Let anyone fly to Cuba

It's possible to go to Cuba, but it sure isn't easy.

Travel restrictions, a relic of the Cold War confrontation with the communist island, tightly limit access. The policy is supposed to isolate Havana and encourage democratic reform.

Rep. Kathy Castor is right that a more open approach may bring more success. The Tampa Democrat is so far the only member of Congress from Florida to support a bill to allow free travel to Cuba.

Florida's influential Cuban-American lobby has long lobbied hard against any softening in policy. But the bill is getting broad support elsewhere, including backing from Republicans in 11 states.

Opening travel is a good idea, we think, for many reasons. It would be economically beneficial to many states, including Florida and especially Tampa.

More contact with more U.S. citizens would build support there for freer political and economic systems.

The change also would add to the freedom of U.S. citizens to go where they please. Cuba is easily accessible from Mexico, Canada and most other countries.

U.S. charter flights to Cuba are now allowed to depart only from Miami, Los Angeles and New York. Under the change, it would be possible to allow flights from Tampa. Regular scheduled service might follow, and many travelers likely would find Tampa more convenient than Miami.

"The Port of Tampa, Tampa International Airport, area businesses and our neighbors are well positioned for new economic opportunities," Castor said in announcing her support for the bill.

Those opportunities could include cruises to Havana.

The case against more economic contact is based on the fear that tourist dollars spent there would enrich Raul and Fidel Castro and help them tighten their grip.

The assumption has been that respect for human rights and liberty demands that Cuba be punished until it improves - that and a fear of losing the Cuban-American vote.

Isolating Cuba hasn't worked, and the wisdom of trying is now rightly questioned by many Americans who still want Cuba free and prosperous.

The United States is alone in banging its drum for separation. The beat is off tempo with the rest of the world, which sees hypocrisy in that our drum is tagged, "Made in China."

Times have changed. The Soviet Union is gone and can no longer support Cuba, and Cuba is no longer trying to export revolution.

Some liberals have always been too forgiving of the Cuban police state, but Castor is not one of those. She points out that "improved travel, education and cultural exchanges can provide greater attention to human rights."

That view has support across the political spectrum. Daniel Griswold, of the libertarian Cato Institute, anticipates that "the increase in Americans visiting Cuba would dramatically increase contact between Cubans and Americans. The unique U.S.-Cuban relationship that flourished before Castro could be renewed, which would increase U.S. influence and potentially hasten the decline of the communist regime."

It's hard to imagine how the pain of the Cuban people would be increased by closer ties to Tampa.

Conservatives need reminding that the more freedom people have to follow their self-interests, the better off they usually are.