Tournament: LAMDL 4 | Round: 1 | Opponent: Manual Arts RaOr | Judge: Samantha Miramontes
Contention 1 is Inherency:
Despite small changes, United States maintains an embargo that bars most economic activity with Cuba.
Guzmán, Emmy award winning journalist, 2013
(Sandra, “Jay-Z and Beyoncé's trip to Cuba isn't the problem, the embargo is,” CNN, May 8, Online: http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/07/opinion/guzman-beyonce-jay-z-cuba/index.html)
The few but very influential pro-embargo lobby
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and the island economy can't grow, it's because of this U.S. policy.
Contention 2 is Public Health:
The embargo restricts the flow of medical goods and creates financial strains that threaten to collapse the Cuban healthcare system.
Xinhua News, 2012
(“Cuban healthcare weakended by U.S. embargo,” 11/28, Online: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/health/2012-11/28/c_132004531.htm)
Cuban medical authorities said on Tuesday a 50-year trade embargo imposed
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we do not have all the raw materials and tools to solve certain problems immediately."¶
These strains contribute to massive loss of life in Cuba – we have a moral obligation to lift the embargo.
Eisenberg, former Professor Emeritus of Social Medicine and Psychology at the Harvard Medical School, 1997
(Leon, “The sleep of reason produces monsters – human costs of economic sanctions,” The New England Journal of Medicine, 336:17, pgs. 1248-1250, ProQuest)
Thus, three unusual outbreaks of medical conditions -- neuropathy, self-inflicted disease,
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Continuing to allow our reason to sleep will produce more monsters.
The embargo restricts free flow of agricultural goods from US – these are key to Cuba’s recovery from natural disasters and food shortages
Zimmerman, fellow at the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress, 2010
(Chelsea, “Rethinking the Cuban Trade Embargo: An Opportune Time to Mend a Broken Policy,” A Dialogue on Presidential Challenges and Leadership: Papers of the 2009-2010 Center Fellows, Online: http://www.thepresidency.org/storage/documents/Fellows2010/Zimmerman.pdf)
Trade levels between Cuba and the U.S. could reach $5 billion
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loosening of restrictions without ¶ overhauling the entire embargo.
Contention 3 is Government Repression:
Despite claims of progress, Castro’s government continues to violate the political and civil rights of Cuban citizens
Brewer, CEO of Criminal Justice International Associates, 2013
(Jerry, “Political Change in Cuba so that everything remains the same,” May 6, Online: http://www.mexidata.info/id3612.html)
The most discussed world critique, beyond the misery and decades of
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acts of repudiation against citizens who dare to speak out and demand change.
These violations are reprehensible – the United States has an obligation to promote political change
Navarro, former ambassador the UN Human Rights Commission, 2002
(Ana, “Defending Repressed Cubans,” April, Online: http://www.sigloxxi.org/Archivo/repressed.htm)
During 2001, repression has increased in Cuba. For the last 43 years,
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freedom and live in democracy, should not abandon the people of Cuba.
Thus, we propose the following plan:
The United States federal government should end its embargo on Cuba.
Lifting the embargo is a prerequisite for democratization – Castro blames social problems on the US and economic prosperity will go directly to Cuban citizens.
Griswold, director of the Cato Institute’s Center for Trade Policy Studies, 2009
(Daniel, The US Embargo of Cuba Is a Failure,” CATO, June 15th, Online: http://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/us-embargo-cuba-is-failure)
Advocates of the embargo argue that trading with Cuba will only
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Cuban people and speed the day when they can enjoy the freedom they deserve.
Contention 4 is Solvency:
Lifting the embargo would alleviate Cuban suffering and allow Cubans to focus on the fight for liberty.
Perez, professor of history and director of the Institute for the Study of the Americas at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2010
(Louis, “Want change in Cuba? End US embargo,” CNN, September 21, Online: http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/09/20/perez.cuba.embargo/index.html)
But if the administration really wanted to do something in the national interest
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stifle dissent -- all to the good of democracy and human rights.¶ And it would serve the national interest.