eyeball Posted December 18, 2014 Report Posted December 18, 2014 (edited) Whatever a dictator is they're way worse than any terrorist could ever hope to be. Edited December 18, 2014 by eyeball Quote A government without public oversight is like a nuclear plant without lead shielding.
PIK Posted December 18, 2014 Report Posted December 18, 2014 With harper and pope working on this ,it can only be good. Quote Toronto, like a roach motel in the middle of a pretty living room.
Argus Posted December 18, 2014 Author Report Posted December 18, 2014 I've heard some conspiratorial horseshit in my time but that takes the cake. I have no idea what you're talking about or what conspiracy horseshit you are referring to. I never proposed any conspiracy, but then again I have no control of the weird stuff that happens in your mind. Quote "A liberal is someone who claims to be open to all points of view — and then is surprised and offended to find there are other points of view.” William F Buckley
Argus Posted December 18, 2014 Author Report Posted December 18, 2014 Well, when I point that out around here folks like Argus, Moonbox et al will dismiss it as conspiratorial horseshit. Cite please. Quote "A liberal is someone who claims to be open to all points of view — and then is surprised and offended to find there are other points of view.” William F Buckley
Argus Posted December 18, 2014 Author Report Posted December 18, 2014 Whatever a dictator is they're way worse than any terrorist could ever hope to be. "We have killed all the children in the auditorium. What do we do now?" Quote "A liberal is someone who claims to be open to all points of view — and then is surprised and offended to find there are other points of view.” William F Buckley
eyeball Posted December 19, 2014 Report Posted December 19, 2014 Cite please.Face palm Quote A government without public oversight is like a nuclear plant without lead shielding.
Michael Hardner Posted December 19, 2014 Report Posted December 19, 2014 Face palm I can't follow the thread of this response.... It seems like somebody said that the US has relationships with worse countries than Cuba, which I would think you would agree with. Then this tit-for-tat went back and forth... It's not like there have been insults or anything, but it's pretty unclear what the group of you are trying to say to each other. Quote Click to learn why Climate Change is caused by HUMANS Michael Hardner
Argus Posted December 19, 2014 Author Report Posted December 19, 2014 It's not like there have been insults or anything, but it's pretty unclear what the group of you are trying to say to each other. I actually have no idea what he's on about, or on... Quote "A liberal is someone who claims to be open to all points of view — and then is surprised and offended to find there are other points of view.” William F Buckley
guyser Posted December 19, 2014 Report Posted December 19, 2014 Now that relations have been normalized, does anyone know if Cuba will allow its citizens to come and go as they please? Or are they still trapped there?They have been able to come and go with fairly easy conditions for years. Quote
Shady Posted December 19, 2014 Report Posted December 19, 2014 They have been able to come and go with fairly easy conditions for years. How do you figure for years? The law is fairly recent. Not to mention that baseball players still need to defect to get away. Quote
guyser Posted December 20, 2014 Report Posted December 20, 2014 How do you figure for years? The law is fairly recent. Not to mention that baseball players still need to defect to get away.Because it has been years since they've been allowed. REstrictions were lifted in '10 or '11 and all they need is the Passport and Visa to where they are going. Plentyu of places dont require a Visa for Cubans. They have and can own houses since the same date, same with new cars. Quote
Bryan Posted December 20, 2014 Report Posted December 20, 2014 Because it has been years since they've been allowed. REstrictions were lifted in '10 or '11 and all they need is the Passport and Visa to where they are going. Plentyu of places dont require a Visa for Cubans. They have and can own houses since the same date, same with new cars. It's been longer than that. 2011 things were certainly opened wide, but Cubans could always travel before that. What's changed is they no longer have to apply for it. I mentioned our family friends earlier. For going on 20 years now, they came to Canada to visit, then returned home to Cuba almost every year. In order to do that, they had to put in an application citing the reason they want to leave. That permission slip was a pain in the butt. The bureaucracy is like the DMV times a million. It's that permission slip that is no longer required. If their destination country will allow them, they can go, baseball players included. Quote
guyser Posted December 20, 2014 Report Posted December 20, 2014 If their destination country will allow them, they can go, baseball players included.My understanding is that baseball players defect because they want to avoid the MLB draft . If they are signed out of country then they get more money right away...a la Japanese phenoms. Quote
Bryan Posted December 20, 2014 Report Posted December 20, 2014 My understanding is that baseball players defect because they want to avoid the MLB draft . If they are signed out of country then they get more money right away...a la Japanese phenoms. Yeah, it's almost the reverse of what people expect. Cuba always allowed their players to go play in MLB, but the understanding was that they would remain Cuban nationals, return to Cuba in the off-season, and pay taxes in Cuba. The US government strictly forbids that, all Cubans MUST defect if they want to stay and work in the US. Quote
eyeball Posted December 20, 2014 Report Posted December 20, 2014 I can't follow the thread of this response.... It seems like somebody said that the US has relationships with worse countries than Cuba, which I would think you would agree with. Then this tit-for-tat went back and forth... It's not like there have been insults or anything, but it's pretty unclear what the group of you are trying to say to each other. I can't follow the thread of this response.... It's not like there have been insults or anything, but it's pretty unclear what the group of you are trying to say to each other. I was being sarcastic Mike. Can't put it any more clearly than that I'm afraid. Quote A government without public oversight is like a nuclear plant without lead shielding.
Argus Posted December 20, 2014 Author Report Posted December 20, 2014 I was being sarcastic Mike. Can't put it any more clearly than that I'm afraid. You aren't very good at it. Quote "A liberal is someone who claims to be open to all points of view — and then is surprised and offended to find there are other points of view.” William F Buckley
Michael Hardner Posted December 20, 2014 Report Posted December 20, 2014 Use the sarcasm tag to help if it helps. <sarcasm> It's sooo helpful </sarcasm> Quote Click to learn why Climate Change is caused by HUMANS Michael Hardner
cybercoma Posted December 20, 2014 Report Posted December 20, 2014 I actually have no idea what he's on about, or on... You aren't very good at it. What's with you and the personal insults lately? Quote
Argus Posted December 23, 2014 Author Report Posted December 23, 2014 (edited) What's with you and the personal insults lately? I actually had no idea what he was on about. Why is it insulting to say that? And the second statement was profoundly and obviously true. And you are the very last person to complain about insults given the sneering and derogatory nature of the majority of your posts of late. Edited December 23, 2014 by Argus Quote "A liberal is someone who claims to be open to all points of view — and then is surprised and offended to find there are other points of view.” William F Buckley
Bryan Posted January 29, 2015 Report Posted January 29, 2015 I had a feeling that Raul would eventually insist on the return of Guantanamo before negotiations could continue. It looks like that where we are now: http://news.nationalpost.com/2015/01/28/cuba-demands-return-of-guantanamo-bay-compensation-by-u-s-before-relations-can-resume/ Cuba demands return of Guantanamo Bay, compensation by U.S. before relations can resumeSAN JOSE, Costa Rica — Cuban President Raul Castro demanded on Wednesday that the United States return the U.S. base at Guantanamo Bay, lift the half-century trade embargo on Cuba and compensate his country for damages before the two nations re-establish normal relations. Even I didn't think he'd ask for compensation though!! This was kind of interesting before, it just got a lot better. How badly does Barry want this to be his legacy? Quote
Michael Hardner Posted January 29, 2015 Report Posted January 29, 2015 http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/us-businesses-cuba-foreign-claims-settlements Doesn't seem that it's as complicated as the $7B (current $) in nationalized assets that American companies want back. Obviously all of this has been considered in the game theory behind this. The win-win might be something like: American companies are given some compensation, as well as a license to operate in Cuba... meaning to invest in, to modernize, to monopolize, and to provide products to ... Cuba. Thoughts ? Quote Click to learn why Climate Change is caused by HUMANS Michael Hardner
Bryan Posted January 29, 2015 Report Posted January 29, 2015 The only way I can see American businesses getting compensation at this point is if their own government gives it to them. The only reason the US had control of any assets in Cuba is because they invaded it and set up their own puppet dictator. How often is compensation ever given after a revolution? The Americans didn't compensate the British… did they? At least Cuba offered the bond issue at the time. The US not only refused it, but they made sure that it was economically impossible. I could see…maybe… Cuba offering a symbolic compensation value that might look large enough at first, but would be offset by taxes, penalties, royalties, etc for land, assets, and resources that were illegally obtained in the first place… leaving just a token sum to actually be paid. Quote
Michael Hardner Posted January 29, 2015 Report Posted January 29, 2015 The only way I can see American businesses getting compensation at this point is if their own government gives it to them. The only reason the US had control of any assets in Cuba is because they invaded it and set up their own puppet dictator. How often is compensation ever given after a revolution? I would see it as mostly a face-saving measure on both sides, and a way to move forward into cooperative ventures. I could see…maybe… Cuba offering a symbolic compensation value that might look large enough at first, but would be offset by taxes, penalties, royalties, etc for land, assets, and resources that were illegally obtained in the first place… leaving just a token sum to actually be paid. Both sides have to appear to be principled, to keep up appearances, and to get something tangible out of this. Yes, a symbolic compensation deal would accomplish that. Quote Click to learn why Climate Change is caused by HUMANS Michael Hardner
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