem. The labels should be freely used amongst us! We as individuals should know what our beliefs represent and how they are defined if we are to speak up about them. I find the people hiding from the labels are the ones that liable the label and are often the worst perpetrators.

With political correctness we can no longer express who we are for fear of offending those who are not! It appears to me now that unless one is a member of a politically protected minority group, you have to undergo a series of bigoted labels yourself if you express your self interest. Being comfortable in my own skin I am willing to accept the labels. Where I get offended is if they are incorrectly stated. For example; discussing the cultural difference in race A and B may make me astute, but it does not make me a racist. It seems that the government can compile statistical differences between blacks and whites for example. They are referred to as statisticians. If I refer to the statistics, I am labeled a racist!!!

I wish only that I could express the clarity of my thought in few words. The problems that we have are not from lack of food, or energy, black or white people or capitalists (I have not included communism intentionally). The problems are stemming from government and governments who are self interested and divested from innate human rights. A minimum of government can protect human rights and an excess of government, one that is self aware and self interested is tyranny; the destroyer of human rights.

To come full circle it is not in the labels that we go awry. It is when govenment is allowed to use the labels that we go awry. One man and a label can do little damage other than personal insult. Governments on the other hand can do great damage with labels. I put forth your government or mine and use them as examples of what governments can do when they use labels!!! When governments use labels they create subgroups of citizens. The act of grouping citizens defines inequality. In doing so government promotes and exemplifies inequality. Nothing but the inception and promotion of unrest and unjust laws can be the result. How can one be equal in the eyes of government if government sees them as different as groups rather than individual citizens? The concept is simple and obvious and wholly true. -Piggy

[Leopolis Semper Fidelis]

Communism, Capitalism, one dead and the other dying as it destroys itself.

Believe in freedom, believe in opportunity, believe in responsibility but for heavens sake stop believing and fighting for labels be they political constructs (left/right/Dem/Rep/communism/capitalism) or religious tags.

From what can be observed of the world, both Communism and Capitalism are still very much alive. What is replacing them?

I believe in true freedom (but not anarchy and licence) and in opportunity and responsibility. As Piggy has already discussed the issue of labels, there is little to be added on that score. In addition, I believe that, despite the immense harm that the variant of Marxism as practised by the Castro dictatorship has done to Cuba socially and economically, Havanas still remain the best tasting cigars in the world - bar none!

[El Presidente]

I don't disagree with you Piggy.

Where we part ways somewhat is that political parties control left/Right/Tea Party etc etc. The "grass roots"movement is the medium they best operate in.

I am a capitalist however capitalism needs reform (and control). For starters

* no political donations above $100 per person per annum. No corporate political donations.

* Capped election cost campaigns. State funds all parties on the basis of seats.

Without doing those two simple things Capitalism cannot but end up corrupt and dangerous. It has been there for a long time.

It may have been the best economic system the world has ever seen but that stopped when we all started exporting manufacturing jobs to achieve "ëconomies of scale".

The minute we sell out our fellow man we have turned our back on fundamentals of a system that is meant to build people up through dedication and hard work. We sold out our industries/friends/family/neighbours for cheaper crap we won't remember tomorrow.

Capitalism or if you prefer, Capitalism's current manifestation under political masters is destroying the fabric of our communities. Many are gone and they are not coming back.

I have no passion for it or any other system under their current formats.

[CanuckSARTech]

Well said, all. I completely agree with the validity of all points. Some may be wrong, some may be right, based on what I personally believe, but all are valid thoughts and opinions by all speakers.

A good conversation.

Now....I like steak! Mmmmmm.

[kafreeman]

* no political donations above $100 per person per annum. No corporate political donations.

* Capped election cost campaigns. State funds all parties on the basis of seats.

Absolutely. Much legislation here is driven by campaign contributions by any method they can be done. Since the Supreme Court dropped the contribution limitations, all sorts of front groups popped up in the last election. In Colorado, there were no ads other than political ads on the TV.

The minute we sell out our fellow man we have turned our back on fundamentals of a system that is meant to build people up through dedication and hard work. We sold out our industries/friends/family/neighbours for cheaper crap we won't remember tomorrow.

We have so much cheap crap its ridiculous. I used to be heavily involved in motor sports, and there was a big influx of really cheap cylinder heads, but they were VERY out of whack. Measurements were off from port to port, and it would take another investment of the price paid for the heads to get them fixed, and then they still didnt perform as well as stuff coming from Australia or other US producers.

They were and are a big bucket of crap, and unfortunately the extremely price driven consumer will go for those and wonder why their junk doesnt run.

While I am price driven, normally there is a reason why a comparable (or the same) product is cheaper than the typical market price.

[Leopolis Semper Fidelis]

I am a capitalist however capitalism needs reform (and control).

It may have been the best economic system the world has ever seen but that stopped when we all started exporting manufacturing jobs to achieve "economies of scale".

The minute we sell out our fellow man we have turned our back on fundamentals of a system that is meant to build people up through dedication and hard work. We sold out our industries/friends/family/neighbours for cheaper crap we won't remember tomorrow.

Capitalism, or if you prefer, Capitalism's current manifestation under political masters is destroying the fabric of our communities. Many are gone and they are not coming back.

I have no passion for it or any other system under their current formats.

[edited]

These are excellent points, Rob!

[cigcars]

*Yes they are!