Cuba

With Castro stepping down today, I thought it might be good timing to look at the embargo we have on Cuba.

Ever wonder why you can't get Cuban cigars at the local smoke shop? It's because in 1962 the U.S. wrote up and started enforcing a trade embargo with Cuba. Basically that means U.S. businesses and/or civilians are forbidden to sell or buy products or services from the tropical island.

Paradoxically, Wikipedia states that the U.S. is Cuba's seventh largest exporter. Our exports, illegal I guess, make up almost 5% of their GDP. Pretty impressive number given that we're not suppose to do business with them.

While I don't know all the details, I think one of the embargo's intentions was to curve socialism and communism. With central control governments being of little significance these days (even China is changing quickly), I'd say that the former threat to capitalism is small. Meaning it might be time to re-evaluate the embargo and start lighting up those cigars.