CAFTA -- the symbolic victory we need

[idlisambar]

In substance, CAFTA in the overall scheme is insignificant. Certainly less significant than NAFTA, and far less significant than the very serious issues we face with our East Asian trading partners.

Nonetheless, the defeat of CAFTA would be a huge symbolic lift for those of us who want to change US trade policy. It's defeat will stir discussion in the media much like Seattle did in 99' and make life that much more difficult for "Washington Consensus" politicians.

The defeat of this trade bill will not derail neo-liberalism but it is a start. The unfortunate truth is that the U.S. has become so hollowed out of industry that at this point that even the most drastic changes in trade policy cannot stop the eventual reckoning. A currency collapse and subsequent sharp decline in America's living standards and economic power is inevitable at this point. Still, we can still hope that out of this weakness the U.S. will learn the right lessons and emerge with greater strengh in the long run.

This is why CAFTA must be defeated. We need to put it in our Democratic elected representatives minds that a vote for free trade is a vote against Democratic values. Our representatives must be held accountable for these votes. The best chance we have to emerge with strength is to shift the Democratic party away the "Washington Consensus". If the Democratic party is able to make this transformation it will be well positioned to pick up the mantle of leadership just as it did in the 1930's. If on the other hand the party is caught flat-footed, and is full of doctrinaire free traders as it is now, Democrats will be poorly positioned. It is then likely that a emergent third-party, with an uncertain political agenda, will take advantage of the political vacuum during the period of economic turmoil.

Perhaps even more importantly it is important to encourage politicians of all stripes to be less doctrinaire in the views on economic policy. It is not clear that the current generation of leaders has the first idea of how to build and maintain a strong economy.

[Ken Burch]

1. regional note: the Bushies are so obsessed with getting CAFTA passed

that they effectively blackmailed Salvadorans into reelecting the ARENA(death squad party)government by threatening to forbid Salvadorenos working in the U.S. from sending home remittance money
if the election didn't come out the way the Bushies wanted it.

[ToeBot]

2. Is there some sort of time limit on when this must come to a vote?

If not, I can't see the Republicans taking a chance by bringing it to the floor until they have the votes locked up. It seems this has been in play for along time now.

[idlisambar]

5. Could be next week

Cafta vote next week, lawmaker says
Rep. Thomas pledges to work to change textile provisions

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - The House of Representatives is likely to vote next week on a controversial trade pact between the United States and Central American countries, the chamber's top trade lawmaker said Tuesday.

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story.asp?guid=%7BE50A211B-380F-4DF7-BB5F-61C5E9BE03A4%7D&siteid=google

[sadiesworld]

3. .

[mrgorth]

4. I predict our representatives will fail us.

[idlisambar]

6. one more kick

:kick: