Jack Kingston

Mr. KINGSTON

Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, I think there is a lot of wisdom on the street and I know one thing, that Congressmen do not become veterans without listening for that wisdom and trying to bring it to Washington instead of trying to bring Washington's wisdoms home. One thing that Mr. Limbaugh had observed about Congress under novel truth number 25, follow the money. When someone says it is not the money, it is all about the money. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Gutknecht).

Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman. We are joined also by one of the great Republican pioneers in the dark days of the minority wilderness, the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter). I wanted to give the gentleman undeniable truth number 32, since the gentleman is from California. The Los Angeles riots were not caused by the Rodney King verdict; the Los Angeles riots were caused by rioters. I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter).

Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter).

Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Minnesota for joining us, and I yield to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth).

Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman. To the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Schaffer) I would say that we have got about 5 minutes. I guess what I want to do is remind our listeners that there are four great books that they can read for further information: The Way Things Ought to Be; See, I Told You So; The Way Things Are Not, Rush Limbaugh's Reign of Error; and Sometimes You've Just Got to Laugh. Remember, that the proceeds will all go directly or indirectly to benefit an oppressed conservative in a university near you someplace, somehow. I yield to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Schaffer).

Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, I would say to the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter) that we are always glad to have him with us and anybody who is a conservative from California we have to treat as an endangered species anyhow. We always have a program for the gentleman, okay? Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth).

Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. KINGSTON

Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, I just want to address some comments made by my good friend from Ohio about the Osama bin Laden al-Qaeda organization and our policy in the Middle East. Osama bin Laden kind of backed into the Palestinian situation saying, this is going to continue to happen as long as America continues to support Israel. That is not what this is all about. Osama bin Laden is an evil man, as are his followers. To say that this is part of the Palestinian situation, he is backing into that by convenience; otherwise, Yasser Arafat would be saying, yes, we are in this too, this is a good thing. They are not embracing this policy of killing innocent Americans in their workplace and hijacking airplanes. I think it is very important for us to say, we are going to continue to stand with our ally, Israel. We are going to continue to work for peace in the Middle East, and we are not going to let a mad man and a terrorist organization say that we somehow are guilty; therefore, our people should be punished and killed in the workplace because of a Middle Eastern policy that we are trying to work for. I just wanted to make sure somebody addressed that, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. KINGSTON

Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, America will never get used to terrorism. America will never tolerate terrorism. And neither should the world. That is why the United States of America on this Sunday made a very critical decision and action in striking out against the Taliban for harboring terrorists. This war is not the West versus Islam as suggested by Osama bin Laden. Rather, it is one of good versus evil and the West versus Osama bin Laden and his small, fanatical band of followers. It is a battle of good against evil because only evil would attack innocent people in their workplace. Yet in this job in front of us that we did not ask for, we will, in the words of the President, prevail. We will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail. America is going to make the world safe again, along with all of our very many international allies. I salute the Armed Services, the President of the United States and all those who are in authority. May God bless America.

Mr. KINGSTON

Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. Yesterday I had the grim task of going to the Pentagon and looking at the rubble and seeing the grave, the unexpected grave, of almost 200 of our citizens buried beneath all the bricks and mortar and concrete. In this collection of dust, one of the workers who had been there for some time asked me, he said, ``Tell me, we have been isolated here, we have been on premises, we don't have access to TV and radio; what are the American people saying, what are they thinking, what are you folks, members of Congress, hearing from back home?'' I said to him, ``The people back home are resolved. They are behind the President. They are united as an American people to exact a revenge and retaliate, not for an act that we chose, but for one that we must respond to. Otherwise, all Americans, in the airways, on the highways or in the office spaces, are at danger. We must complete the task in front of us.'' This legislation gives us that opportunity. It is essential. When I said that to this worker, he was somewhat relieved. He joined hands with me and said, ``Praise the Lord. We must do this.'' So, Mr. Speaker, I think this legislation is appropriate, and I hope that my colleagues will support it overwhelmingly.

