Latest newspaper article on CAFTA

[diego]

Gitmo!!!

I like it.

They are the real enemies of the state along with the media that is cluless when it comes to deciding what is news and how to present it. Can they be sent to Southeast Cuba too. Oh please say yes.

[maravilla]

SE Cuba, Kabul, Mombai, the list is endless of places those bimbos should be sent to see what the real world is all about, and how to behave. corporate media “news” is propaganda. they only tell us what they want us to know. i cringe whenever people say they heard such and such on Fox. Rupert Murdoch is a well known fascist and promotes his fascist ideals through his station, but ah, that is another topic altogether. Let’s round up most of Hollyweird and send them in a C131 transport to the heart of Afghanistan and air drop them!!!!

[GringoTico]

Well said Diego. It just goes to show that there are many conflicting truths out there. Those who defend only one of them lack objectivity, and add to a climate of polarization, thus stagnating the debate.

However, the only way I can reconcile my agreement with these two polar “truths” is to say that I don’t believe your proposal will work, as much as I would like it to. The reason is that the CR economy is very diverse, and many sectors depend on economic integration to thrive.

It is intriguing to consider the opportunity though – an entire country that remains purposefully and steadfastly in the past. If the whole economy of CR were to revolve around tourism, it might be a brilliant concept. Alas, it doesn’t.

It comes down to choosing between two evils. A society which becomes more and more economically depressed because they refuse to change with the times, or one which finds advantage as an active participant in a world economy, and as a result experiences an erosion of their culture and values.

My feeling is that what little power Costa Rica has to influence the rest of the world will be best leveraged through engagement, and squandered though isolationism. Who knows? Maybe the Ticos will show us all how to better balance financial success with family values, personal integrity, living in the “now”, and the true meaning of life?

[crayzrj]

just say no, duh! questions? history will tell. see mexico, think CORN.nafta is only good for the already well-off. it’s there it’s history it’s real. sure there’s benefits, but for who? think the greatest good for the greatest number, regardless of what you think about “values”.would the u.s. promote a policy that doesn’t benefit them more? no, we’re just trying to help you at our expense, benevolent dictators that we are. hey trust me, i’m only trying trying to help you poor folks, no matter how much it costs me. look at how much better off the iraqis, the panamanians, the kosovians, the grenadians, the somalis,the palestinians and so on are thanks to us ( the 17th leading democracy in the whole world) are thanks to our help. i’m so proud.

[Miked]

Just keep in mind that since NAFTA was ratified, multi national corporations have experienced even greater profits as a result of a mexican workers who have seen their minimum wage lowered 4 times. When corrupt politicians and multinational corporations join forces, it’s called facisiam.

[GringoTico]

Mike,

According to the “Servicio de Administración Tributaria, México” (Mexican IRS), the minimum wage, which varies by region, has gone up every year since NAFTA was ratified in 1994. Here’s the link:

http://www.sat.gob.mx/sitio_internet/asistencia_contribuyente/informacion_frecuente/salarios_minimos/45_7369.html

Whether it keeps up with inflation, (it doesn’t) is another matter. However, this is an issue internal to Mexico, and has nothing whatsoever to do with NAFTA. The practice of increasing the minimum wage by a fraction of inflation has been going on there long before NAFTA was enacted. Check out this site:

http://www.mexicomaxico.org/Voto/SalMinInf.htm

As such, I’m sorry to say that your argument makes no sense whatsoever, and your “facts” are totally misleading. Please tell us the source of your information.

Regarding the definition of “Fascism”, according to the American Heritage Dictionary, it means:

“A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism.”

There are many names used to describe a situation where, as you say “corrupt politicians and multinational corporations join forces”.

Try:

Military-Industrial Complex
Farming subsidies
Pharmaceutical research
Tax codes
Savings & Loan bailouts
Automobile manufacturer bailouts
Campaign finance

Etc, etc, etc…

In short, business depends on governmental and taxing frameworks to operate, effectively removing them from a truly free market (particularly in a global economy). The fact is that capitalism simply cannot operate without such a relationship between government and industry. Since corruption and multinational corporations exist everywhere, even here in the Good Ol’ USA, it would seem that you believe capitalism = fascism.

Now, maybe you do, and maybe you don’t. The only thing I know for certain is that, while there are many good arguments against NAFTA (and CAFTA), yours is not one of them. Once again, trying to reduce a very complicated matter down to a 30 second sound byte does not inform, but merely polarizes.

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