Speaking of labor, WTF is going on in Miami?
All of this talk about free trade, labor, and unions got me to thinking: Does anyone know what the hell is going on in Miami? I saw on the news that the American Secritary of State and Representatives of several dozen nations are meeting there to create a "Free-Trade Zone".
But.... there are thousands of dirty, smelly hippies protesting for some god damned reason. And thankfully, they are being beaten to a bloody pulp by thousands of heavily armed and armored Police and Swat team officers.
It's a Free Trade Conference. Methinks they don't like free trade...? Maybe they would prefer the slave trade?
Can anyone enlighten me as to why these people are protesting? Anyone? Bueller? Anyone?
Leninist Workers
21-11-2003, 00:45
Free trade is what will lead to the death of American labor, jobs will be lost, and we get into the rich getting richer and poor getting poorer, from their point of view anyway...
Free trade is what will lead to the death of American labor, jobs will be lost, and we get into the rich getting richer and poor getting poorer, from their point of view anyway...
So they hate free trade. Hmm... I thought hippies loved freedom.
So, what do they propose? "Non-Free Trade"? Who would make it not free? Are they saying the government should regulate trade, instead of having "free trade"? But that wouldn't make sense, because hippies hate the government.
What do these hippies want? Someone tell me, so I can tell my Congressman not to give it to them! 8)
Goobergunchia
21-11-2003, 01:46
MODALERT :arrow: General
And we're for Fair Trade, not Free (pro-Corporate) Trade.
This has been an OOC post.
Collaboration
21-11-2003, 02:13
MODALERT :arrow: General
And we're for Fair Trade, not Free (pro-Corporate) Trade.
This has been an OOC post.
Agreed.
NAFTA was a mistake, it put thousands upon thousands of Americans out of work, and this FTA is supposed to be bigger and more powerful than NAFTA.
Trade is not "free" if dictated solely by powerful transnational corporations, beyond any political controls.
The Global Market
21-11-2003, 02:31
Who determines what is fair, pray tell? Transnational corporations do operate under political restraints. They aren't allowed to initiate physical force against others. Just like any other individual or group of individuals.
Those thousands of Americans put out of work should blame the government for its tariffs and subsidies and minimum wage, not corporations. It's a global economy now. Get used to it. And that argument right there voids any sort of compassion for poor people that you claim you could've had. The only reason for the US government to oppose globalization is simple short-term national interest.
But it's like closing the blinds on a stopped train. You might THINK you're moving, but you're still stalled.
And sooner or later, reality catches up to you.