Comments on: US charges citizen with $6,500 fine for visiting Cuba http://boingboing.net/2012/07/27/us-charges-citizen-with-6500.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Fri, 24 May 2013 21:31:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Michael Crumpton http://boingboing.net/2012/07/27/us-charges-citizen-with-6500.html#comment-1492535 Michael Crumpton Sun, 29 Jul 2012 13:03:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=173617#comment-1492535 "Floridian RepubloCubans love the embargo."  Not to mention the cruise ship and US casino industries. If you could go to exotic Havana or to a casino in an everglades swamp to throw your money away, which would you choose? “Floridian RepubloCubans love the embargo.”
 Not to mention the cruise ship and US casino industries. If you could go to exotic Havana or to a casino in an everglades swamp to throw your money away, which would you choose?

]]> By: awjt http://boingboing.net/2012/07/27/us-charges-citizen-with-6500.html#comment-1492533 awjt Sun, 29 Jul 2012 12:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=173617#comment-1492533 I honestly don't think it's political cooties, fear of Cuban influence, even fear of bringing back actual Cuban people or having contact with them in any way while there.  I honestly believe it is simply a capricious, unbounded American need for control.  As if Floridian Cubans would suddenly stop voting one way or the other.  But nobody wants to find out, so it's just American voodoo.  Most of our laws are voodoo at this point.  Basic principles twisted and shrunk and morphed into something other than what they were intended to be.  Just think of the Bill of Rights, and how all those principles have been morphed into the ugly frankenstein stepchildren that they are now. Free speech, EXCEPT for blah blah blah and under these conditions, blah blah. Free press, EXCEPT for blah blah blah and under these conditions, blah blah. Freedom of Assembly, EXCEPT for blah blah blah and under these conditions, blah blah. Right to bear arms, EXCEPT for blah blah blah and under these conditions, blah blah. No double jeapordy, EXCEPT for separate criminal charges years later due to new evidence and civil suits for monetary damages. Slaves are 3/5 of a person... I mean come on, who are we kidding? I honestly don’t think it’s political cooties, fear of Cuban influence, even fear of bringing back actual Cuban people or having contact with them in any way while there.  I honestly believe it is simply a capricious, unbounded American need for control.  As if Floridian Cubans would suddenly stop voting one way or the other.  But nobody wants to find out, so it’s just American voodoo.  Most of our laws are voodoo at this point.  Basic principles twisted and shrunk and morphed into something other than what they were intended to be.  Just think of the Bill of Rights, and how all those principles have been morphed into the ugly frankenstein stepchildren that they are now. Free speech, EXCEPT for blah blah blah and under these conditions, blah blah. Free press, EXCEPT for blah blah blah and under these conditions, blah blah. Freedom of Assembly, EXCEPT for blah blah blah and under these conditions, blah blah. Right to bear arms, EXCEPT for blah blah blah and under these conditions, blah blah. No double jeapordy, EXCEPT for separate criminal charges years later due to new evidence and civil suits for monetary damages. Slaves are 3/5 of a person… I mean come on, who are we kidding?

]]> By: GregS http://boingboing.net/2012/07/27/us-charges-citizen-with-6500.html#comment-1492222 GregS Sun, 29 Jul 2012 00:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=173617#comment-1492222 So is that how the system is supposed to work? The punishment increases if you go to court to challenge the ruling? So is that how the system is supposed to work? The punishment increases if you go to court to challenge the ruling?

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/07/27/us-charges-citizen-with-6500.html#comment-1492145 Antinous / Moderator Sat, 28 Jul 2012 21:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=173617#comment-1492145 The wealthiest and most powerful country in the world has been trying to destroy Cuba for half a century. I can't imagine why Cuba has any problems. The wealthiest and most powerful country in the world has been trying to destroy Cuba for half a century. I can’t imagine why Cuba has any problems.

]]> By: James Penrose http://boingboing.net/2012/07/27/us-charges-citizen-with-6500.html#comment-1492043 James Penrose Sat, 28 Jul 2012 19:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=173617#comment-1492043  Yet how many people try sneaking *in* to Cuba as opposed to risking their lives trying to leave the Workers' Paradise?  I always figured that was a good way to judge how happy a place is: Which way the guns point.  Are they fighting to keep people out or fighting to to keep their own people from fleeing? Since the Soviet Empire stopped propping them up, they are pretty much running on empty and their health care system is a bit....iffy..... and what there is favors the rich and the quality is that of the curandero and other third world fun: http://www.global-politics.co.uk/issue9/hanna/  Yet how many people try sneaking *in* to Cuba as opposed to risking their lives trying to leave the Workers’ Paradise?  I always figured that was a good way to judge how happy a place is: Which way the guns point.  Are they fighting to keep people out or fighting to to keep their own people from fleeing?

