One step closer to Cuban cigars

The first article that jumped out at me when I logged online was Obama's new plan to build a giant network of high-speed electric trains. Obama hopes that this will cut our dependency on foreign oil and improve the environment at the same time. He hopes to set up these trains in heavily congested areas, especially highlighting the Northeast Corridor which runs from Washington to Boston. I think this is a really big deal for his administration to come forward with this plan. It has been a long time since any president has proposed a complete overhaul of our transportation system rather than just trying to modify an outdated mode of travel. The auto industry is tanking and our government does not have the money to continue to bail them out. Our president promised us during the election that he would make an effort to clean up the environment and make our country more accountable for the amount of waste and smog that we produce. What better way to fulfill that promise than to create a brand new system of transportation that eliminates one of our most waste producing activities? I think if anyone questions Obama's commitment to standing behind his word then this should show them how much he really is committed to change.

I also noticed an article the other day in USA Today that was really interesting. It talked about Obama opening up the borders of Cuba, not lifting the trade embargo, but just making travel there much more possible for Cuban Americans. This has prompted a rush of people back to Cuba to visit friends and family that they couldn't before. Old laws allowed Cuban Americans to only visit Cuba once every three years and only send below $1300 back home every year. Limitations such as this are unnecessary and Obama made the conscious decision to make changes rather than letting old laws sit in the books and make life difficult for our largest and most recent group of immigrants. Interestingly enough this story hasn't really been making headline news, for what reason, I don't know, because it seems to me if I were someone looking to expand a business of some sort, I might build a hotel in Cuba or begin talking to leaders and figuring out trade agreements for when the embargo finally drops.

Jumping off of this point, Obama made a trip into Latin America that he said was to make everyone feel that we are all on an equal level. Obama said of Brazil that we are both big countries that are struggling with much of the same problems so it makes sense to be partners. There are no senior or junior partners in this relationship, only leaders looking to improve their country and the world. This attitude stands in stark contrast to the condescending, holier-than-thou image that the rest of the world has had of the United States for, oh, lets just say...the last 8 YEARS. The President has also said that he is working with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus on shaping a comprehensive immigration reform. Not only is he going to Trinidad and Tobago to meet with leaders about improving our relationship with Latin America, but he refused to comment on leaders in Bolivia, Ecuador, and Venezuela who have recently been modifying their constitution in order to increase their holds on power.