CAFTA is the answer to China's growing power

The Seattle Times ^ | May 24, 2005 | Froma Harrop

[1rudeboy]

Unfortunate title, since CAFTA-DR is not a panacea, but a decent editorial nonetheless.

[music is math]

it looks as if regional free trade zones are the way forward as compared to the monolithic WTO model thus far.

[Paradox]

Free trade in the Americas is about joining with our neighbors in a common defense against China's growing power. Those are the true stakes, and fighting futile battles will only distract us from what matters.

A very interesting take on the matter, I had not seen this discussed before from this point of view. I tend to agree with the article.

[1rudeboy]

It's almost like the game of Risk, imo.

[wayoverontheright]

After all, our Latin neighbors are more likely to buy the things we have to sell. That's why farmers producing beef, pork and corn are all for these treaties. So are U.S. companies that make machinery, especially for construction.

I agree.

For sure, China does not want us to sign CAFTA, as good a reason as any to move it forward.

Some of us work for companies which would have to make changes to compete, some of us work for companies which stand to add employees by virtue of the agreement, but one thing for sure, ALL of us are consumers who would benefit, an outcome which generally is under-esteemed by the anti-free traders among us, IMHO.

[hedgetrimmer]

Gosh CAFTA is about HOPE. Its about EQUITY and giving away US tax dollars to pull Central Americans out of POVERTY. Its about TRANSFORMATIONAL DIPLOMACY. Its about countering the CHINA THREAT CREATED BY ROBERT ZOELLICK, the WTO and the FREE TRADERS in the first place.

Its about creating a global socialist western hemisphere using the classic communist technique of CAUSING A CRISIS, then offering a SOLUTION that is the predetermined outcome of the CRISIS.

Good article, 1rudeboy. For a person who hates subsidies for sugar farmers, you sure like them if they are for "job retraining" or for students.

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

So by unloading the remainder of our industries to Latin America, a marxist bloc where we are hated as much as the Chinese hate us, we're helping ourselves out.

Great plan.

[1rudeboy]

One of the more interesting contradictions in the protectionist argument (speaking very generally) is the contention that the U.S. should not engage or even pull-back from Central America, while contending that China's growing influence in the area is bad for the U.S.

[1rudeboy]

Take reply #7, for example.

[hedgetrimmer]

ALL of us are consumers who would benefit

Like the people who will forced to take US tax dollars to be retrained via the Trade Adjustment Authority? Like the taxpayer who now has another bureacracy to fund? Like the citizen who wishes to preserve his sovereignty and the supremacy of the US constitution and not become part of a socialist superstate with the likes of communist Venezuela, Bolivia and the M13 El Salvadorans?

[1rudeboy]

For a person who hates subsidies for sugar farmers, you sure like them if they are for "job retraining" or for students.

Brilliant. For a person who loves subsidies for sugar farmers, you sure hate them if they are for "job retraining" or for students.

Can you pick it up a few notches? Drink some coffee or something.

[hedgetrimmer]

One of the more treasonous contradictions in the "Free Traders" globalist argument is that the American taxpayer should lift the Central American countries out of poverty at our expense and give away massive amounts of tax money to foreign corporations to they can "trade" and expand the size of government dramatically by funding behemoth bureaucracies in our country and abroad to administer the programs while contending that the massive outflow of US wealth to the rest of the globe is good for the U.S.

[Nowhere Man]

Ping.

[muawiyah]

If the United States is so hated in El Centro America then why is it we have so many immigrants (legal and illegal) from there?

FUR SHUR, I'd much rather have American industry develop in El Centro America than in China!

[hedgetrimmer]

For a person who loves subsidies for sugar farmers

You know I never said this. But I find it interesting that you support the creation of new government bureacracies and the giveaway of federal dollars to students, multinational corporations and foreign governments. In fact your views mirror the global socialists. Isn't that interesting?

[Nowhere Man]

One of the more treasonous contradictions in the "Free Traders" globalist argument is that the American taxpayer should lift the Central American countries out of poverty at our expense and give away massive amounts of tax money to foreign corporations to they can "trade" and expand the size of government dramatically by funding behemoth bureaucracies in our country and abroad to administer the programs while contending that the massive outflow of US wealth to the rest of the globe is good for the U.S.

In short, it is a welfare program for Third World countries on one hand while on the other, it hurts the American worker, our economy, and sacrifices our sovereignty and national security. Although I am very cynical on foreign aid, at least they were honest and upfront on the fact they want to hand out money to the Third World. I remember when I listened to Chuck Harder's "For The People," he said "once your dollar leaves the country, it is gone for good." In other words, can you hear the "giant sucking sound," I know I sure can.

[1rudeboy]

Good Lord. Get some rest and return when you have the energy. I never said I "like" subsidies for job-retraining or students either. How can you possibly complain that I am putting words in your mouth when you've done the same to me?

[jpsb]

"Its about countering the CHINA THREAT CREATED BY ROBERT ZOELLICK, the WTO and the FREE TRADERS in the first place. "

Bump at least someone in the free trade camp is admitting that our trade policies have caused this massive lost of jobs and wealth in the usa mostly to the benefit of Communist China. Now they are using the threat that THIER POLICIES CREATED to try to scare us into more of the same. No freakin way, just about everyone now sees the stupidity of so called "free trade" which is really just substituting American labor for foreign labor.

[1rudeboy]

In other words, can you hear the "giant sucking sound," I know I sure can.

When will we actually see it?

[investigateworld]

Sounds to me like the only reason China has "influence" is because of the hugh amount of US Dollars they have. Now how did that happen?
(Just asking, don't flame!)