Since the Soviet Empire stopped propping them up, they are pretty much running on empty and their health care system is a bit….iffy….. and what there is favors the rich and the quality is that of the curandero and other third world fun:

http://www.global-politics.co.uk/issue9/hanna/

]]> By: lafave http://boingboing.net/2012/07/27/us-charges-citizen-with-6500.html#comment-1491907 lafave Sat, 28 Jul 2012 16:15:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=173617#comment-1491907  There are more approved group visits to Cuba. The local bar association went in May of this year. Student and business groups go.  You just need a thinly veiled reason, e.g.,  studying the Cuba legal system; the effects of the US trade embargo; learning Cuba culture, etc.  File the paperwork, and you should be good to go.  There are more approved group visits to Cuba. The local bar association went in May of this year. Student and business groups go.  You just need a thinly veiled reason, e.g.,  studying the Cuba legal system; the effects of the US trade embargo; learning Cuba culture, etc.  File the paperwork, and you should be good to go.

]]> By: med1972 http://boingboing.net/2012/07/27/us-charges-citizen-with-6500.html#comment-1491905 med1972 Sat, 28 Jul 2012 16:10:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=173617#comment-1491905 Agreed 100%, but it is the law of the land. Break the rules, risk the repercussions, and maybe try to get the rules changed. Good luck. Floridian RepubloCubans love the embargo. Agreed 100%, but it is the law of the land. Break the rules, risk the repercussions, and maybe try to get the rules changed. Good luck. Floridian RepubloCubans love the embargo.

]]> By: SedanChair http://boingboing.net/2012/07/27/us-charges-citizen-with-6500.html#comment-1491876 SedanChair Sat, 28 Jul 2012 14:03:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=173617#comment-1491876 Cuba's BAD You might see somebody getting healed for FREE And get IDEAS Cuba’s BAD

You might see somebody getting healed for FREE

And get IDEAS

]]> By: Robert Lallier http://boingboing.net/2012/07/27/us-charges-citizen-with-6500.html#comment-1491871 Robert Lallier Sat, 28 Jul 2012 13:43:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=173617#comment-1491871 The USA? Doc, you're invoking a dead concept. I think anyone under 25 simply has no clue, having no living experience, of what this country is, or rather, was. "Freedom" is an even less meaningful concept to them. It gave the vapors to the public school marm bureaucrats who supposedly educated them. The idea of principle itself probably escapes them. The USA? Doc, you’re invoking a dead concept. I think anyone under 25 simply has no clue, having no living experience, of what this country is, or rather, was. “Freedom” is an even less meaningful concept to them. It gave the vapors to the public school marm bureaucrats who supposedly educated them. The idea of principle itself probably escapes them.

]]> By: Robert Lallier http://boingboing.net/2012/07/27/us-charges-citizen-with-6500.html#comment-1491868 Robert Lallier Sat, 28 Jul 2012 13:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=173617#comment-1491868 Same idea, just tarted up with more mature vocabulary. Same idea, just tarted up with more mature vocabulary.

]]> By: Dave Lloyd http://boingboing.net/2012/07/27/us-charges-citizen-with-6500.html#comment-1491844 Dave Lloyd Sat, 28 Jul 2012 11:23:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=173617#comment-1491844 I thought getting paperwork official permission to go somewhere was a reviled feature of Nazi Germany and the USSR - not the USA? I thought getting paperwork official permission to go somewhere was a reviled feature of Nazi Germany and the USSR – not the USA?

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/07/27/us-charges-citizen-with-6500.html#comment-1491818 Antinous / Moderator Sat, 28 Jul 2012 08:59:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=173617#comment-1491818 Cooties are not bound by the laws of physics. Cooties are not bound by the laws of physics.

]]> By: retepslluerb http://boingboing.net/2012/07/27/us-charges-citizen-with-6500.html#comment-1491795 retepslluerb Sat, 28 Jul 2012 07:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=173617#comment-1491795 Political cooties? I though this was about economic warfare and depriving Cuba of an income. Political cooties? I though this was about economic warfare and depriving Cuba of an income.

]]> By: Preston Sturges http://boingboing.net/2012/07/27/us-charges-citizen-with-6500.html#comment-1491605 Preston Sturges Sat, 28 Jul 2012 00:47:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=173617#comment-1491605 My Canadian friends would take cheap vacations in Cuban and had a great time except for food a notch below a bus station. But we knew to never ever go with them or there would be a big tax penalty or fines.  My Canadian friends would take cheap vacations in Cuban and had a great time except for food a notch below a bus station.

