Fulanito de Tal
3rd April 2011, 17:37
Florida Law: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?mode=View%20Statutes&SubMenu=1&App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=cuba&URL=0200-0299/0288/Sections/0288.854.html
288.854 Support for a free and independent cuba.—(1) It is the policy of Florida to:(a) Support the self-determination of the cuban people.
(b) Facilitate a peaceful transition to representative democracy and a free market economy in cuba.
(c) Be impartial toward any individual or entity in the selection by the cuban people of their future government.
(2) Once the President has determined that a democratically elected government exists in cuba, the Legislature of Florida supports the United States policy to:(a) Restore diplomatic recognition and support the reintegration of cuba into entities of the Inter-American System.
(b) Remove the economic embargo.
(c) Pursue a mutually beneficial trading relationship.
(3) Florida’s participation in the economic embargo on Cuba shall be terminated by Florida upon transmittal to Congress of a presidential determination that a democratically elected government is in power in Cuba.
(4) For the purposes of this act, the term:(a) A “transition government in cuba” means one which:1. Is demonstrably in transition from communist totalitarian dictatorship to democracy.
2. Has released all political prisoners.
3. Has dissolved the present Department of State Security in the Cuban Ministry of the Interior.
4. Also “makes public commitments” to:a. Establishing an independent judiciary.
b. Respecting internationally recognized human rights and basic freedoms.
c. Guaranteeing the rights of free speech and freedom of the press.
d. Permitting the reinstatement of citizenship to cuban-born nationals returning to cuba.
e. Organizing free and fair elections for a new government.
f. Assuring the right to private property.
g. Taking appropriate steps either to return to United States citizens property taken by the government of cuba on or after January 1, 1959, or to provide equitable compensation to United States citizens for such property.
h. Having a currency that is fully convertible domestically and internationally.
i. Granting permits to privately owned telecommunications and media companies to operate in Cuba.
j. Allowing the establishment of an independent labor movement and of independent social, economic, and political associations.
5. Does not include Fidel Castro or Raul Castro.
6. Has given adequate assurances that it will allow the speedy and efficient distribution of assistance to the cuban people.
7. Permits the deployment throughout cuba of independent and unfettered international human rights monitors.
(b) A “democratic government in cuba” means one which:1. Is the product of free and fair elections in which opposition parties had sufficient time to organize and were permitted full access to media.
2. Is showing respect for basic civil liberties and human rights.
3. Has established an independent judiciary.
4. Is moving toward a market-oriented economic system based on the right to own and enjoy property.
5. Is committed to making constitutional changes that would ensure regular free and fair elections.
6. Has returned to United States citizens, and entities which are 50 percent or more beneficially owned by United States citizens, property taken by the government of cuba from such citizens and entities on or after January 1, 1959, or provides full compensation in accordance with international law standards.
History.—s. 4, ch. 96-188.
Democracy, from what I understand, means rule by the people. Lately, this has been somewhat accomplished through elections of representatives. If the people elect Fidel or Raul Castro, that should be considered democracy. Yet, Florida tells Cuba who they cannot elect. That does not seem like democracy. Even more contradicting is that this same law says that Cuba must "be impartial toward any individual or entity in the selection by the Cuban people of their future government." So, they have to be impartial, as long as they are impartial only with people not on Florida's list. That does not make sense.
It seems like Florida confuses democracy with capitalism and returning private wealth. The private properties that were taken away during the revolution must be returned. Before the revolution, about 75% of Cuba's land was owned by foreigners. I do not understand how returning the vast majority of the land to foreign private companies constitutes democracy. This looks much more like private control over a country by foreign interests than democracy.
Florida states that the media must be privately owned! Why? So that the information can be controlled by a select few for their own personal benefit. How so? Well, privately owned here means that US companies should be given the right to instill their media infrastructure. Afterwards, they can control all of the images that the public sees. It's a television/radio/newspaper/Internet-media propaganda system that is what's being advocated for.
As for the market oriented system, we have had enough discussions on RevLeft about that to have a common understanding of their deficiencies in providing equality for all.
So what?
Well, next time someone says that Cuba needs to be democratic, remember what democratic means. As outlined here, democracy means that foreign agents should control the majority of Cuba's land, that the media should be controlled by a few persons for their benefit, installing a market oriented system, and that elections should only be considered valid in the results do not favor candidates that Florida disapproves.
