Bush pressuring Dems in congress to pass Columbia Free Trade Agreement

[240 is Back]

The dems don't want it - it expands NAFTA in a time when NAFTA is blamed for a lot of American jobs going overseas.  It'll mean that US firms can open up a plant in Columbia now and use Columbian labor, and could mean more jobs disappear.  it's a big step in the north amer union, and it also allows us to set up military bases right next door to hugo chavez in venezuela.  chavez, as you might remember, is called an evil dictator by Bush because he refuses to let US firms drill his oil.  Chavez also moderates on getbig, and has massed troops on columbian borders.  You put 5 or 8 US bases on that border and it's a sneeze away from another Gulf of Tonken incident.

Dems are fighting it.  is the bill a good/bad idea?

[War-Horse]

The dems don't want it - it expands NAFTA in a time when NAFTA is blamed for a lot of American jobs going overseas.  It'll mean that US firms can open up a plant in Columbia now and use Columbian labor, and could mean more jobs disappear.  it's a big step in the north amer union, and it also allows us to set up military bases right next door to hugo chavez in venezuela.  chavez, as you might remember, is called an evil dictator by Bush because he refuses to let US firms drill his oil.  Chavez also moderates on getbig, and has massed troops on columbian borders.  You put 5 or 8 US bases on that border and it's a sneeze away from another Gulf of Tonken incident.

Dems are fighting it.  is the bill a good/bad idea?

Gawd dammit, its a frickin nightmare what this will do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Is everybody so damn blind
The repubs will support it because cheap labor will be available to "Private enterprise" and thats all they care about is the money...
Dems want to keep a workforce here in the US.............whos the "Great american" now,dumbass repugs.

[240 is Back]

Classic rich vs. poor.

The repubs like it - it allows CEOs of companies to cut labor costs in half by shipping those jobs out.  So the economy does improve, for people on the board at that company, and those who hold stock in it.

The dems hate it - it allows owners to cut jobs by the thousands here.  Stock going up 3 points doesn't matter if you lose your income.

The dems have the ability to let this bill die by not addressing it for 90 days and letting congress adjourn for the summer, then when Sept rolls around, and the election is 8 weeks away, they can make it a huge issue by making mccain vote to send jobs overseas.

[War-Horse]

Classic rich vs. poor.

The repubs like it - it allows CEOs of companies to cut labor costs in half by shipping those jobs out.  So the economy does improve, for people on the board at that company, and those who hold stock in it.

The dems hate it - it allows owners to cut jobs by the thousands here.  Stock going up 3 points doesn't matter if you lose your income.

The dems have the ability to let this bill die by not addressing it for 90 days and letting congress adjourn for the summer, then when Sept rolls around, and the election is 8 weeks away, they can make it a huge issue by making mccain vote to send jobs overseas.

Exactly.  It allows the republicans to dis-mantle america one company at a time.   Free enterprise could have worked if laws like nafta hadnt come along.  It would have forced the corporations to come to an agreement with the american workforce.  But now they have a way out and are taking it!!!!

This is the death of america because they chose money over their country.  The corporate elites will force the american economy to match the labor rates of these countries or else starve and die.
Meanwhile we cant pay the mortgage and car payments and chaos ensues.....

[shootfighter1]

Correction:  Its the ultra-rich vs everyone.

Why can't we dig for oil in Alaska?  According to some sources, I've heard there are plentiful reserves.  In the oil crisis right now, wouldn't it be prudent to increase drilling in Alaska to decrease our dependence on foreign oil?  Also, with more supply directly from us to us, prices of oil will go down...supply & demand.  Do this while working on alternative energy sources. 

[Decker]

Exactly.  It allows the republicans to dis-mantle america one company at a time.   Free enterprise could have worked if laws like nafta hadnt come along.  It would have forced the corporations to come to an agreement with the american workforce.  But now they have a way out and are taking it!!!!

This is the death of america because they chose money over their country.  The corporate elites will force the american economy to match the labor rates of these countries or else starve and die.
Meanwhile we cant pay the mortgage and car payments and chaos ensues.....

Global competition means loss of pay for the rank and file of the USA (does anyone expect the elites to sacrifice one penny?)  For 3rd world countries, the rank and file will see an improvement...maybe earning $5 a day instead of a buck.

Our standard of living (for average americans) will decline.  Environmental concerns will take a back seat to industrialization.  Natural resources will be exhausted to the last dollar instead of marshalled in some reasonable manner.

