Amusing? Sad? Aggravating?

[tertius]

I couldn't agree more. The best way to make Castros irrelevant would be to lift the embargo completely and let the free market flood the country with American tourist dollars. If we really believe in the free market, that what should have happened a long time ago. The party industry would make it very difficult to operate a communist dictatorship. The only thing that makes any sense as an explanation for the continued embargo is our sugar lobby keeping Cuban sugar out of our markets. They must be very powerful.

Possibly also the fruit companies (while as not as powerful as they once were, are not to be disregarded), and tobacco.

And let us not forget the great powers of Tradition, Inertia, and Disregard, which I find to be the most likely influences of all.
Nobody is going to win an election on normalizing relations with Cuba.
Therefore, no one who is in the position to do so gives a shit about ending the embargo.

Pretty straightforward, if you ask me. Stupid, and probably not in the interests of the US or the Cuban people, generally speaking.
But still pretty simple.

[Kyle Aaron]

A communist country will destroy its economy in a few decades whether they are under embargo or not (see the Soviet block)

This is certainly true. But we cannot say that the capitalist countries have been much more resilient.

Taking it back to the original post, every homeless person represents a failure of civil society. Depending on your politics, you may feel that people have failed (family, church or whatever wouldn't take them in) or that government has failed (not enough homeless shelters, jobs, homes, mental asylums, whatever). But either way it's a failure of society. People should not be on the streets with no-one to help them out.

[Mark Rippetoe]

Taking it back to the original post, every homeless person represents a failure of civil society. Depending on your politics, you may feel that people have failed (family, church or whatever wouldn't take them in) or that government has failed (not enough homeless shelters, jobs, homes, mental asylums, whatever). But either way it's a failure of society. People should not be on the streets with no-one to help them out.

This is bizarre, Kyle. It's not the fault of the homeless person? It's somehow partly my fault that you were homeless at some point?

[Kyle Aaron]

This is bizarre, Kyle. It's not the fault of the homeless person? It's somehow partly my fault that you were homeless at some point?

It's not a matter of fault. If I find you bleeding and unconscious on the road, I don't stop to ask if you just tripped and fell, mouthed off to someone bigger than you, were drunk and walked into a pole, were deliberately run down by an angry driver who doesn't like people from Texas, or what - I pull you off the road, put you in a safe position, stop the bleeding and call an ambulance. I've no idea why you're bleeding and unconscious, whose fault it is. It's not my fault, that's for sure - but it will be my fault if I walk on by.

Fault doesn't matter when someone's in trouble. We help one another. That's civilisation.

Some things like bleeding and unconscious people means immediate help by anyone who happens to be nearby. Other things like long-term illness, homelessness, illiteracy and the like require different kinds of help longer-term by friends, family, religious organisations and town councils, government or whatever. We can argue about exactly which of those groups are best suited to help, some think small-scale and voluntary works best, others than large-scale and bureaucratised works best - but there's no question that someone must help, eventually.

That's civilisation.

[Mark E. Hurling]

Possibly also the fruit companies (while as not as powerful as they once were, are not to be disregarded), and tobacco.

I don't smoke and I hate fruit which makes these observations a little ironic but think about this. Shipping costs, logistics, and the "forbidden fruit" of Cuban cigars. By all accounts the Dominicans have come a long way in the last regard but still not the equal of the Cubans. Big whoop, like I have a dog in that fight.

The Banana Wars and the Banana republics in Central America were real, but they were about control of who was raising the fruit. Why? Because it was a short haul across the Caribbean to the US mainland. I don't know if some you realize this, but even here in CA significant part of the fruit gets here by way of Chile. A much longer haul farther South up the Pacific Ocean by sea. Then it has to get from the West coast to the East coast and all points in between by rail. Cuba is closer than either Central or South America and so would further lower costs and increase supply. Amazing what you learn to think about when you've worked for the railroad once upon a time.

[Corrie]

How ironic.
Today on a radio show I listen to they had some homeless people in for a stunt. They have homeless people in a few times a year and have seen some of these guys many times over the last 5-10 years. One of them just happened to have gained 100 pounds since the last time he had been in studio.

Turns out his sister took him in for a year and he just sat around and ate until she kicked him back out.
This is the same guy they bought an apartment for an gave a job to a few years back. He worked the job for a month or two and then quit when it required him to go out of town for a few days. A lot of these guys would rather be homeless than stick to the rules and schedules that normal life requires.

[David1982]

I think he means the system has failed them, not you personally - like the social workers who are supposed to notice child abuse taking place, but don't, which then leads to people growing up with drug problems and mental issues, which don't get dealt with by the shit system, which leads to people being unable to cope as adults and ending up homeless. But then again, if you voted for a political party that's not as compassionate and empathic as another, then maybe it is your fault partly. Like over here, with this government trying to force people with mental problems and missing limbs off benefits and back to work, against their will - if some of them end up unable to cope and homeless, it's partly the fault of the stupid people that voted for these brainless fucking idiots in the first place.

[kwerk]

This is bizarre, Kyle. It's not the fault of the homeless person? It's somehow partly my fault that you were homeless at some point?

Well, Mark, do you have any empty beds in your home or at the WFAC?

[Mark Rippetoe]

No, but I have work that needs to be done, and I can pay.

[rumblefish]

No, but I have work that needs to be done, and I can pay.

Really? Cause I am competent, and can do ALL kinds of work. When you have a problem it becomes my problem, that's the kind of employee I am. I am an excellent and capable troubleshooter and problem solver. I also love to get paid....I suspect guys like me aren't the problem though.