Working toward an integrated Americas

Miami Herald ^ | Novvember 16, 2003 | staff

[Jim Noble]

If we keep things up your way, before long we'll be over run and drained of our resources and the Marxists will have firm control over Latin America

My way is to mine the border, seize a 10 mile deep exclusion zone on the other side, and shoot on sight.

That should take care of the overrun and drained part of your objection.

As far as the Marxists having firm control over Latin America, that's just fine by me if they want it. The only thing they have to share, after the oligarchs are massacred, is poverty. As long as they keep it at home, who gives a sh*t?

[Cincinatus' Wife]

***But political freedom consists of more than simply free elections, although these are its indispensable precondition; and liberty is more than a series of grand pronouncements. Political freedom cannot be a grant of government, to be limited or withdrawn altogether when those in power see fit to do so. To be secure, it must exist as a permanent right and rest upon institutions of civil society that are sufficiently robust to be able to withstand any adverse pressure from the government.

Bump! That brings me to the role of U.S. assistance. The U.S. does have a role to play in promoting prosperity, security, and political freedom throughout the hemisphere, one we share with every other country. But that aid must be formulated in the recognition that the responsibility for promoting these benefits lies with the individual countries and societies, and that all the aid in the world cannot substitute for their indifference. Given that understanding, any assistance we provide should be aimed at promoting the private sector and strengthening the institutions of civil society, without which there can be no stable democracy or economic progress. ***

Bump!

[Jim Noble]

Let's also agree that we like coffee from Latin America. Nigerian oil, the Beatles, and Chrome from Russia.  We also like internationally managed telephone, postal, and other communication services.

Look-I am a prime beneficiary of globalization. I am 53 years old, classically educated, skilled in symbol manipulation and a purveyor of a nearly pure information service which resists internationalization. I speak fluent French, enjoy travelling, and I do like all the things you mention.

All that, however, does not justify the pauperization and displacement of my American brothers and sisters who do not share my background and my good fortune.

However much I like cafe latte, I like America more.

[sarcasm]

You're perfectly free to use your own money for the poor of Latin America - don't try to pick my pocket to pay for you grandiose schemes.

[sarcasm]

you = your

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Your pocket's already being picked. Why not work to devise a way to fill their pockets. Things are out of wack and putting your fingers in your ears and going na-na-na, isn't going to make it go away.

[expat_panama]

However much I like cafe latte, I like America more.

And we want both, and we want it in that order.

Isn't solving the world's problems easy?

[risk]

As long as they keep it at home, who gives a ----

So ICBMs in Venezuela are OK with you?

[Cincinatus' Wife]

All that, however, does not justify the pauperization and displacement of my American brothers and sisters who do not share my background and my good fortune. However much I like cafe latte, I like America more.

You're pandering. Things evolve and change. Technology improves lives and progress creates the need for change. Demanding things stay the same, where no one has to be creative or resourceful, won't cut it.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

As far as the Marxists having firm control over Latin America, that's just fine by me if they want it. The only thing they have to share, after the oligarchs are massacred, is poverty. As long as they keep it at home, who gives a sh*t?

That's your opinion. I'm glad you laid it out there for everyne to read.

[Jim Noble]

So ICBMs in Venezuela are OK with you?

that would be most unwise...

[risk]

http://www.afpc.org/crm/crm74.htm
Chinese naval officials, spy vessels operate from nine sites in Burma; PRC intensifies efforts to buy industrial, ocean trade bases in Panama.

[FITZ]

I think Reagan did some things right about Latin America --- funding the Contras was a good idea --- we didn't get directly involved but Reagan was dead set against Communism and that was important. We should promote --- not the elites but any group working toward elections and building a middle class.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Bump!

[Clemenza]

Do your research: Mexican manufacturing is moving to China and SE Asia. THEY are losing jobs more than we are.

[Clemenza]

What about upper and middle class Venezuelans and Colombians who are fleeing leftist in their own countries?

I agree with you about many Mexicans and Central Americans, but please don't paint all of Latin America with a broad brush. These are multiethnic societies with class/racial stratification (in layman's terms, there is no single "Latino" race or culture).

[Clemenza]

The only "Americans" I see being displaced by Mexicans here in New York are the chronically underemployed/unemployed ghetto dwellers whose families migrated from the South and Puerto Rico after WWII. I don't see too many "werkin' men" around here displaced by Chuey and Lupe who came here from Puebla to work in the Korean grocery stores and small restaurants. The most noticeable effect, however, has been in holding down hourly wages in the service industry, which do not hold with the high cost of living here in New York.

[chatham]

FYI in yesterday there was a story about a woman in Bangladesh who works 70 hours a week to support her family.
She is paid about 20 cents an hour for her wark which is sewing jeans and hats. Great balance between her salary and someone in the USA.
Now we're all buying goods made with slave labor!!!
While the owners get richer and richer.

[RockyMtnMan]

But we have laws against monopolies. </sarcasm>

[RockyMtnMan]

I should elaborate. For free trade to work we have to have the players in the market agree to ground rules. The same restrictions that prevent our corporations from creating monopolies, price fixing, dumping, etc. must be applied to trading partners (and enforced). Otherwise you will see happen what happened in the early days of the industrial revolution, massive monopolies that control markets without competition.