The Cuban Embargo Should be Lifted

Rebuttals1. It Has Not WorkedMy opponent in this case is referring to the fact that communism has not been swept from Cuba, which is true. First I want to point out two things, 1) economic embargoes have never led to the destruction of a regime from within and 2) getting rid of the Castros is not the point of the embargo.If we wanted to get rid of the Castro brothers we would have done so militarily. The embargo was not supposed to turn Cuba into a capitalist paradise but rather it was to show the world that we had/have no necessity or intentions to deal with a totalitarian regime. Furthermore my opponent is wrong about two things. First, Cuba has been subject to change. They have relaxed some of their more draconian controls over the economy [1] as well as travel restrictions for their citizens [2]. So change has come about within the country.2. It Will Create JobsThe figure my opponent throws out is 6,000 jobs. While this sounds great in theory, is the creation of 6,000 jobs worth politically supporting a totalitarian regime? I'd say it isn't. While jobs sound great by opening trade with Cuba we would be condoning their behavior as a totalitarian, communist regime, right in our backyard. That cannot be allowed. Secondly, while this might "create" 6,000 American jobs, how many Cubans, who are used to operating in a closed communist system, would lose their jobs when foreign investors and foreign money change the economic landscape? The article my opponent provides doesn't say but free trade always disrupts the local economy of new markets. So we would not only create jobs for ourselves which would be in support of a totalitarian regime but we would damage the livelihood of countless Cubans who exist in a fragile communist economy. Is it worth it? No. 3. We Are Losing MoneyFirst, my opponent misconstrues the data to try and bolster his position. It says, in his source, that Cuba COULD become a billion dollar export market. This is potential money that can be gained not money lost. There is a difference. We are technically not losing any money. Second, a billion dollars to the US, who has a GDP of roughly 16 trillion dollars [3] is hardly anything while 700 million dollars to a nation whose GDP is only 68 billion dollars is much much more damaging. In relative terms, Cuba loses a lot more than the United States potentially would. 4. SanctionsMy opponent claims that we can inspire change through sanctions which is a contradictory argument. First he claims that the embargo hasn't worked but then claims that sanctions would. Sanctions are a lighter punishment than an embargo. If a full embargo hasn't worked, according to my opponent, why would sanctions? It doesn't follow.My ArgumentsA1. Political StatementWe embargo Cuba to make a political statement. It tells the world that we do not condone or deal with totalitarian and repressive nations. It is the same reason we do not do business with North Korea. By undoing the embargo before the communist regime collapses it shows the world that any type of regime unfavorable to the United States can simply wait us out and, over time, we'll cave. This will embolden countries to refuse change and hope for a United States reversal on foreign policy.A2. The Western HemisphereIn a region of the world where communist sympathies and dictators have arisen time and time again (Central and South America) it is good for the United States to hold a firm anti-totalitarian policy for a country in it's own backyard. If we relaxed on Cuba other countries in the region could become sympathetic to Cuba or other dictator-types in the area hoping to get both a dictatorship and US economic approval. It is good for the US to keep a this policy in place as it is longstanding and makes a bold political statement for our neighbors. Conclusion1. Changes are happening slowly in Cuba due to economic problems caused by lack of trade.2. A handful of jobs isn't worth supporting a totalitarian state. 3. We're not really losing any money on the embargo, and if we are losing economic capital it is insignificant.4. If an embargo didn't work, why would sanctions?5. We need to stay consistent in our policy against totalitarian regimes. Therefore, the Cuban embargo should not be lifted.[1] http://www.telegraph.co.uk...[2] http://www.theguardian.com...[3] http://data.worldbank.org...