why do we not trade with cuba, yet trade with china?  both are commie and both have bad human rights records.?
337851
China is not Communist. A free market society cannot be called Communist. \n\nWe trade with China because the market is massive, and while they are a reason for trade deficits, it is simply too large to ignore. Also making them dependent upon us lessens any chance of armed conflict.\n\nWe don't trade with Cuba because the US uses it as a scapegoat and tries to argue it supports human rights by attacking Cuba on its behavior. We can ignore Cuba. We can't ignore china.
169098
partly, yes. Cuba, as you know is a commie country who hates America (or at least Fidel Castro does). I think bush is too paranoid...
871870
There isn't, nor ever has been, a Communist country - only feeble attempts by Communist politicians and governments.  But while Capitalism still has a foothold, Communism could never occur.\n\nThe US trade embargo on Cuba exists because the US government under various Presidents don't like Cuba's regime under Fidel Castro and are waiting for him to die.\n\nChina no longer suffers any US embargo because they have embraced Capitalism with fervour and, if you compare whats going on in Gauntanamo Bay (which is on Cuban soil without permission from the Cuban government) with Chinas record on Human Rights, the US has a close ally in terms of treating people badly, unfairly and cruelly.\n\nYou have asked a good question which invokes a lot of history, politics, law and economics - well done.
480145
The embargo could hardly be called a new event since it was put in place by John Kennedy. Why don't you do one based on the soon to take place change of power in Cuba. What will happen when Fidel dies? Or about how even with the increases in tourism to Cuba in recent years, the everyday person is still denied access to visiters and the illeagality of cuban ownership of any kind of foreign currency.
172391
china isn't communism. it's totalitarianism capitalism.\n\nMost people are idiots about communism and don't even know what it is.
679623
Because whether it is right or wrong to do, it's a political loser.\n\nWhoever votes to lift the embargo will lose Florida in the election. Then there is the sugar agri-businesses, who would then have Cuban cane sugar to compete with. More political costs.\n\nLet's face it - politicrits are re-election whores at heart, and have no courage to make such a bold move.\n\nPersonally, I am against trade with any of those bad countries. But I understand that politics and principle rarely mix.
1110033
The more important question is why on earth would they be dumb enough to smoke cigars from the US when they have cigars from Cuba at their fingertips :-)
492153
russian privatization sucked,  their economy is centered on oil, and government is back to dictatorship. China is doing much better, carefully chosing investors for privatization, and expanding manufacturing sector. Chinese economy is more capitalist than russia's by now.
370784
Why shouldn't they be, isn't it discrimination if they don't?\nCapitalists are still worried to death about Communists,and rightly so (esp USA).\nI wonder why (apart from the stuff they have read in the capitalist news papers and watched on the capitalist TV)\nI don't think capitalists and communists can ever reach a mutual understanding. (Religion is the opium of the working classes) some one once said! he was right. Both sides have committed atrocities, both sides have done some good, is the question meant to prove this sort of reaction?
398781
I don't support the Communist and their Dictator Hu. They have committed genocide on China's people for years. Look at their abortion laws and population control, that alone is genocide. It's the Republicans and their uncontrollable greed. Communist China is an atheist Country, and there are way to many things to list in here. It's a total travesty and embarrassment to the American People and our Democratic society. I want to know if this is what the Republicans have in mind for America to become a Communist Nation. I am not going for the Dictator thing now with George Bush.
379144
batista was a tyrant worse than castro. that's why we helped castro gain power in cuba.  then he befriended the soviets, and that's when we cut off diplomatic relations with cuba.
656071
Russia and China disagree with the USA because they are Communists. Communism is incompatible with Capitalism and Freedom. If you look at the last century Freedom, Democracy and Capitalism have been spreading across the planet. It prospers wherever free people are allowed to pursue their dreams. \nAs to Iran, The USA does not buy ANY oil from Iran. We have had an Embargo since the Hostage takings in 79. However, Russia wants to gain a powerful friend in the middle east because they see the USA making slow progress in the middle east expanding power and control and they feel threatened by that. China on the other hand, buys alot of oil from Iran and their economic standards are rising and bringing a new demand for energy in China. They want to secure a long lasting relationship for the purpose of unrestricted supplies of oil. They are short sighted in this because Iran is currently lead by a Homicidal Maniac intent on bringing about world war 4. His goal is to force the whole world to become Muslim and kill every Jewish person on the planet. People like this must NEVER be allowed to obtain Nuclear Weapons. Preventing a Madman from obtaining Nuclear weapons is worth going to war...even if it means losing Hundreds of Thousands of soldiers. The cost will be alot less than if Iran gets Nuclear Weapons. This Lunatic will use them...and his missiles can reach all of Europe...Europe should be Afraid...be VERY AFRAID!!!
218015
They should definitely lose this status.  America is being sold out left and right to Chinese workers earning $.20/hr and work in sweatshop labor conditions.  We need to replace the concept of free trade with fair trade.  The Internet issue just one of hundreds of reasons.
1170831
China's communism is much deeper rooted than the Soviet System.  One thing you can say for the Chinese is that they do evolve to new systems when they are better.  You can see this slow change over the thousands of years that China has existed.  Kinda makes you feel like a baby country when you think the US has only been around for 200 years.
820088
well cuba is a communist country where there's certain rules that most of the people disagree that's the reason cubans seem america like an alternative to live ....they can get whatever they want and have freedom of speech ....some other people that is not cuban might have those rights in their countries as well but they have other problems such as economical problems or looking for a job.
1046966
Please!  We all know the definition of Communism in its true since, but China, Cuba an others are still considered Communist countries.  America is a Capitalist/Socialist country as well given that we supply benefits to the elderly and many, many, many other services.\n\nRepublicans like to label Socialism as horrible as if it were a third world country democracy.  Socialism does what a government is suppose to do and that is Protect freedom, and offer services to its people.  Does this not sound like America!!!  Most Socialist countries might pay higher taxes, but there citizens dont pay for health care, retirement and many others we pay a fortune for.  Many citizens in socialist countrys live better lives than we do in America.
340992
It's got nothing to do with communism, but with international trade barriers. China has got lots of people who are willing to work for $2 a month, compare that to the US! And in Europe the FORMER communist states like Poland have very cheap labor service too. So it's not amazing that the USA who is CAPITALIST moves out their business to places that have CHEAP labor.