Poor People are Cute/Quaint/Satisfied

Disturbingly common among the anti-trade, anti-growth, anti-business, environmentalist liberals of the world is the belief that poverty is somehow a part of people's culture. Their disproportionately large fear of cute, starving brown people losing ties to a "unique way of life" is often used as justification for the prevention of growth. Growth often spurs cultural change (not to mention increased standards of living), and rich people evaluating poor ones from afar want the world's impoverished to stay exactly as they are: poor and different.

But to get back on track, I started this post with the intention of writing about Cuba. Everybody's favorite communist dictatorship appears to be on the precipice of a regime change, assuming Castro kicks the bucket sometime soon. Way back in the 1950's Castro promised his people democracy. Then he decided - and this is basically the premise upon which all communism is founded - that the experts, meaning he and a few close pals, really knew what was best for the country. He appointed himself to 50 years of dictatorship, which is a lot like democracy, just without all those pesky rights, freedoms, and elections. Therefore, most sane people, including myself, are looking forward to the day Cuba gets to choose a new system. Still, a future of democracy and freedom is far from inevitable in Cuba, even after Fidel has bought the farm. For that reason, among others, people like Erik and Bridget from Minneapolis need to shut the fuck up.

Erik and Bridget are dreading the inevitable days of Castro's demise. They're worried that American business will ruin Cuba's flavor or quirky appeal, since the loss of either would really put a damper on their next vacation. Once the trade embargo is lifted, Erik and Bridget will no longer be able to feel like sneaky little Russian spies stealing into enemy territory. They'll have to board a plane in an American city and suffer through a flight to Havana along with hundreds of other gringos and Cubans, and that simply won't do. You see, Cuba, where many people live on less than 10 dollars a month, is "forbidden treasure," according to Erik, and he'll rue the day that those nasty Americans come and piss all over his cute little food-rationing booty. He adds: "It will be so Americanized in a few years. Just like Cancun."

The horror!

Three things, Bridget and Erik:

First - I'm not one of them, but lots of people really like places like Cancun, as evidenced by the hundreds of thousands of people who go there each year. These people include many Mexicans, who have managed to avoid turning into Caucasians or frequenting Applebee's restaurants despite the raping their culture has been subjected to by us Amurricans.

Second - Lots and lots and lots of people are ready and willing to sacrifice a little bit of their culture in favor of job opportunities and increased income. That's how people change their lives, by being able to decide what they value, and by acting accordingly. Believe it or not, places like Tokyo, New York, Sydney, Paris, Copenhagen, Montreal, Hong Kong, Dublin, Amsterdam, Barcelona, and Chicago share some things, such as Hard Rock Cafe, McDonald's, and a majority population of well-fed, rich people, but the similarities pretty much stop there.

Third - Fuck you. Seriously. If a country like Cuba is lucky enough to become "Americanized" over the next few years, by which I mean prosperous, your only response should be one of happiness at the knowledge that more people in the world can enjoy the standards of living you so arrogantly take for granted. Frightfully sorry to have inconvenienced you out of your fav' vacation spot, but for millions of people actually living there, Cuba is a long way from paradise.

For Americans, spending money in Cuba is supposed to warrant a $55,000 fine. I think the trade ban is stupid, but here's hoping Erik and Bridget get nailed for every penny.