For the US, it's a race to the bottom.

One more thing.  Trans-national corporations do not give one shit about American prosperity.  They are only concerned with their own bottom line. 

Why not incorporate in Dubai if it saves you a few bucks?

[War-Horse]

Correction:  Its the ultra-rich vs everyone.

Why can't we dig for oil in Alaska?  According to some sources, I've heard there are plentiful reserves.  In the oil crisis right now, wouldn't it be prudent to increase drilling in Alaska to decrease our dependence on foreign oil?  Also, with more supply directly from us to us, prices of oil will go down...supply & demand.  Do this while working on alternative energy sources. 

People ask that all the time.  Wyoming has enough natural gas to stock us for 100s of years.  Theres enough shale oil in Colorado to supply the world for 100s of years.....
Doesnt make any sense to destroy america and globalize with other countries..

[shootfighter1]

How would targeted drilling ruin America?  American jobs and American lives are being ruined by these oil prices...and if any part of this war had to do with stabilizing the region because of oil protection from terrorist groups then our foreign dependence on oil have cost us 4,000+ American lives.
Targeted drilling in Alaska would not ruin the whole ecosystem.  There could be restrictions to protect the bulk of the region.  We need a temporary solution while alternative energy technologies are being researched.
I think its an unbelievable mistake that we aren't using our own natural resources.  So, its ok for the rest of the world to drill and us be dependent upon them? 

[War-Horse]

How would targeted drilling ruin America?  American jobs and American lives are being ruined by these oil prices...and if any part of this war had to do with stabilizing the region because of oil protection from terrorist groups then our foreign dependence on oil have cost us 4,000+ American lives.
Targeted drilling in Alaska would not ruin the whole ecosystem.  There could be restrictions to protect the bulk of the region.  We need a temporary solution while alternative energy technologies are being researched.
I think its an unbelievable mistake that we aren't using our own natural resources.  So, its ok for the rest of the world to drill and us be dependent upon them? 

Sorry, man i can see how you took my statement that way.  I meant destroy the american economy by not using our own resources to gain employment here.   Screw mexico and canada we dont need our economy to collapse and lose our dollar.
Stop the corps from going out of the country and make em work with us.......etc.   We could have a strong country but fvcking politicians are for corporate globalization of america all the time.

[drkaje]

Weren't NAFTA and GAT enough?!?

What's next? Are we gonna start sneaking across the border, learning spanish and then sneaking back across to get jobs? WTF?!!!?!!??!

If president, I would seal that border so tight air couldn't get through it.... and forfreakingetabout children of illegals being granted citizenship. As a matter of fact I might bomb Mexico, Haiti, and a few dozen other countries to send a strong message about Jake's new immigration policy. Not Cuba, though, they make the best cigars. I would be deporting people like there was no freaking tomorrow... I'd even deport some Americans and solve the welfare problem. Either that or send them to the fields picking crap to replace all the deported Illegals.

[240 is Back]

those crazy nuts who talked about the north american union...

well, there's a huge highway with train tracks that has now been built between Can and mex. 
Bush tried to get an amnesty bill passed.
Now Bush is trying to expand nafta to a country like columbia and set up bases in a hot zone like the Venez border where troops are massed.

yeah, those CTers were crazy.  What were they thinking?

[War-Horse]

those crazy nuts who talked about the north american union...

well, there's a huge highway with train tracks that has now been built between Can and mex. 
Bush tried to get an amnesty bill passed.
Now Bush is trying to expand nafta to a country like columbia and set up bases in a hot zone like the Venez border where troops are massed.

yeah, those CTers were crazy.  What were they thinking?

Hahaha   Every dog has its day..

[JBGRAY]

We are now in a full-blown Service economy, where jobs being a clerk at Wal-Mart or flippin' burgers may be plentiful, but pay is laughable, unsustainable, and not steady.  Service jobs being created so us Americans can continue to buy and overpay those cheap, Chinese trinkets....trinkets made by child, political prisoner, and slave labor under atrocious, cruel, and dirty conditions.  Human Rights abuses are frequent in China, yet our government continues to rattle its sabres at Putin and Russia of which when compared to China is more like MOntepelier, VT. 

The various Free Trade agreements have only worsened and continue to contribute to severe environmental problems, human rights violations, and ever widening poverty which now seems to be seeping inside First World nations.

