One-Trick Pony Diaz-Balart Is Back With His One Trick (plus additional cruelty towards families)

[flamingdem]

In what seems like an annual tradition, the congressman is trying to get his own way by attaching his provisions to must-pass legislation - Veto this sucker! BUCKIT

http://cubanow.us/blog/one-trick_pony_diaz-balart_is_back_with_his_one_trick/

For those not familiar with Congressman Diaz-Balart, rescinding Americans rights’ by slipping unpopular Cuba policy into legislation is sort of his “thing,” like the Fonz pounding on the jukebox. And much like the Fonz, Congressman Diaz-Balart is stuck in the 1960s, doing the same thing over and over. He tried it last year and the year before that. He tried it in 2011 even as it posed the possibility of causing a government shutdown:

“But the provision that set off the biggest firestorm is one tightening federal rules regarding family travel and remittances to Cuba. The rider, by Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R) of Florida, overturns Obama administration policies that allow Cuban-Americans to visit family in Cuba or send remittances without limit. In a return to Bush-era policies, the rider would limit visits to once every three years and remittances to $1,200 annually.”

Returning to Bush-era policies by limiting family visits to Cuba and the remittances they can send to Cubans on the Island? Small wonder the Congressman tried to sneak it into an omnibus in the middle of the night instead of trumpeting what he knows is unpopular policy among the hundreds of thousands of Cuban-Americans visiting every year.

Fortunately, it looks like many in Congress are getting tired of it. As the AP also reported, there’s a growing bipartisan sentiment that it’s time to fix a broken policy:

[mfcorey1]

1. Bucket!

[flamingdem]

4. Was debating using an "i" or an "e"

Bucket is enough, it's famous now

[Mika]

2. US gov't seeking a policy that "works", instead of the same old policy that didn't work.

My questions is: What would such a thing be working on?
My informed guess is: privatization & corporatization of Cuba's government and infrastructures.

[flamingdem]

3. I think they'll resist the worst aspects of that

a lot better than we have here. I think they could use private enterprise in areas where the government is not strong and so they're doing that, at least in a limited way. That said any US company that sticks its neck out might learn the hard way about the Cuban idea of a corporation, they'll own 51% minimum.

[Mika]

5. Agree. But, isn't that (the 51% ownership law) one of the failures of the failed policy?

Changing Cuban corporate law to a more Wall Street favorable corporate law is one of the so called failures of the failed policies. All of the howling for a policy that is more "effective" is what I'm hearing. I'm hoping for what you comment on.

My observation is that the US sanctions on Cuba had accomplished their intent ... to impoverish the Cuban economy. Mission accomplished.
The "failure" of the old policies is the lack of a collapse of the system of government in Cuba, and the installation of a Wall Street friendly gov't (democratic or not). The new and improved policies aren't intended for the betterment of the people of Cuba. The new and improved policies are intended to accomplish what the old failed policies didn't accomplish.

Sorry to be a debbie downer, but, this language of "failed policy that didn't work" and "we must try new approaches that work" isn't very comforting at all.

[flamingdem]

6. I know what you mean

with the doublespeak. I just think the Cubans can decontruct that and play hardball back, to some extent. While Raul was shaking hands with Obama they were fighting off the USAID paid so called dissidents and didn't mince words - so I think they know how to cherry pick. I'd be more worried if they turned their back on Chavez and went Hillary crazy.. Someone had to smooth things and start the positive vibe after all these years, Obama did his best and has to use double talk, but I think he's much more sophisticated.

Money will talk down there but at least it will happen slowly enough to see the potential control factor.

I don't think anyone but the Cuban American right wants to see Cuba further debilitated however, this is where greed can be a positive, they want to make a buck and put on notch on the corporate belt. If not them it's China and Brazil etc. not really so different.