To digress a bit. I was negotiating a labor agreement at a time when raising the minimum wage was on a general election ballot. The Unions had of course come down hard in favor of the raise, with money and manpower.

My counterpart on management’s side asked in a rather snide manner why we, labor, was in favor. After all, without a minimum wage we’d have a better chance at organizing. An effort to point out how stupid we are.

I thought a minute, and answered him in what I thought was a brilliant manner. I didn’t take the bait, something from outside me came up with the answer. I found myself saying,

“Because it’s right.”

Maybe Obama is doing it because it’s right.

As for the Cuban economy, I’ll never be convinced the tortured explanations are in error. The Cuban economy failed because of US economic sanctions. Period.

And the sanctions were in place largely because Castro threw out the gangsters. All the communist crap is that, Castro played the cards he was dealt, by the US, with one hand tied behind his back, by the US.

The Cubans in Florida have been exposed to their own self-seeking whimsical version of events for so long they truly believe it.

The US efforts to dislodge Castro failed 53 years ago and should have been abandoned then. And as far as Florida Cubans are concerned, all their efforts have done is make life miserable for Cubans, the average Cuban. Care for their country? They wouldn’t treat it that way if they did. Phonies! (Excusing present company! It’s the conservative Cubans of whom I speak.)

That’s a bit more direct than will be popular, but anything more subtle isn’t heard.