Crossing the Line With Cuba

AMERICAN RELATIONS WITH CUBA, according to John boehner the bombastic one, should not be normalized until Cubans enjoy "complete freedom". By "complete", the soon to be screamer of the House presumably means either anarchy, or unfettered access to Cuban markets by american corporations. A reasonable blend of cooperative economics and broad based participatory democracy seems difficult for conservatives such as his Bombasticity to grasp. In its sordid history of supporting brutal dictatorships, democracy has never been American priority. Quite the opposite, in fact. Our corporate American government much prefers capitalist autocracy, such as those installed in the many American puppet-client states sprinkled around the world. The more authoritarian the dictator, the better, as long as American corporate capitalism is welcome. Under Batista, Cuba was a haven for American investment, and thus was a "friend of America". Under socialist Castro, who wanted Yankee imperialists out, no dice. No friend, no trade from Norde Americano. Expulsion of American wealth alway trumps human suffering. Politicians never miss an opportunity for a bit of pious posturing, but Boehner's high toned assertaion that the United States of America should suddenly require "democracy" or "freedom" (aka U.S. capital) as a prerequisite for American "friendship" (aka exploitation) crosses the mightly thin line narrowly separating the hilarious from the downright hypocritical.