The USA currently trades with many nations that are controlled by communist parties. The USA trades with China. It trades with Vietnam. It trades with Angola, and Laos. It trades with Cyprus and Nepal, two nations with elected communist governments.

The reasons for the trade embargo vary. When it began in 1960 the Cuban government had just seized the property of US citizens in Cuba. As time went on and US-Cuban relation deteriorated, restrictions were added. The Cuban missile crisis further compounded poor relations, and it seemed to make sense to isolate the island nation in punishment for destabilizing international peace.

But Cuba is changing. Raul Castro, the current leader of the Cuban government, is implementing changes that will privatize as much as 50 percent of Cuban goods and services. Currently close to 95 percent of all Cuban goods and services come from the Cuban government. These economic changes go against everything communism stands for, and they signify a major shift in the ideological position of the Cuban government.

Currently the US embargo against Cuba is the longest standing embargo in modern history. It has not worked so far. It probably never will. But the world is getting more connected. Cell phones and the Internet carry information to people. Information becomes knowledge. Knowledge is power.

Stop trade and travel restrictions against Cuba. They don't help us. They don't help Cuba. In the coming years the privatization of the Cuban market will provide great opportunities for small businesses in the US that need to expand their markets and increase trade partners.

The decision to end the embargo against Cuba is a decision to spread freedom and prosperity.