Mark,
I personally think it's a waste of time on this thread to discuss the merits or faults of the WTO. It is definitely off-topic.
What I have taken issue with here is the ready willingness to believe that the governmental reaction to the events in Seattle are merely a "pre-game show" for some kind of Y2K response. Or that all of this is further evidence of some kind of scheme to subjugate America to the whims of some New World Order conspiracy.
That is the only reason that I'm even participating in this debate/argument. I think people are far too quick to accuse police and the military of subverting our freedom, or of trying to peg them as storm-troopers for the Trilateralists. And it pisses me off.
Let's put it this way though... The US economy makes up approximately 30% of the total GDP as this moment, a percentage that continues to outpace the growth of competing nations.
So do you really think that US leaders will give up so much that US citizens (VOTERS) wind up getting screwed far worse than those of other nations??
Not hardly.
The fact is that the US has one of the most free economies on this planet. It's not totally free as much is subsidized or protected (such as agriculture). But in comparison to nations like Japan, France, or many others, we adher quite closely to the concept of "free trade".
And as such a large economy, we have the influence to ensure that if US concessions take place, that reciprocal concession will take place by another nation.
Remember.. it is the US that has been so intransigent about not paying our UN dues on time. Only in this year have we finally seen Jesse Helms strike a deal that will permit paying off those arrears.
Seems to me that this is a PRIME EXAMPLE of how controversial trade disputes will be settled.
Maybe I am naieve, but heck... many folks have said the same thing about NAFTA, and I don't see Canadian or Mexican trade officials dictating US policy or subverting our sovereignty. Not yet anyway.
Personally, I think most of your are freaking out over nothing. Were the US a minor economic nation, I would be able to see reason for concern.
And maybe that is why OTHER NATIONS will have a harder time selling the benefits of free-trade to their priviledged and corrupt politicians and businessmen, than we will here.
After all, they've been manipulating THEIR politicians for years.
Regards,
Ron |