But we knew to never ever go with them or there would be a big tax penalty or fines. 

]]> By: billstewart http://boingboing.net/2012/07/27/us-charges-citizen-with-6500.html#comment-1491576 billstewart Sat, 28 Jul 2012 00:20:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=173617#comment-1491576 You could get around the rules if you wanted to, by being a journalist.  An Old Left friend of mine used to visit Cuba as a reporter for his union's newspaper.  When he was younger, he'd help The Revolution by cutting sugar cane; when he got older he'd mainly go to the beach, drink rum, and smoke cigars, but either way he'd write up reports about what The Workers were doing in Cuba. Last time I was in western Canada I could have gotten some Cuban cigars, but unfortunately they still make the things out of tobacco, so yuk.  (And the shops at the ski resort didn't sell the other stuff you smoke in B.C., except maybe under the table.)  You could get around the rules if you wanted to, by being a journalist.  An Old Left friend of mine used to visit Cuba as a reporter for his union’s newspaper.  When he was younger, he’d help The Revolution by cutting sugar cane; when he got older he’d mainly go to the beach, drink rum, and smoke cigars, but either way he’d write up reports about what The Workers were doing in Cuba.

Last time I was in western Canada I could have gotten some Cuban cigars, but unfortunately they still make the things out of tobacco, so yuk.  (And the shops at the ski resort didn’t sell the other stuff you smoke in B.C., except maybe under the table.) 

]]> By: billstewart http://boingboing.net/2012/07/27/us-charges-citizen-with-6500.html#comment-1491569 billstewart Sat, 28 Jul 2012 00:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=173617#comment-1491569  It's about Republicans and Democrats wanting the Cuban immigrant vote in Florida.  And about Commies being bad people who steal casinos from the Mafia.   It’s about Republicans and Democrats wanting the Cuban immigrant vote in Florida.  And about Commies being bad people who steal casinos from the Mafia. 

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/07/27/us-charges-citizen-with-6500.html#comment-1491543 Antinous / Moderator Fri, 27 Jul 2012 23:43:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=173617#comment-1491543 That's not really the point. It's embarrassing that the US government is so terrified of its citizens bringing back political cooties if they visit a tiny, impoverished country. That’s not really the point. It’s embarrassing that the US government is so terrified of its citizens bringing back political cooties if they visit a tiny, impoverished country.

]]> By: jetfx http://boingboing.net/2012/07/27/us-charges-citizen-with-6500.html#comment-1491480 jetfx Fri, 27 Jul 2012 22:44:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=173617#comment-1491480  That fine was paid by the American taxpayer, with their jobs.  That fine was paid by the American taxpayer, with their jobs.

]]> By: Romeo Vitelli http://boingboing.net/2012/07/27/us-charges-citizen-with-6500.html#comment-1491473 Romeo Vitelli Fri, 27 Jul 2012 22:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=173617#comment-1491473 How much did they fine Nixon for visiting China? How much did they fine Nixon for visiting China?

]]> By: Hutz http://boingboing.net/2012/07/27/us-charges-citizen-with-6500.html#comment-1491415 Hutz Fri, 27 Jul 2012 22:00:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=173617#comment-1491415 Read the article.  He was fined the standard $1,000 for not filing the required forms and for smuggling cigars.  He fought the whole thing for 8 years and has now settled for $6,500.  Had he filed the forms there would have been no fines.  Had he accepted the initial punishment, he would have paid $1,000. Read the article.  He was fined the standard $1,000 for not filing the required forms and for smuggling cigars.  He fought the whole thing for 8 years and has now settled for $6,500.  Had he filed the forms there would have been no fines.  Had he accepted the initial punishment, he would have paid $1,000.

]]> By: Daemonworks http://boingboing.net/2012/07/27/us-charges-citizen-with-6500.html#comment-1491408 Daemonworks Fri, 27 Jul 2012 21:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=173617#comment-1491408 And yet, still no valid reason for that legal prohibition. It's basically a legal tradition, rather than a rule with any actual merit. And yet, still no valid reason for that legal prohibition. It’s basically a legal tradition, rather than a rule with any actual merit.

]]> By: Brett Whitmarsh http://boingboing.net/2012/07/27/us-charges-citizen-with-6500.html#comment-1491388 Brett Whitmarsh Fri, 27 Jul 2012 21:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=173617#comment-1491388 land of the free land of the free

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