Mr. KINGSTON

Mr. KINGSTON. I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, in addition to losing thousands and thousands of our fellow citizens, loved ones, parents, moms, brothers and sisters, we were attacked at three symbolic buildings, a financial center, a military center, and the government center, buildings which Americans recognize, visit and study. The financial center, the World Trade Building, where wheelings and dealings that affect the entire globe take place, indeed the actions themselves, breaking the skyline of New York City, the economic beacon of the West. The Pentagon, where our strategists, our generals, get together, the wizards of what is best for national security. And Washington, D.C., the very center of the free government and representative democracy. We were stunned in disbelief, confused in grasping the scope of the hatred behind such an act, and yesterday was a very low and sad day for the United States of America. But it was also a defining moment, because Americans, which are so often divided in philosophy and geography, by region, by politics, by race and by economics, we are now one. We are united in our patriotism, our resolve and our commitment. This United States Congress will get behind the proper government agencies, the FBI, the CIA, the military, the Attorney General, we will give them the resources they need to identify and plan a strategy to retaliate. And, Mr. Speaker, the citizens of the United States of America will get back on our airplanes. We will return to our workplaces. And we will resume our government in this great and free country, and this land of freedom will reign on and the bell will be heard all over the world.

Mr. KINGSTON

Mr. KINGSTON. The book of Proverbs tells us that the test of gold is fire, but the test of man is adversity. Today, America is being tested one more time. But just as we in the past have faced the adversities of war, disease and depression, we will prevail. Yesterday, in the ever-present age-old battle between good and evil, it appears that evil stole the lives and safety of our citizens; and yet it can never steal our resolve, our ideals, and our love of freedom. Today, Congress and the American people are back at work. Tomorrow, we will seek justice; and the bell of freedom will ring once more loudly all over the globe.

