June 28, 2008
The Liberal Paradox
In an editorial in the UK’s Sunday Herald, writer Joanna Blythman excoriates British and European banks for closing customer accounts that do business with Cuba. Because these banks (such as Royal Bank of Scotland and UBS) have operations in the US, they must be very careful not to violate the strict regulations the US has with regards to doing business with Cuba. For the banks it is simply a business decision. But Ms. Blythman has taken great offense that these institutions have allowed themselves to be influenced by US foreign policy.
Blinded by rabid anti-socialist, anti-Castro sentiment, for 48 years the US has conducted a vendetta against this peaceful Caribbean island by imposing a crippling economic blockade, one that has wilfully impoverished the Cuban people and been roundly condemned for 16 years running by the UN General Assembly. In 2007, 184 countries, including the UK, voted against it - only four didn't. The whole world, apart from the US, its thuggish sidekick, Israel, and a couple of obscure statelets, believes this punitive blockade should be lifted.
The author dedicates several paragraphs to how horrible the US and its embargo of Cuba’s dictatorial regime is, and how the US has no right to tell the rest of the world who they can and cannot do business with. Here is where Ms. Blythman—in a typical liberal paradox—fails to see how she is doing exactly what she is accusing the US of doing; trying to tell the US, and others, who they can and cannot do business with.
The one good thing about liberals is that if you let them talk long enough, they will eventually refute their own arguments. They cannot help themselves; their arguments are based on emotions, not facts. Let them ramble on with their circuitous debates and sooner, rather than later, they will contradict themselves.
In this particular case, Ms. Blythman, true to her liberal philosophy, does not disappoint. In a single paragraph she manages to call for “free trade,” and then implores those who share her disgust to contact their banks and if they will not do business with Cuba, they should close their accounts.
If, like me, you think that the world should be free to trade with Cuba and disapprove of America's unhealthy grip on our financial institutions, you could ask your bank to confirm that it is happy to offer banking services to Cuban organisations, companies trading with Cuba, and of course, Cuban individuals. The Cuba Solidarity Campaign has a model letter you can use or adapt for the purpose. In the absence of a satisfactory response, consider taking your account elsewhere. If certain banks won't do business with Cuba, then why should we do business with them? (emphasis mine)
Why, Ms. Blythman; are you calling for an embargo of banking institutions whose policies you do not agree with?
Liberals—you gotta love ‘em.
Posted by Alberto de la Cruz at June 28, 2008 06:35 PM
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Comments
Great post Alberto!
Amen to:
"The one good thing about liberals is that if you let them talk long enough, they will eventually refute their own arguments. They cannot help themselves; their arguments are based on emotions, not facts. Let them ramble on with their circuitous debates and sooner, rather than later, they will contradict themselves."
BTW, Happy 5th Birthday Babalu! :)
I wish you well :) Melek
"We all declare for liberty; but in using the same word we do not all mean the same thing. With some the word liberty may mean for each man to do as he pleases with himself, and the product of his labor; while with others, the same word may mean for some men to do as they please with other men, and the product of other men's labor. Here are two, not only different, but incompatible things, called by the same name - liberty. And it follows that each of the things is, by the respective parties, called by two different and incompatible names - liberty and tyranny." ~ Abraham Lincoln
Posted by: Melek ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.babalublog.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at June 28, 2008 10:08 PM
Journalism is the only industry I can think of that allows its members to perform their work with complete inaccuracy. In fact, rewards certain members for it.
Posted by: Scott at June 29, 2008 08:22 AM
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