The Family Farm
POSTED BY: AnthonyT
UPDATED: Monday, September 19, 2011 23:24
VIEWED: 2704
PAGE 2 of 3
Quote:
Originally posted by SignyM:
Well, it certainly explains why Tony is so interested in protecting the wealthy.
Hello,
I have no interest in protecting the wealthy that does not extend to every single other person.
What are you trying to say?
--Anthony
_______________________________________________
"In every war, the state enacts a tax of freedom upon the citizenry. The unspoken promise is that the tax shall be revoked at war's end. Endless war holds no such promise. Hence, Eternal War is Eternal Slavery." --Admiral Robert J. Henner
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Anthony
You may not be aware of this, but Cuba has zero or very, very limited strategic resources. Little iron. No coal, gas or oil. No diamonds or other gemstones. No precious metals. No rare earths.
To be a modern economy it must import these things. To import these things it must export other things. What Cuba has to export are high-value agricultural products, like sugar and tobacco. Cuba is entirely dependent on imports and exports to maintain even a basic economy.
The US embargo, emplaced as a near total commercial, economic, and financial embargo in February 1962 was intended to strangle the Cuban economy to death. To pretend otherwise is false. In addition to the embargo, Cuba was expelled from the OAS and hemispheric sanctions were imposed. Additionally, the US has forbidden other states notably the EU from trading with the US if they trade with Cuba.
The USSR carried the Cuban economy until it fell. Yep, those horrible Soviets kept the Cuban economy and its people alive, while the freedom-loving (or perhaps greedom-loving) US ensnared the world in a global scheme to kill it.
And you pick the side of the US in this. That's interesting.
Remember when teachers, public employees, Planned Parenthood, NPR and PBS crashed the stock market, wiped out half of our 401Ks, took trillions in taxpayer funded bailouts, spilled oil in the Gulf of Mexico, gave themselves billions in bonuses, and paid no taxes?
Yeah, me neither....
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Quote:
Originally posted by AnthonyT:
Freedom is threatened daily. The only thing that changes from person to person is how you react to it, and how much you let it worry you. For some people, it is a faraway concern that will sort itself out. For others, the threat feels like a personal presence. The shadow of yesterday threatening your current life.
With your family's story and where you live now I would think you would be one of the people who is critical of anyone who complains about how hard life is in the US, "you have no idea how good you have it." You have roots, firsthand accounts of how bad another gov can be, one you could have been raised in, yet having escaped that you feel like your freedom is threatened - why? Maybe you are one of those "glass is half empty and it's dirty and I don't even like glass" people? Hmmm.. maybe... do you maybe feel guilty? That deep down you didn't do anything to deserve it?
I was born and raised here, 4th generation US. I don't take freedom for granted, but it's usually in the context of, "I wish those folks could have the same freedoms." It's not absolute, and as you so rightly have pointed out, Freedom defined is different for almost everyone... but I rarely feel a lack of it or restricted in my reach. Maybe I ask for too little? I don't think so.
Scifi movie music + Firefly dialogue clips, 24 hours a day - http://www.scifiradio.com
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"And you pick the side of the US in this. That's interesting."
Hello,
The only side I picked in all this was the side of the Cuban people.
If it has escaped you that I'm critical of the United States, then you haven't been paying attention.
--Anthony
_______________________________________________
"In every war, the state enacts a tax of freedom upon the citizenry. The unspoken promise is that the tax shall be revoked at war's end. Endless war holds no such promise. Hence, Eternal War is Eternal Slavery." --Admiral Robert J. Henner
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"do you maybe feel guilty? That deep down you didn't do anything to deserve it?"
Hello,
I don't feel guilty in the sense that you suggest. My family has certainly worked long and hard to get where they are today.
But I feel keenly that Freedom is a thing easily taken, surrendered, or given away. It is a thing worth protecting, and worth looking after.
"I wish those folks could have the same freedoms."
So do I. But knowing that there are people worse off doesn't make me feel safe or complacent. Of course, I don't go around shouting about the sky falling, either. But I think about these things, and write about these things, and when I have the opportunity, I exert what influence I'm able to nudge things in the direction of more freedom, not less.
--Anthony
_______________________________________________
"In every war, the state enacts a tax of freedom upon the citizenry. The unspoken promise is that the tax shall be revoked at war's end. Endless war holds no such promise. Hence, Eternal War is Eternal Slavery." --Admiral Robert J. Henner
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"To be a modern economy it must import these things. To import these things it must export other things. What Cuba has to export are high-value agricultural products, like sugar and tobacco. Cuba is entirely dependent on imports and exports to maintain even a basic economy."
Hello,
Every island has the problem of trade being vital. Cuba is no different. The good thing about Cuba is that their strong agricultural base used to mean that they had the capacity to feed everyone.
Their primary exports are Sugar, Medical Producs, Nickel (my other grandfather was once employed by the Nicaro Nickel Company, in fact), Tobacco, and Coffee.
They import Petroleum, various food products, Machinery, and Chemicals.
Primary trade partners include Canada (one of the biggest) China, the Netherlands, Venezuela, and Spain.
--Anthony
_______________________________________________
"In every war, the state enacts a tax of freedom upon the citizenry. The unspoken promise is that the tax shall be revoked at war's end. Endless war holds no such promise. Hence, Eternal War is Eternal Slavery." --Admiral Robert J. Henner
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"The USSR carried the Cuban economy until it fell. Yep, those horrible Soviets kept the Cuban economy and its people alive,"
Hello,
The relationship between the USSR and Cuba was not dissimilar to the relationship between the US and Israel. One could draw a lot of parallels.
--Anthony
_______________________________________________
"In every war, the state enacts a tax of freedom upon the citizenry. The unspoken promise is that the tax shall be revoked at war's end. Endless war holds no such promise. Hence, Eternal War is Eternal Slavery." --Admiral Robert J. Henner
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Thanks for sharing the story of your family's farm, Anthony.
I have always been curious about Cuba and wanted to visit. There is no embargo for Australians, only that it is difficult to get to because of the embargo. Also it is a long way away. A hell of a long way unless you are already touring central/South America.
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Hello Magons,
Thank you.
I should note that Cubans in America periodically visit their families in Cuba, and have throughout the Embargo. It is an expensive, uncomfortable, sidewindy trip. You essentially had to go to another country and then go to Cuba from that country.
If you ever do visit Cuba, you will probably find it a beautiful place rich in culture. The visitor areas are very nice.
--Anthony
_______________________________________________
"In every war, the state enacts a tax of freedom upon the citizenry. The unspoken promise is that the tax shall be revoked at war's end. Endless war holds no such promise. Hence, Eternal War is Eternal Slavery." --Admiral Robert J. Henner
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That is what I have heard. A very interesting culture from all accounts.
Sounds like the great socialist revolution was a disappointment to your family, Anthony. I can see why you have your opinions on collectivism. Do you think there is room for something imbetween all state own/no property and all individual ownership?
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