Mr. KINGSTON

Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great man from my district who was recently honored by a society of his peers. At their annual meeting and convention in San Antonio, Texas, the Georgia Society of CPAs gave Nelson C. Westbrooks, Jr. their highest honor, the 2001 Meritious Service Award. Please include in the Congressional Record a copy of an article from a local newspaper, The Harbor Sound, recounting all of Mr. Westbrooks' hard work and service to the people of Georgia. Certainly his dedication is an example for all to follow. [From the Harbor Sound, July 24, 2001.] Georgia Society of CPAs Presents Highest Award to Nelson C. Westbrooks Jr. Nelson C. Westbrooks Jr. was presented with the 2001 Meritious Service Award on June 29 at the Annual Meeting and Convention in San Antonio, Texas. This is the highest honor the Society bestows on one of its members. Born and raised in Georgia, Westbrooks attended Glynn Academy and received his B.B.A. from the University of Georgia in 1949. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity and served as treasurer for three years. He received his CPA certification in 1963. Westbrooks served in the Navy in Japan during World War II and served in the Army during the Korean Conflict. Upon completion of his military service in 1952, he worked for Edward R. Gray Jr., CPA, in Brunswick, Georgia. In 1956, the practice was acquired by Nickerson & DeLoach, which went through several name changes and is currently Moore Stephens Tiller, LLC. He became a partner in the firm in January 1964. Westbrook retired as partner in December 1992, and continues to serve as a consultant. An active member of the Georgia Society of CPAs since 1955, Westbrooks is currently a member of the Brunswick Chapter (originally the Waycross Chapter). He serves the chapter as vice president and was president in 1966-67. He served the Society on numerous committees and as a director, vice president (1979) and treasurer (1968-70). As chair of the Ethics Committees in 1974, he was instrumental in leading a group that took action on ethics violations, and turned the membership once more to a respect for the ethics of the profession. For his services as chair of the committee, Westbrooks was awarded with Society's Distinguished Member Award for 1974-75. In 1988-89, he was recognized for his outstanding service to the Society through involvement in local chapters and statewide activities. In 1992, the Brunswick Chapter recognized him for his outstanding contribution to his profession, his community and to the Society. Westbrooks served as chair of the Society's Governmental Accounting and Auditing Committee and is still active on the committee. He is a member of the AICPA and is a charter member of the Georgia Government Finance Officers' Association. Active in local affairs, Westbrooks has served as director of the Brunswick Jaycees; president of the Kiwanis Club of Northside Brunswick; Lieutenant Governor of Division IV of the Kiwanis of Georgia; member of the Coastal Georgia Community College Business Advisory Board; life member of Coastal Georgia Historical Society; director of Glynn County Heart Association; treasurer of the Glynn County Chapter of the University of Georgia Alumni. Mr. Westbrooks was one of the organizers of the Old Town Brunswick Preservation Association in 1975, where he served on the Board and as treasurer. He also served as treasurer of the Brunswick-Glynn County Quarterback Club. He was one of the founders of the Tuesday Child Fiesta in Brunswick, which raised money for the Glynn Peyton School for children with disabilities. He was one of the organizers of the Brunswick Glynn County Council for the Arts. His community involvement continued in his work with the Brunswick Community Concert Association and with the Housing Authority of the City of Brunswick. He served as a commissioner and vice chairman of the Authority, was elected chair in 1992, and currently serves in that position. Westbrooks was a member of the First Christian Church of Brunswick, and served in many different capacities--board member, Sunday school teacher, and organist. After he married Margaret Hazel Williams in 1965, he continued his service to the church until moving his membership to the First United Methodist Church in 1969. There he became involved in the church community as treasurer and served on many committees. Westbrooks continues to give his time, expertise, and devotion to many community causes. He shares his musical talent with seniors and Alzheimer's patients and his accounting knowledge with nonprofit organizations. He has contributed over 2,700 items to the Georgia Music Hall of Fame including many vintage sound recordings. The Society is proud to honor Nelson C. Westbrooks Jr. for his outstanding contributions to the accounting profession and for his many years of dedicated service to his professional organization. The GSCPA is the premier profession organization for CPAs in the state of Georgia. With over 10,000 members throughout the state, the purpose of the GSCPA is to promote the study of accountancy and applicable laws, provide continuing professional education, maintain high ethical and work standards, and provide information about accounting issues to the membership and the public. For more information, access our web site at www.gscpa.org.

Mr. KINGSTON

Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great pleasure to honor a great American. Sheriff Cordell Wainwright, after 20 years of service to the state of Georgia and, more specifically, Brantley County, has decided to retire. When Sheriff Wainwright was first elected in 1971, he was the youngest ever elected to that position in Georgia history. His hard work and dedication to law enforcement have gone unmatched since that day. Throughout the next 30 years, Sheriff Wainwright brought in more drug arrests than anyone in Brantley County history, including the county's largest single drug bust. In fact, it was his information and assistance that led to neighboring Glynn County's largest single drug bust as well. As extensive as his law enforcement record is, Sheriff Wainwright's greatest achievements may not have come about in the field. Many believe his greatest legacy came through his work in the classrooms and churches of our communities. He started a Junior Deputy Program in the schools that taught students the dangers of drug use. This program is still going on today and continues to work at a more cost efficient rate than Georgia's D.A.R.E. program, while achieving better results. Sheriff Cordell Wainwright has been nominated for and won many awards throughout his career, including the Brantley County Citizen of the Year. Many people owe their lives to him and our streets are safer because of him. He is a true American hero. May God Bless him in his future endeavors. He certainly blessed us when He sent Sheriff Wainwright to us.

