In its most recent vote on this subject, once again every country in the UN except Israel condemned the US blockade and sanctions on Cuba for its “violations of international laws and human rights under the UN Charter.”
Why does the US demonize Cuba? What existential threat does a small weak county like Cuba present to the US? It’s because Cuba has chosen a “socialist” form of government that offers free healthcare, education, housing, etc., within its ability to do so under the crippling illegal US sanctions, and US corporations fear this.
What is “evil” about socialism—except that it’s not in the “interests” of US corporations? Furthermore, most “socialist” countries do allow private enterprises to exist and prosper if they’re successful, or fail if they aren’t. “Communist China” has more billionaires than the US.
What right does the US have to dictate which economic and political system other sovereign nations are allowed to choose? What right does the US have have to punish sovereign nations that don’t serve “US interests”? Where in the US Constituion or the UN Charter grant us this right? Furthermore, if socialism is “evil”, why not let it simply fail on its own? Why are invasions, coup d’états, and assassinations needed for them to “fail”? Could it be that the US fears that it might not fail, and set an “example” for other nations to follow, and that would be against “US interests.”
“US interests” are often inimical to the interests of other sovereign nations, and just as often inimical to the interests of our own citizens by mandating extortionist for-profit healthcare, education, and housing, creating widespread income inequality and poverty. America is the ONLY developed country in the world to deny its citizens the basic social programs that citizens of every other developed nation that calls itself a “democracy” enjoy. This isn’t “democracy”; it’s “Survival of the richest”.
Why do we continue to sanction and blockade Cuba? Simply because the US has the MILITARY ABILITY to punish, sanction, invade, and murder the leaders and citizens of disobediant countries because it has encircled the world with over 800 military bases, and if any country doesn’t follow US dictates, the US will destroy its economy to turn its population against its own government using fabricated benevolent sounding reasons. And if THAT doesn’t work, it will ty to foment a coup d’état to overthrow the disobediant government of a sovereig nation. And if THAT doesn’t work (e.g. Cuba, Venezuela, et al), the US will invade a country, murder its leaders, and install a dictator who WILL serve “US interests”. In other words, “Might makes right” has become our de facto “foreign policy”. Does this describe a “democracy”, or a worldwide military dictatorship?
Our politicians aren’t interested in economic and social justice for “We the People”. They’re only interested in “Just Us”—their personal economic enrichment and political power. This was not inevitable; it doesn’t have to be like this. We’re entitled to elected representatives who actually represent “We the People”, not “We the Politicians”.
Democracy is the foundation of the US Constitution, and it’s never been more important than now, when we’re facing the inreasing likelyhood of worldwide nuclear wars with Russia and China for the American government to live up to its claims of real democracy, equality, freedom of speech, and respect for the sovereignty of all nations. —Jim Gala @jamesgala
Well said. 100% true.