[Bindare_Dundat]

We are now in a full-blown Service economy, where jobs being a clerk at Wal-Mart or flippin' burgers may be plentiful, but pay is laughable, unsustainable, and not steady.  Service jobs being created so us Americans can continue to buy and overpay those cheap, Chinese trinkets....trinkets made by child, political prisoner, and slave labor under atrocious, cruel, and dirty conditions.  Human Rights abuses are frequent in China, yet our government continues to rattle its sabres at Putin and Russia of which when compared to China is more like MOntepelier, VT. 

The various Free Trade agreements have only worsened and continue to contribute to severe environmental problems, human rights violations, and ever widening poverty which now seems to be seeping inside First World nations.

Get ready to do all those jobs "Americans don't wanna do".

[Hugo Chavez]

The dems don't want it - it expands NAFTA in a time when NAFTA is blamed for a lot of American jobs going overseas.  It'll mean that US firms can open up a plant in Columbia now and use Columbian labor, and could mean more jobs disappear.  it's a big step in the north amer union, and it also allows us to set up military bases right next door to hugo chavez in venezuela.  chavez, as you might remember, is called an evil dictator by Bush because he refuses to let US firms drill his oil.  Chavez also moderates on getbig, and has massed troops on columbian borders.  You put 5 or 8 US bases on that border and it's a sneeze away from another Gulf of Tonken incident.

Dems are fighting it.  is the bill a good/bad idea?

BOOYA!!!!

[w8tlftr]

Weren't NAFTA and GAT enough?!?

What's next? Are we gonna start sneaking across the border, learning spanish and then sneaking back across to get jobs? WTF?!!!?!!??!

If president, I would seal that border so tight air couldn't get through it.... and forfreakingetabout children of illegals being granted citizenship. As a matter of fact I might bomb Mexico, Haiti, and a few dozen other countries to send a strong message about Jake's new immigration policy. Not Cuba, though, they make the best cigars. I would be deporting people like there was no freaking tomorrow... I'd even deport some Americans and solve the welfare problem. Either that or send them to the fields picking crap to replace all the deported Illegals.

Let us know when you run for President so I track your campaign progress.

Toss in elimination of the AMT and you have my vote!

[Decker]

We are now in a full-blown Service economy, where jobs being a clerk at Wal-Mart or flippin' burgers may be plentiful, but pay is laughable, unsustainable, and not steady.  Service jobs being created so us Americans can continue to buy and overpay those cheap, Chinese trinkets....trinkets made by child, political prisoner, and slave labor under atrocious, cruel, and dirty conditions.  Human Rights abuses are frequent in China, yet our government continues to rattle its sabres at Putin and Russia of which when compared to China is more like MOntepelier, VT. 

The various Free Trade agreements have only worsened and continue to contribute to severe environmental problems, human rights violations, and ever widening poverty which now seems to be seeping inside First World nations.

That's pretty well stated.

[War-Horse]

We are now in a full-blown Service economy, where jobs being a clerk at Wal-Mart or flippin' burgers may be plentiful, but pay is laughable, unsustainable, and not steady.  Service jobs being created so us Americans can continue to buy and overpay those cheap, Chinese trinkets....trinkets made by child, political prisoner, and slave labor under atrocious, cruel, and dirty conditions.  Human Rights abuses are frequent in China, yet our government continues to rattle its sabres at Putin and Russia of which when compared to China is more like MOntepelier, VT. 

The various Free Trade agreements have only worsened and continue to contribute to severe environmental problems, human rights violations, and ever widening poverty which now seems to be seeping inside First World nations.

Heres the second half.     Once we decided to break down and take the job at walmart, we were told that there were so many applicants that we were forced to work for 5.36 an hour, or get out of line and let the next guy take it.   (Supply and demand)  Which will happen ,because mexico is coming also.....

People are running out of credit, missing out on home payments, turning in cars boats etc......Less people shopping in markets led to layoffs and fed itself in a down curve.

The only people with a solid future are guys living off tax dollars or the fed govt jobs....Military and such.
The private enterprise job market becomes regulated....and only a few companies with govt support, become employers.

Welcome to Facsist/socialism......

[drkaje]

Let us know when you run for President so I track your campaign progress.

Toss in elimination of the AMT and you have my vote!

Kicking out the illegals and their offspring out and putting welfare, SSI, lazy people to work ,or deporting them, will save enough money to lower taxes.

I'm not rich enough to run.