Cigars and (Possibly) Greater Liberties

Cuban cigars, anyone?

On Wednesday, the White House announced that the longstanding sanctions against Cuba were finally at an end.  In their place, efforts will be made towards normalized economic and diplomatic relations with the island.

Now, in my understanding, history has shown similar measures towards other socialist or communist countries often lead to gradual change; exposure to the free market (loosely defined) often correlates with and encourages further social, political, and religious liberties within traditionally totalitarian states.  China, for example, is still far from perfect in regards to liberty, yet it is far more open today than in the 1980s—arguably due to participation in the global marketplace.

In that light, it was rather disheartening to read the harshly negative reaction these measures have garnered in some corners of the conservative press.  Headlines such as “Obama Makes Deal with Cuba’s Fascists” and Senator Rubio’s accusations of “absurd” negotiations lend an impression of eager mudslinging rather than pragmatic consideration.

Rather than the expedient route of associating Obama with fascism, maybe such measures should be weighed first for their potential merits.