Mr. KINGSTON

Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor and pleasure to rise today on behalf of a competitive and outstanding baseball team of exceptional young men. On Saturday July 21, 2001 at Al Rollins Park in Dalton Georgia, the Savannah Diamond Dawgs 10 and under baseball team closed out the post season and took home the machine pitch baseball state championship. I would like to join in and be a part in celebrating their victory. The Diamond Dawgs under the leadership of coaches David Elliott, Bruce Powell and Kirk Miles, over a three-day stretch defeated Whitefield Co. 14-1, North Hall Co. 10-7, St. Simons Island 7-3, and North Hall Co. 6-2. Congratulations on a job well done to the players of the Diamond Dawgs Andrew Drough, Thomas Carter, Travis Jaudon, Jamel Miles, David Elliott, Corey Jaudon, Matt Kuhn, Matthew Lee, Jimmy Blakewood, John Coker, Evan Powell, and Ryan Westen. This team is firm in the principles of teamwork, commitment, and excellence. We all could learn from their example and the best of luck to the defending champions throughout the course of next season.

Mr. KINGSTON

Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for the time. Mr. Speaker, I want to say that if rhetoric turned turbines, we would have enough electricity for the next 100 years just listening to the Democrats today. But the truth is, we have got to move on. We do not have an energy policy. Let me give you a quote from Clinton's Energy Secretary Bill Richardson: ``It is obvious that the Federal Government was not prepared. We were caught napping. We got complacent.'' February 16 of last year. I applaud the Bush Administration for taking the brave steps to say we have got to look ahead. We have a neglected energy infrastructure. Think about this: the last refinery for gasoline was built in Garyville, Louisiana, in 1976. We are dependent on foreign oil. Today 57 percent of our oil comes from other countries. Now, compare that to 1973 during the infamous OPEC oil embargo, when only 35 percent of our oil came from foreign countries. Today, it is 57 percent. Our national security is vulnerable to the whims of foreign nations. Let us look at the demand. Since 1980, the supply has only increased by 18 percent, but the demand has increased by 24 percent. Think about the number of cars that are on the road today. In 1940 we had 5 million cars on the road. Today we have 130 million cars driving. There is a huge increase in demand. Think about the environmental question. Everybody wants clean air, everybody. I do not know anybody who does not. We are united on that. But the reality is radical environmental politics have become the rule of the land. Today there are 8,000 environmental organizations. It is a $3.5 billion industry. Greenpeace in Washington, D.C. alone pays $46,000 a month just in rent. It is a big business. They want to have everybody in America convinced the sky is falling if a bill passes. But, fortunately, mainstream America sees that there are a lot of solutions out there. We can and we will improve our energy infrastructure. We will continue to promote conservation. This bill alone funds $940 million in conservation. Think about the new hybrid car that Honda is developing, 68 miles a gallon, and think about the fuel cell technology which the Republicans are pushing so strongly. This is a battery that, in essence, does not give out. Think of all the alternative sources of energy we support in this Congress, and on the Committee on Appropriations, $440 million will be spent on research and development for hydroelectric power, solar power, wind power, geothermal, and biomass. These are great, positive developments. And let us be serious about nuclear power, the nuclear energy question. In France, 76 percent of the homes are powered by nuclear energy, in Belgium, 56 percent. In America, already 20 percent is. Yet you listen to some of the rhetoric from my friends, the Democrats, and you would think, oh no, we are getting into some kind of brave new world of nuclear energy. It is not that scary out there. We have the technology to keep up with it. Mr. Speaker, I support this bill. I think it is a good one. It is responsible. I am glad the Committee on Rules is moving forward.

