You Know Who's Stupid?

Congress, that's who.

Yeah, yeah. Hard to top that one for lead story on News of the Obvious, I know. But man, the sheer stupidity in continuing to resist President Obama's desire to lift the Cuba travel ban -- the only country in the world the US government prohibits its citizens from visiting -- just drives me bananas. No pun intended.

Never mind the Republicans -- we know they're stuck in their rosy memories of Reagan singlehandedly winning the Cold War. Reading about (via) nitwits like Eliot Engel (NY), Shelley Berkley (NV), Mike McMahon (NY), and especially David Scott (GA) and Gerry Connolly (VA) -- ostensibly Democrats, all -- makes me wonder if there is any lower bound on the maturity requirements for being a member of the United States Congress. The attitude of "we should try to get something out of Castro for this" reminds me of the decay in this country overall, where it seems like every suit you meet thinks the way to get ahead is not to create anything himself, but to look for ways to be a parasite on someone else.

Just declare the past the past, end the stupid travel restrictions, and let Americans who want to visit Cuba visit. It'll be like spreading democracy or something. Sorry it's not as sexy to certain members of Congress because it won't be done at gunpoint, but so what. Not every day can be Christmas for the Get Tough™ crowd, and besides, there are a thousand other things that, much as it pains me to admit, need Congress's attention.