What the Colombia trade pact would do to working families

[Judi Lynn]

What the Colombia trade pact would do to working families
Saturday, January 8, 2011; 8:40 PM

In 2008, I met in Colombia with families whose fathers and sisters were murdered for their work as trade unionists struggling to give workers a voice for good jobs and a better life. The Dec. 31 column by Edward Schumacher-Matos <"Colombia: Where politics trumps reality"> dismissed the reality I witnessed - the wrenching and relentless attack on worker and human rights in Colombia.

Equally troubling during my visit was that the Colombian government never addressed the fact that just 18 percent of economically active adults in Colombia are classified as "workers." Some 15 million workers have no rights, even though they are employed in telecommunications, journalism and other fields. This is a troubling global trend that is no model for Colombia or the United States.

The proposed free-trade agreement will not benefit workers in either country. It will create no new jobs in the United States, according to the U.S. International Trade Commission. Many rural workers in Colombia will lose household income and employment as well. Multinational corporations may realize gains from increased trade, but with no rights for workers in Colombia and sinking rights for workers in the United States, those gains won't be shared by working families.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/08/AR2011010803974.html

Editorials:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x580771

[social_critic]

1. Letter to the Editor by Selfish American

That's just a letter to the editor by a selfish American. The best way for the USA to help Colombia is to have free trade. It will help Colombians and it is a lot better than sending them weapons.

[Judi Lynn]

2. You don't reward a government which refuses to prosecute the vast number of human rights crimes

committed there annually.

Congressional Democrats condemn the atrocities, the hideous human rights record of the Colombian government over the many, MANY years.

To even consider saying what was written was due to selfishness is loathesome, and totally unacceptable.

Worst place in the world for union workers? Of course. Journalists? Usually. Human rights workers? Clearly. Indigenous citizens, in some cases, in some "tribes" becoming at the very verge of extinction? Most surely. They even massacre people in Peace Communities. Christ.

People have been posting on this very subject here for YEARS and you are among only a few who even dare to make claims supporting regimes like the Colombian government's.

Why on earth do you think the FTA has been taken off the table for these years, and NOT approved even when Alvaro Uribe made a special trip to Plains, Georgia, to get Jimmy Carter to support his initiative? He called a press conference immediately after their meeting and claimed former President Carter supported the FTA. Former President Jimmy Carter had to make a special statement himself to the US corporate media REFUTING that bald-faced lie.

Democrats HATE what the Colombian government has done to the poor, the working people of Colombia. Why the hell wouldn't you know that? If you do know that, why even bother to post on a Democratic message board? You are NOT among your own political brethren.

[social_critic]

4. FTA is opposed by unions

They don't like to see jobs go abroad. Has nothing to do with human rights. Democrats don't really care that much about human rights, because Americans are more into internal politics. This is more of a labor topic for this guy - look at his background.

I don't see a free trade agreement as a reward for bad behavior. I see it as a way to improve people's lives. I back removing the Cuban embargo, and I don't see it as a reward for the communist government there. I see it as means to improve people's lives.

I travel to Colombia, and I know Colombians from all walks of life, so I have no illusions about the place. The way I see it, it's better for US AND Colombians to improve its economy and defeat the FARC. I would also legalize drugs in the US, a move which takes away a lot of the financing for so many criminal gangs in Latin America. But I realize the system sucks, so we'll just keep on muddling through.

[Downwinder]

3. Will Colombia be helped as NAFTA helped Mexico?

[social_critic]

5. Yes

Mexico, of course would be helped even more if we legalized drugs and helped them improve their transportation infrastructure. And they really do need to change their attitude towards foreign investment, for example they should allow foreign companies to invest in the Mexican oil industry, which is performing badly due to Pemex's lack of competence and internal capital.

[Downwinder]

6. My relatives in Guadalajara blame NAFTA for putting small

Mom and Pop manufacturers out of business.

[social_critic]

7. I bet they do

Free trade implies competition. This means some people do face competition they can't match, and they lose business. This is one reason why US unions oppose NAFTA as well - some Americans lose their jobs too. Free trade allows specialization, people do what they're best at. It also increases competition, and this leads to lower prices for consumers.

One drawback is the job loss and company bankrupcies as those who are less competitive face competition from abroad.

Eventually, it evens out, but it may take 10-20 years. Do you think the Chinese working class is going to allow the "communist" oligarchs who are installing ruthless capitalism in China to exploit their labor forever, without real unions and real workers' rights? They won't. They'll overcome communist party rule, and demand better wages and conditions. And this will allow them to spend more, and make Chinese products less competitive, which means workers elsewhere will benefit.