Mr. KINGSTON

Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Ohio for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, there you have it. You have got one group in the House who says a $4 billion increase is too much spending. You have another group in the House that says it is not enough spending. You have a group in the House who gauges all reality on how many billions of dollars you can spend. And yet this House has passed a very balanced budget, a budget that funds the priorities. It puts in money for Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid. It pays down the debt. It takes care of our normal obligations of government, such as education, transportation and health care. Then it returns dollars to the hard- working taxpayers, and then it spends money wisely. Yet this reckless scheme of the Democrats to blame everything on a tax reduction, you know, Georgia is going to get in the form of $300, $500 and $600 checks $1.2 billion in the next couple of weeks. Now, that is $1.2 billion that is going to be spent by normal people, like Joe and Shirley Harrington in Wilmington Island, Georgia, and what they are going to do with that money is do something real glamorous like buy a dryer, or maybe buy some clothes for the kids who are going to be going back to school. This is not going to be enough money for a nice vacation, the kind of money that the big Washington bureaucrats make up here. But, do you know what, they know how to spend their money more than I do. That is what the debate is about here today, who should spend that money: the geniuses in Washington, the big bureaucracy who can control people's lives through their spending, or should we empower the citizens of America who earned the money, the people that it belongs to? We are faced with a very important bill, a very balanced bill, a bill that puts our veterans' health care spending over $1 billion higher than what President Clinton did. I want to repeat that. Veterans' health care provides a $1 billion increase over the last year, and yet I hear my friends saying no to that. We are also going to put more money in Veterans Administration and medical and prosthetic research, in national cemeteries, in State extended health care facilities, and in veterans' hospitals. Mr. Speaker, this is very, very important money. In addition to that, we are going to put money into housing so that the poorest of our citizens can have fair and decent public housing and, there again, it is increased. We are going to put money in to protect the environment; and I, as a member of the Subcommittee on the Interior of the Committee on Appropriations, think it is very important to fund Superfund and to put money in leaking underground storage tanks, and safe drinking water, in clean drinking water State revolving funds. These are all important projects. I want to support them, and that is why I am support the rule. I think it is important to say also that this committee has had to make some tough decisions. There are still many of us who remember when President Clinton stood in the well of the House and said, I am going to set up AmeriCorps; we are going to start paying volunteers for what they are doing for free. I guess this was some new concept in socialism in America, but people who are volunteers are doing it because they want to do it for free, but President Clinton wanted to pay them. We are saying there has been a lot of waste in that program. We do not think it is wise at this point to continue that risky scheme of paying volunteers. So I urge my colleagues to support this rule. It does comply with the budget. Our budget, again, takes care of Social Security, Medicare, the normal and needed obligations of government such as education and housing and, in this budget, veterans. Then, it returns a portion of the surplus to the citizens of America, after paying down the debt. Mr. Speaker, I say to my colleagues, this bill is in compliance with that budget that has passed both Houses, and I urge my colleagues to vote for the rule.

Mr. KINGSTON

Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. Mr. Chairman, I also thank the ranking member and the chairman, both of them, for their support of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Artesia, New Mexico, and in Brunswick, Georgia. This very important Federal Training Center trains over 70, I believe the number exactly is 71, different Federal agencies. They have over 250 different classes. They get all kinds of hands-on training. It is very important for our law enforcement effort. Mr. Chairman, I would be certainly remiss on this 3-year observance of the terrible tragedy we had with the Capitol Hill Police in this very building to not recognize yesterday's moment of silence in the memory of those great officers who bravely put their lives on the line and sacrificed their lives 3 years ago for this body and for all the tourists who come to the United States Capitol. They were trained at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. Mr. Chairman, I wanted to ask the chairman if he would engage in a colloquy with me. I appreciate the gentleman's courtesy. I want to thank the gentleman for all the support he has given, and also ask a question. As the gentleman knows, FLETC, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, is in the midst of a master plan for construction to meet their long-term capacity requirements, in particular the closure of the temporary U.S. Border Patrol Training Facility in Charleston, South Carolina, and to allow for transition of all basic training for border patrol officers to be carried out at the FLETC location in Brunswick, Georgia, and in Artesia, New Mexico, on those campuses, by the year ending 2004. This transition will increase the workload both at Glynco and Artesia. Glynco is preparing to meet the increased demand. It is very important that they have the space and facilities needed to accommodate the additional students. I greatly appreciate the efforts of the chairman and the ranking member and all the subcommittee members for the improvements that are already in this bill. I greatly appreciate the manager's amendment, which the gentleman just passed, and the gentleman's support of the additional construction funds. Mr. Chairman, I just wanted to ask, as we move into conference, if the gentleman could say that these additional resources, and any others that may be out there, will have the support of the chairman as we go through the process with the other body.

