Slowly but inexorably, the governmental gears are grinding in behalf of a more sensible, less counterproductive policy vis-a-vis Cuba. But Helms-Burton is still in place, the economic embargo is still riddled with Cold War rationales, the travel ban for most Americans is still the law and the South Florida exile community still exercises politician-intimidating, veto power.
Several months back, Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) and Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) introduced HR 654, which would end the travel ban to Cuba. To date, it has 95 co-sponsors who feel that America’s aims for change in Cuba could actually be advanced by that island’s populace having more exposure to traveling Americans. To say nothing of the quaint concept that Americans had pretty much gotten used to freely visiting any place that wasn’t unsafe for Americans.
For the record, none of those 95 HR 654 co-sponsors are from Florida.