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Igel

(35,300 posts)

43. Often there's one answer for every question.

Sun Jul 26, 2015, 01:04 PM

Jul 2015

Venezuela's bad economy? The US.

The USSR's bad economy? The US.

Puerto Rico's in the dumpster? The US.

Haiti's a mess? The US.

Africa's not 1st world? The US.

Gaza conflict? The US.

People going all 'splody and making Charlie into flaked tuna? The US.

Overfishing? The US.

Kenya has terrorism, drought, and is anti-gay? The US.

Greece is a mess? The US ... okay, neocons, okay, the EU. (But the US is lurking in the background.)

But what's really important is to avoid the intellectual state of American exceptionalism and ethnocentrism, because, really, the US is just another country.

And have you heard? As far as Iran is concerned, we're still the (a?) Great Satan.

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Half of Cuba's field hockey team defects during Pan Am games [View all] Marksman_91 Jul 2015 OP

I guess they were tired of waiting for change. 7962 Jul 2015 #1

Certain occupations in North Korea, only men with families are given. EL34x4 Jul 2015 #44

Amazing how that never even enters our minds here. Its just so odd! 7962 Jul 2015 #58

I guess over 200 US citizens who sought asylum in Cuba fasttense Jul 2015 #66

Thats ridiculous. 7962 Jul 2015 #68

Wet foot, dry foot is ending AngryAmish Jul 2015 #2

Yes, but why would they want to leave Cuba, though? Marksman_91 Jul 2015 #3

Dont forget spotless hospitals too with no waiting nt 7962 Jul 2015 #59

No doubt, you'll link to the post describing in en toto as a socialist paradise, yes? LanternWaste Jul 2015 #79

Exactly. n/t Scurrilous Jul 2015 #31

Someone bitter over Cuba/America relationships improving? Capitalist paradise or socialist Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #4

I'm actually quite happy about the improving relations :) Marksman_91 Jul 2015 #6

Cubans have been defecting for 50 years, as economic interests can overwhelm all else. Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #10

Still blaming the U.S. embargo for Cuba's economic woes? Marksman_91 Jul 2015 #14

Often there's one answer for every question. Igel Jul 2015 #43

Funny how leftist governments tend to blame every single one of their problems on US imperialism Marksman_91 Jul 2015 #45

Puerto Rico? Really? Puertu Rico is a part of the US fasttense Jul 2015 #65

And Irans leader tweeting an image of Pres Obama with a gun to his head 7962 Jul 2015 #69

Sugar... IthinkThereforeIAM Jul 2015 #67

The biggest problem was the fall of the soviet union. killbotfactory Jul 2015 #71

Something like Venezuela I would imagine nt Bacchus4.0 Jul 2015 #15

"economic embargo" Not... EX500rider Jul 2015 #19

Fact denial is a terrible thing....Canada does 70% of its trade with this country...a nearby one. Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #20

the US is Venezuela's largest trading partner and look at the mess they are in Bacchus4.0 Jul 2015 #22

Sugar is King in Cuba! Maybe we can end the substitute High Fructose Corn Syrup? Zen Democrat Jul 2015 #28

I was checking that out earlier when I was reading up on Cuba it looks like they are having trouble cstanleytech Jul 2015 #37

The Cuban town Mr. Hershey built mahatmakanejeeves Jul 2015 #75

I think that qualifies as a "BOOM!" 7962 Jul 2015 #61

Not surprising, we share the longest border in the world. EX500rider Jul 2015 #23

There is water between Cuba and America and none with Canada? Good point! Now if we could just Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #24

What are you implying? That trade by sea can be as easy as by land? Marksman_91 Jul 2015 #26

Of course, we should both ask China and Japan about the water transport trade problem before drawing any rash conclusions? Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #27

Yes! Which is exactly why the embargo isnt the cause of Cuba's pains. 7962 Jul 2015 #60

"true democracy" heaven05 Jul 2015 #29

Still better than a one-party rule, in my opinion n/t Marksman_91 Jul 2015 #34

you're entitled heaven05 Jul 2015 #46

What alternative do you suggest then? Marksman_91 Jul 2015 #49

Those that dwell in American houses of "true democracy" should not..... something, something. Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #38

Wow. US 'friendliness and influence will gradually promote true democracy?' PatrickforO Jul 2015 #30

"True Democracy to come back" Hassin Bin Sober Jul 2015 #32

True. Corrected it. Marksman_91 Jul 2015 #33

When has US infuence promoted roody Jul 2015 #42

Post war Japan? S Korea? W. Germany? Iraq? Afghanistan? EX500rider Jul 2015 #52

Well, I can't say it worked out too well in Afghanistan and Iraq Marksman_91 Jul 2015 #55

Intentions may be questionable but the fact remains.. EX500rider Jul 2015 #63

Post WW2 Europe? nt 7962 Jul 2015 #62

interesting, thanks nt Bacchus4.0 Jul 2015 #5

People relocate all the time for better opportunities. bluedigger Jul 2015 #7

Equating defection with "relocating for better opportunities" is a little bizarre. oberliner Jul 2015 #13

Equating "defection", definition pending, with abandoning forever allegiance to your nation, is a bit bizarre as well. Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #17

Huh? oberliner Jul 2015 #25

Not everyone feels as strongly christx30 Jul 2015 #39

Cuba has a 400 person delegation in Toronto. Why are 400 not "defecting" to capitalist paradise? Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #40

Why aren't people from other countries defecting to Cuba? N/t Marksman_91 Jul 2015 #41

He makes a great point Schema Thing Jul 2015 #51

Those 400 people haven't reached their christx30 Jul 2015 #54

I carla Jul 2015 #8

I doubt a career in field hockey would be lucrative for them nt Bacchus4.0 Jul 2015 #11

"USA offers what Cuba doesn't have." EX500rider Jul 2015 #53

It was great seeing your reference to "balseros" who return to their homeland. Judi Lynn Jul 2015 #56

That "gusanos" term has sure been a favorite of many fervent castristas in this site Marksman_91 Jul 2015 #64

Conspicuous whopper. I have NEVER seen any DU'er use "gusano" to refer to non-Cuban exiles, not once Judi Lynn Jul 2015 #73

Los Gusanos are a rock band in Venezuela, also means worm Bacchus4.0 Jul 2015 #74

This message was self-deleted by its author LiberalArkie Jul 2015 #9

Good point. Folks are folks and make individual folks choices. Reading more into it is silly. Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #12

Hid out in Canada to avoid the draft isn't really "defecting" EX500rider Jul 2015 #16

Like I said above, definition pending. Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #18

definition no longer pending: EX500rider Jul 2015 #21

Scott Boras must be salivating KamaAina Jul 2015 #35

Isn't he in baseball, though? N/t Marksman_91 Jul 2015 #36

He's been looking to break in to the lucrative field hockey market for a while, though. KamaAina Jul 2015 #57

Wait until they find out what their job prospects are daleo Jul 2015 #47

Wait until they see Huckabee or Trump or Cruz. randome Jul 2015 #77

with Cuba open now, both Govs will probaby change the 'cubans get guaranteed resident cards' laws... Sunlei Jul 2015 #48

And there it is!!! If they want their dry feet green cards, they've gotta get 'em now. MADem Jul 2015 #50

No one is saying Cuba is a paradise. harun Jul 2015 #70

Just half? jmowreader Jul 2015 #72

Message auto-removed Name removed Jul 2015 #76

My heart breaks for Cuban leftists eissa Jul 2015 #78