Help Preserve Jobs and National Security & Independence:Defeat the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement

The New American ^

[Coleus]

UPDATE, July 19, 2006. The House is expected to vote on the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement (FTA) very soon.   The Senate has already approved this trade pact by 60-34 in June. This could be another CAFTA-type cliff hanger in the House, so please contact your representative immediately via phone, fax, or email, in strong opposition to the U.S.-Oman FTA. Phone is preferable due to the shortness of time and the bigger impact. 

Help Preserve Jobs and National Security & Independence: Defeat the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement

What's it all mean?

We have a golden opportunity to derail the NAFTA/CAFTA series of "free trade" agreements that are producing massive job losses for Americans and eroding national security and independence.

The U.S.-Oman FTA (Free Trade Agreement) was approved by the Senate with a vote of 60-34. The vote on this agreement is expected to be much closer in the House.

In light of the winning margin of just two votes on last year's CAFTA bill, and election-year jitters over controversial votes, the U.S.-Oman deal could be defeated in the House.

NOTE: A vote by the full House is expected in July, so you have to contact your representative now! (Please!)

Reasons for Opposing the U.S.-Oman FTA:

• The U.S.-Oman FTA threatens American jobs. For example, AMTAC (American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition) states that the agreement includes a ridiculously large tariff preference level (TPL) of 50 million square meters of textiles annually for 10 years, which will mean that Chinese yarns and fabrics will be shipped to Oman, cut and sewn into garments and then exported duty-free to the U.S.
• The U.S.-Oman FTA threatens national security. As reported on the Lou Dobbs Tonight show of June 28, "Under the Oman free trade agreement, foreign port operators would have a right, an absolute trade agreement right, to establish operations, to acquire, to operate, to run port facilities within the U.S." Under the "Cross Border Trade in Services" chapter of the U.S.-Oman FTA, a Dubai Ports World-type enterprise could acquire a company in Oman, and then operate U.S. ports through that company.
• The U.S.-Oman FTA threatens our national independence. Just as a European-wide free trade agreement has led to the loss of sovereignty of European nations to the European Union, and just as NAFTA (North American Free Trade Area) is now being converted into a sovereignty-destroying North American Union through the creation last year of the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) of North America, the U.S.-Oman FTA is designed to help bring about a Middle East Free Trade Area (MEFTA), which would be another sovereignty-destroying, supranational organization to which the U.S. would belong.

Recommended Action Plan:

1. Contact your representative in-person, or by phone, fax, or email before the House reconvenes July 10 and demand a NO vote on the U.S.-Oman FTA based on the reasons above.
   
2. Click here to see whether your rep voted yes on the CAFTA bill last year, which should be a good indicator of whether he is likely to vote yes on the U.S.-Oman FTA this year.

   Dear Representative, 

   Please vote NO on the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement!
   
   My reasons are:
   
   •The U.S.-Oman FTA threatens American jobs. For example, the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition (AMTAC) states that the agreement includes a ridiculously large tariff preference level (TPL) of 50 million square meters of textiles annually for 10 years, which will mean that Chinese yarns and fabrics will be shipped to Oman, cut and sewn into garments and then exported to the U.S. duty free. 
   
   •The U.S.-Oman FTA threatens national security. As reported on the Lou Dobbs Tonight show of June 28, “Under the Oman free trade agreement, foreign port operators would have a right, an absolute trade agreement right, to establish operations, to acquire, to operate, to run port facilities within the U.S.” Under the “Cross Border Trade in Services” chapter of the U.S.-Oman FTA, a Dubai Ports World-type enterprise could acquire a company in Oman, and then operate U.S. ports through that company.
   
   •The U.S.-Oman FTA threatens our national independence. Just as a European-wide free trade agreement has led to the loss of sovereignty of European nations to the supranational European Union, and just as the North American Free Trade Area (NAFTA) is now being converted into a sovereignty-destroying North American Union through the creation last year of the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) of North America, the U.S.-Oman FTA is explicitly designed to help bring about a Middle East Free Trade Area (MEFTA), which would be another sovereignty-destroying, supranational organization to which the U.S. would belong.

[1rudeboy]

Are you sure she's an American? Her parents?

Ouch. That'll leave a mark.

[american spirit]

What's the breakdown on that?

[Toddsterpatriot]

U.S. Exports to Mexico

[Toddsterpatriot]

You should probably be more careful with your sources lest you be branded inconsistent.

Please, she also uses sources like Burke Stansbury , executive director for the Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador.

[Mase]

The question is, can a man fresh out of college afford to marry, buy a house, have his wife stay at home, and have a couple of children within a year or two of graduation?

Sure, if he/she studies something that is demanded by our economy. Engineers average more than $50,000 a year coming out of a four-year program. Accounting majors earn about $44,000 on average; Economics and Finance about $43,000; Nurses around $39,000. Average Starting Salaries

If these grads watch their money they can certainly afford to buy a starter home in a short period of time (just like my parents 50 years ago). Thanks to new financial products that weren't available back then, they can afford to buy a home without having to save more than 20% for a down payment.

You mentioned marriage. If a grad marries another grad, now they're earning about $80,000 (or more) combined. You tell me, can they afford the things people 50 years ago could on that income? Actually, they can afford more. Besides, why would you want the wife to stay at home? Why shouldn't she be able to pursue a career? Are there more opportunities now for women in the workplace than there were 50 years ago?

This nonsense about things being better 50 years ago is just that: Nonsense.

[Clintonfatigued]

And nearly all of those proceeds went to executive bonuses or construction of facilities in foreign countries.

[1rudeboy]

Now, now . . . you must remind folks that those are goods exports, and services are not included, lest they get confused later. [slap]

[Mad Dawgg]

"The family had one car, eventually having two. Thirteen years later, after living in rental houses, he purchased his first home."

Heheh we used to have two cars and decided two was just redundant (in both expenses and need) we live in our down town area. I can walk to the store the post office and the banks (hell On a good day I can hit the sidewalks of the bank and the Post office with a rock from my front door). We both get paycheck combined it is less than 22K a year. We live better than my parents did when they were in my age range and we lived great back then (vacations TVs nice appliances even RVs and many camping trips)

Today I tapped into mans greatest invention, 24/7 if I wish. Able to gather news and info with just a flick of my finger. And if my investments keep performing at their current rate of return I should be able to claim the title of REAL Millionaire in just 10 year maybe even less.

My father or mother would have never had that opportunity without a college education or paying some investment professional back in those days. Now anyone can invest and grow wealth if they can read and comprehend high school economics. Yes America has changed but the opportunities to leave your children in better shape than you started have grown exponentially!

[1rudeboy]

Funny that you feel that way, since manufacturing jobs in export industries generally pay more than regular manufacturing jobs.

[hedgetrimmer]

I don't understand.

[Mase]

Whoa! I forgot about CISPES. They're unabashed Communists. Maybe we're finally beginning to see some consistency in hedgetrimmer. LOL!

[Toddsterpatriot]

And nearly all of those proceeds went to executive bonuses or construction of facilities in foreign countries.

Source?

[Toddsterpatriot]

lest they get more confused later.

[Mase]

That'll leave a mark

Not exactly the coup de grâce though. LOL

[Toddsterpatriot]

I don't understand.

Again. Glad you finally admitted it.

[hedgetrimmer]

Desiring to protect, enhance, and enforce basic workers’ rights and to strengthen the development and enforcement of labor laws and policies;

Source USTR Oman FTA

[hedgetrimmer]

In what way?

[1rudeboy]

OMGSTFULOL

You don't get it! [hoot]

[hedgetrimmer]

Why don't you explain?

[Mase]

I don't understand

Please.

You have a penchant for questioning others' patriotism and lineage.

To: 1rudeboy

So are your parents Americans?

63 posted on 07/20/2006 1:02:45 AM EDT by hedgetrimmer ("I'm a millionaire thanks to the WTO and "free trade" system--Hu Jintao top 10 worst dictators) [ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 57 | View Replies | Report Abuse ]