Joe Ferguson forever

Taxi from the airport was a 53 Chrysler. Had a toyota engine and transmission. We had a parade of multiple old convertibles around the historical sites in Havana one morning. Music blaring and funky horns blowing. Everything from Chevys to Fords to Studebakers (not convertible). When parked at sites, I talked to some drivers. None I asked had original engines or trannys. Mostly toyotas and hyundai/kia. The few modern cars/buses were Japanese or S Korean. There were also many old Russian Lada's which the Cubans didn't seem motivated to restore. Lots of live music. Lots of street musicians who need a license and must prove their talent to play publicly. They were happy to oblige requests for songs from Buena Vista Social Club. Was a band at the oceanside bar on New Years eve. The Salsa dancers were more impressive than the band that night but we went to a govt owned salsa bar later in the trip and saw a great band. Great trumpet player and again great salsa dancers. Little choice of drinks there - it was rum or rum. It was plenty to get us dancing.

I wasn't asking for your reply but ya know, this is a message board so it comes with the territory. Credentials are credibility. Same root. What are yours? Re truth and clarity, what makes you exceptional or qualified to make an assessment? I posted real data. I realize how you MAGA's hate facts but by definition, they are truth.

I bet alot of those non educated are trade workers who most likely out earn alot of the educated. Nope. https://www.bls.gov/emp/chart-unemployment-earnings-education.htm Internal terrorism is worse than external. Even the dog shooting trumper tool from SD said so today.

I truly wish it wasn't true but it is. "Plenty" is difficult to define. Of the non college grad voters, about 60% voted for trump. Less than 40% of non college grad voters voted for Harris. Of the highly educated (masters or above) about 60% voted for Harris. Only about 14% of Americans have a masters or higher degree. Therefore about 9 of 100 highly educated Americans are Harris voters and 5 of 100 are trump voters. Many on both sides don't hold those degrees in STEM areas. Employers are telling us that they need more than can be internally provided. So no, it's not anal leakage. It's intellectual laziness among both sides but much more so among trumpers. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1535279/presidential-election-exit-polls-share-votes-education-us/ ibid.

This is more salient to this point in history or at least it likely will be

I’m resigned to the fact that a bit more than 1/2 of Americans are morons and/or sociopaths. Until that changes, I’ll proceed accordingly. No coping needed. Just some shites and giggles gigging the aforementioned.

What is your area of exceptionalism?

yes, parroting MAGA's can cause short lived delirium.

They jumped at the chance to get off the terrorist list. but that doesn’t matter. I want the freedom to visit Cuba. And to not get a covid shot….but I did get a typhoid vax and an updated Tdap. Oh, and I actually am up to date on my Covid. But I have the freedom not to be…. But not the freedom to go to Cuba. just considering which choice is the bigger risk to my fellow Americans; not getting vaccinated in the midst of a pandemic or visiting Cuba as a tourist… see the logic?

Those 2 days, we were doing oceanographic research! it was mesmerizing. The coeds were almost all in Bikinis. So why did Clinton drop the embargo on Vietnam 19 years after the war?? And all the POTUS' after him leave it alone? I think the big reason for the embargo continuing thru those admins (x Obama) is the Florida electorate. Been crucial in elections for decades.

F off. Been to England at least a dozen times. Cuba was a university trip led by a social scientist who teaches about Latin America and Cuba. Another similar group from U Kansas' simultaneous trip was also organized by the same tour company (based in Cambridge, Mass). All the tour operators had at least relevant undergrad degrees and spoke excellent English. Would a visitor to NYC need a government attache from their embassy to let them glean the flavor of the place in 10 days? The point is, I'm an american and I want what's best for me. And what's best for me is being able to visit Cuba as aa tourist and for them to have the embargo eased enough so they can regularly pick up the garbage in the street, at least when I visit. It's about freedom!...for me to have a nice time in Cuba. I thought for sure you'd agree....

yes. you're an idiot.

they pose no threat. MAGA is all about what's best for Americans. Another beautiful nearby vacation spot is best for many Americans. We could sell them a great many goods. Should we put an embargo on Vietnam? Last I knew Americans could vacation there as tourists. This is all about the Cuban American voting block and pols like Cruz and Rubio. I would argue that their interests here are not the same as the nations interests.

it has a lot to do with Rubio. Cuba is a personal issue to him and to a great many Cuban Americans in and around Miami. They represent a very important voting block in Fla. And the vast majority of them hold a 75 year grudge against Cuba.

It’s a beautiful island, a quick plane ride and inexpensive. The people are awesome, the beaches immaculate and uncrowded, the 20 yo rum amazing and the cigars are the best in the world. What’s not to like? cut out the embargo and everything gets even better, especially for Cubans. They’ve agreed to release political prisoners which as a human rights issue is problematic ( before the release). If they want to support Maduro because they get oil from Venezuela it’s not affecting me. But if they could buy oil elsewhere that might go away too: chicken and egg. How is it that MAGAs are fine with letting Ukraine fall to the Russians but are afraid of a little Caribbean island with very little economic, political or military clout? Isn't the entire philosophy based on what is best for America? What's best for me is another awesome place to vacation...

so MAGAs won't bi1ch if walmart prices go up due to tariffs on China? c'mon, they'll be the first and the loudest.

works fine for me too. early retirement...and what "take"? what I wrote is fact btw, where's you data supporting the contention that H1B's are mostly low and medium skilled workers or did you just hear that on some white Christian nationalist propaganda show?

umm, that to be great, extraordinary people are required. Few MAGAs are extraordinary. Many are below average and thus to stay competitive, we need to import the creme de la creme which ironically, many MAGAs object to: The MAGA paradox.

look at the demographics from last election re education level. Pew research has some good numbers.

link? don't believe that's true. at any rate, we don't have enough high level scientists, mathematicians etc. can't compete without them. they are what it takes to be great and not just ordinary. The MAGA paradox...

Do a little research. We don't have enough highly qualified people on the cutting edge. Too many dumb, uneducated MAGA's to compete in technology globally. Can't be truly great without smart , highly educated people.

wow, this sounds an awful lot like the inflation complaints that won trump the election....

Do you support H1B visas? https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/dump-h-1b-trump-just-cant-afford-it/amp_articleshow/117224176.cms

https://apnews.com/article/biden-cuba-terrorism-designation-a0e2f003ce7100e6a845ef7ed6e96a1b Shoulda been done 4 years ago. Cruz has already condemned the deal. Rubio likely will tomorrow at the Senate Foreign Affairs confirmation hearing. The Cuban people are being played like pawns in our internal squabble. No different than human shields in Gaza. This is about revenge for Cuban Americans who were dispossessed in the revolution and their demand for reparations. It's always about money and those without it, including Americans, are F'ed.

Don't worry, dude. You're not going to lose your job to Mohammad the neurologist....but Pedro the gardener, might be a threat.