The Embargo with Cuba needs to be lifted.

"The embargo has been a failure by every measure. It has not changed the course or nature of the Cuban government. It has not liberated a single Cuban citizen. In fact, the embargo has made the Cuban people a bit more impoverished, without making them one bit more free. At the same time, it has deprived Americans of their freedom to travel and has cost US farmers and other producers billions of dollars of potential exports." These are the words of Daniel Griswold in 2009, Director of the Cato Institute's Center for Trade Policy Studies. First of all, I'd like to clarify what I mean when I say I want to lift the embargo. I intend to: Repeal the Cuban Democracy Act Repeal the Helms-Burton Act Amend the Foreign Assistance Act to exclude Cuba Amend the Trading With the Enemy Act of 1917 to exclude Cuba I would also like to clarify that this is not only ending the economic embargo, but also the travel embargo. This debate will be centered around these points: 1. The Embargo has already met some of it's original aims. Those that it has not met, it will not meet. 2. This is not only an economic problem in the U.S. and Cuba, (which it is), but it is also a worldwide economic problem. 3. The Embargo is internationally and domestically unpopular. 4. Ending the travel embargo with help with a transition to democracy. 1. The Original Aims of the Embargo. The embargo was first put in place in the 60's for two reasons. The first was to punish Cuba for seizing property owned by Americans. In 2001, Cuban Officials offered to compensate those Americans whose property was taken. For reasons unknown, this offer was declined. This goal has evidently been abandoned. The second reason was to make it costlier and more of a hassle for the Soviet Union to fund and participate with Cuba. This part worked wonderfully, it is estimated to have cost the Soviet Union six billion dollars a year. However, the S.U. disbanded in 1991, so this is no longer an issue. The only plausible reason the Embargo is still in place is to try and punish Cuba until it ceases to be Communist. This has failed for the past 48 years, and will continue to fail until Castro dies. 2. Obviously this is an economic problem in the U.S. and Cuba. This seems to be self-evident and I'd rather not try to expand on it. However, I would like to explain why this is an international economic problem. The Helms-Burton Act stops any company from dealing with the U.S. and Cuba at the same time. Obviously, this company is going to choose the bigger market; the U.S. Not only does this negatively affect Cuba and it's citizens, but it also affects foreign companies. It does nothing to aid international relations, and only aids the increase of international deficit. 3. In 2009 Moisï¿½s Naï¿½m, Editor-In-Chief of Foreign Policy Magazine and Former Venezuelan Minister of Development, said "The embargo is the perfect example used by anti-Americans everywhere to expose the hypocrisy of a superpower that punishes a small island while cozying to dictators elsewhere." The United Nations has voted 19 years in a row over 90% in favor of ending the embargo. During the last voting session this year (2010), only the U.S. and Israel voted to keep it in place, with only three other U.S. allies abstinentating. Also, according to a poll done by CNN, a majority of Americans want the travel embargo lifted. 4. By allowing U.S. travelers to converse with Cuban citizens, it can only help Cuba to become democratic after the death of Castro. An editorial in the Boston Herald in 2002 said, "The more travelers there are (to Cuba) the more the truth will spread, and that can only help the transition of Cuba out of tyranny when the tyrant dies." Whoever accepts: If you want the source for ANYTHING I just said, just ask. I'd be happy to comply.