It's a tough time to be the Sunshine State. First, the real estate collapse. Then BP decides to open their crude faucet just off our shores. This one-two punch has the Sunshine State facing one of its bleakest economic outlooks since becoming a state in 1855. Tourism numbers are falling off a cliff, which means state and local budgets will be cut again. Don't be surprised if you see teachers, police and firemen getting pink slips across the state in the coming year.
But there is a ray of economic sunshine just 90 miles away off Florida's coast. It's the evil empire of Cuba.
A brief walk down memory lane. After Fidel Castro and his communist comrades came to power in 1959 - the United States implemented a nationwide embargo on trade with Cuba. The embargo was designed to force Cuba to overthrow Castro and adopt a democratic form of government. Fast-forward 51 years and we find Fidel is in an old folks home as his brother runs the country. Cuba is still a communist country. Nothing much has changed. It is not a stretch to say that the embargo has been a colossal failure.
The main reason - our good friends in Canada, along with China and Venezuela, have been ramping up trade with Cuba. Canada sends over $1 Billion dollars in exports to the island each year. And China and Venezuela both export more than $2 Billion dollars annually in goods to Cuba.
Cuba imports over $10 Billion in goods each year. With the stroke of a pen President Obama can make sure we get our fair share of the Cuban economic pie. Public sentiment is strongly behind lifting the ban. Nearly 60% of Americans polled last year are in favor of full diplomatic relations with Cuba.
Obama has nothing to lose by normalizing relations with Cuba.
Florida's economic viability depends on it.
Have a Great Week - Dare To Be Great!
10 Connects contributor Scott Farrell
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