288.854 Support for a free and independent cuba.—(1) It is the policy of Florida to:(a) Support the self-determination of the cuban people.
(b) Facilitate a peaceful transition to representative democracy and a free market economy in cuba.
(c) Be impartial toward any individual or entity in the selection by the cuban people of their future government.
(2) Once the President has determined that a democratically elected government exists in cuba, the Legislature of Florida supports the United States policy to:(a) Restore diplomatic recognition and support the reintegration of cuba into entities of the Inter-American System.
(b) Remove the economic embargo.
(c) Pursue a mutually beneficial trading relationship.
(3) Florida’s participation in the economic embargo on Cuba shall be terminated by Florida upon transmittal to Congress of a presidential determination that a democratically elected government is in power in Cuba.
(4) For the purposes of this act, the term:(a) A “transition government in cuba” means one which:1. Is demonstrably in transition from communist totalitarian dictatorship to democracy.
2. Has released all political prisoners.
3. Has dissolved the present Department of State Security in the Cuban Ministry of the Interior.
4. Also “makes public commitments” to:a. Establishing an independent judiciary.
b. Respecting internationally recognized human rights and basic freedoms.
c. Guaranteeing the rights of free speech and freedom of the press.
d. Permitting the reinstatement of citizenship to cuban-born nationals returning to cuba.
e. Organizing free and fair elections for a new government.
f. Assuring the right to private property.
g. Taking appropriate steps either to return to United States citizens property taken by the government of cuba on or after January 1, 1959, or to provide equitable compensation to United States citizens for such property.
h. Having a currency that is fully convertible domestically and internationally.
i. Granting permits to privately owned telecommunications and media companies to operate in Cuba.
j. Allowing the establishment of an independent labor movement and of independent social, economic, and political associations.
5. Does not include Fidel Castro or Raul Castro.
6. Has given adequate assurances that it will allow the speedy and efficient distribution of assistance to the cuban people.
7. Permits the deployment throughout cuba of independent and unfettered international human rights monitors.
(b) A “democratic government in cuba” means one which:1. Is the product of free and fair elections in which opposition parties had sufficient time to organize and were permitted full access to media.
2. Is showing respect for basic civil liberties and human rights.
3. Has established an independent judiciary.
4. Is moving toward a market-oriented economic system based on the right to own and enjoy property.
5. Is committed to making constitutional changes that would ensure regular free and fair elections.
6. Has returned to United States citizens, and entities which are 50 percent or more beneficially owned by United States citizens, property taken by the government of cuba from such citizens and entities on or after January 1, 1959, or provides full compensation in accordance with international law standards.
History.—s. 4, ch. 96-188.
Democracy, from what I understand, means rule by the people. Lately, this has been somewhat accomplished through elections of representatives. If the people elect Fidel or Raul Castro, that should be considered democracy. Yet, Florida tells Cuba who they cannot elect. That does not seem like democracy. Even more contradicting is that this same law says that Cuba must "be impartial toward any individual or entity in the selection by the Cuban people of their future government." So, they have to be impartial, as long as they are impartial only with people not on Florida's list. That does not make sense.
It seems like Florida confuses democracy with capitalism and returning private wealth. The private properties that were taken away during the revolution must be returned. Before the revolution, about 75% of Cuba's land was owned by foreigners. I do not understand how returning the vast majority of the land to foreign private companies constitutes democracy. This looks much more like private control over a country by foreign interests than democracy.
Florida states that the media must be privately owned! Why? So that the information can be controlled by a select few for their own personal benefit. How so? Well, privately owned here means that US companies should be given the right to instill their media infrastructure. Afterwards, they can control all of the images that the public sees. It's a television/radio/newspaper/Internet-media propaganda system that is what's being advocated for.
As for the market oriented system, we have had enough discussions on RevLeft about that to have a common understanding of their deficiencies in providing equality for all.
So what?
Well, next time someone says that Cuba needs to be democratic, remember what democratic means. As outlined here, democracy means that foreign agents should control the majority of Cuba's land, that the media should be controlled by a few persons for their benefit, installing a market oriented system, and that elections should only be considered valid in the results do not favor candidates that Florida disapproves.