Mr. KINGSTON. I think one thing we have to accept as Members of government is that there is a lot of cross billing and overlap. Here we are in the Legislative Branch and we get the medical services from the Navy. We have the Historical Society services that provide part of the touring of the United States Capitol, our own office, and it is protected by the Capitol Hill Police.

Mr. KINGSTON. Who runs the Capitol Hill Historical Society or the Architect? Is that billed to the Congress?

Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Chairman, it strikes me as odd that here we are in the legislative branch. As I recall, in this building, which is our office, we have a protection service, an excellent protection service, the Capitol Hill Police. Is that billed, so to speak? That is billed in a separate account. Maybe we should look at that. Who provides the medical services, the doctor for the Congress? Is that not the Navy?

Mr. KINGSTON. I certainly thank the chairman for that. Again, I wanted to emphasize to the chairman and to the very capable staff, we appreciate everything that they do for them, not just in Brunswick, Georgia, but in Artesia. I also want to thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) for his support of FLETC. The gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) has visited the facility before, and I know staff has visited it, but the doors are wide open. Any time the Members want to come to Georgia, we would be glad to put on our dog and pony show for the gentleman and show off the facility.

Mr. KINGSTON. I yield to the gentleman from Oklahoma.

Mr. KINGSTON

Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Chairman, I want my friend from Maryland to know I stand in opposition, but reluctant opposition, because I too see a lot of imperfections with the A-76 study approach. I see a lot of families getting booted in midlife, mid-career, and often the subcontractors come back and rebill their costs. So I see a lot of imperfections with it. But I do think one of the problems with TRAC and the reason I have not cosponsored it is because, as the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis) says, you have engineering, a lot of subcontracting, and routine maintenance and security issues which the Federal Government under this legislation would not be able to farm out, and those are things the Federal Government needs to do. I want to wait for the study, but I wanted my friend from Maryland to know I want to work with him in the future, but it is important to wait for the study.

Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. Mr. Chairman, I wanted to, number one, stress to all of those who may be listening that the United States embargo allows the donation of food, clothing and medicine to the Cuban people. The embargo also allows the controlled sale of medicine, medical supplies and agriculture products to Cuba. It is extremely important for us to remember that, because people keep saying and acting like that is not the case. We have taken allowance to put in humanitarian considerations in there, which is far more than we get out of Castro. Now, a lot of people keep talking about China, and I just returned from China 2 weeks ago, and want to talk a little bit about the difference between Communist China and Communist Cuba. Number one, they have a precedent. They do have two systems under one nation. Hong Kong, they have left the capitalism in Hong Kong. China has not infiltrated that and messed it up. Secondly, they can also look across the waters and see Taiwan, which they consider still part of China and a province, but they understand how capitalism works because of Taiwan and because of Hong Kong. Number two, China is eager to get into the WTO, not just as a business proposition, but they are interested in joining the world community today, one of human rights and business transparency and labor unions and audits and all the things that we have in the West. Number three, there are already American companies doing business in China: International Paper, Rayon Air, Motorola, Coca-Cola. Motorola, 12 percent of their receipts are from China right now. The Chinese people are interested in capitalism, and the reason is, their brand of socialism is China, Inc., what works. They do not have this mantra to the throne of Karl Marx the way Mr. Castro does. It is very important to remember that Jiang Zemin is far more democratic than Fidel Castro. That is why he is not afraid to have the Olympics come to Beijing and open up the nation to the scrutiny of the world by having the Olympics right in his capital. I also want to say Russia has been alluded to here. Here again, you do not have one person. I went with the Speaker when the Speaker of the Dumas invited the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hastert) on a trip, and they wanted to talk to us about reform. One of the big reforms that the Russian people were interested in was judicial reform. They are interested in democrat processes. They do not believe in the old tenets of communism of 50 years. China, reform; Russia, reform; Cuba, no, sir. They are still stuck in time, and as long as Fidel Castro is there, they will not change.