Comments on: The U.S. Must Not Reward Murder http://firedoglake.com/2008/05/22/the-us-must-not-reward-murder/ Firedoglake weblog Sat, 28 Nov 2009 19:04:34 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: mui1 http://firedoglake.com/2008/05/22/the-us-must-not-reward-murder/#comment-1457675 mui1 Thu, 22 May 2008 20:34:36 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/05/22/the-us-must-not-reward-murder/#comment-1457675 <p>I think there’s gotta be a Chavez-hating, frothing at the mouth love of free-trade a la Chicago school in that stubborness. But it’s still sick if stubborness, the “iron will” of the frat-boy-in-chief, is rewarding the leader of a country who has made the climate murderous for unions.</p> I think there’s gotta be a Chavez-hating, frothing at the mouth love of free-trade a la Chicago school in that stubborness. But it’s still sick if stubborness, the “iron will” of the frat-boy-in-chief, is rewarding the leader of a country who has made the climate murderous for unions.

]]> By: BrettG http://firedoglake.com/2008/05/22/the-us-must-not-reward-murder/#comment-1457666 BrettG Thu, 22 May 2008 20:16:45 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/05/22/the-us-must-not-reward-murder/#comment-1457666 <p>In all honesty, I think it’s stubborness–Bush likes Uribe and promised he would get this done before he left office. The Democrats taking the Congressional majorities put a damper on that, but damned if he isn’t going to still try.</p> <p>Another reason is the Bush Admin made it a habit to pass FTAs in the order in which they were finished being negotiated, and Colombia is the next on the docket</p> <p>In economic terms, the FTA isn’t really all that significant. The US-Korea FTA would have significantly greater impacts on US workers and industry.</p> In all honesty, I think it’s stubborness–Bush likes Uribe and promised he would get this done before he left office. The Democrats taking the Congressional majorities put a damper on that, but damned if he isn’t going to still try.

Another reason is the Bush Admin made it a habit to pass FTAs in the order in which they were finished being negotiated, and Colombia is the next on the docket

In economic terms, the FTA isn’t really all that significant. The US-Korea FTA would have significantly greater impacts on US workers and industry.

]]> By: dakine01 http://firedoglake.com/2008/05/22/the-us-must-not-reward-murder/#comment-1457665 dakine01 Thu, 22 May 2008 20:15:25 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/05/22/the-us-must-not-reward-murder/#comment-1457665 <p><a href="http://firedoglake.com/2008/05/22/grittv-got-docs-the-most-dangerous-man-in-america/" rel="nofollow">A new GritTV is upstairs</a></p> A new GritTV is upstairs

]]> By: mui1 http://firedoglake.com/2008/05/22/the-us-must-not-reward-murder/#comment-1457661 mui1 Thu, 22 May 2008 20:00:15 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/05/22/the-us-must-not-reward-murder/#comment-1457661 <p>Brave people never like to be thought of as victims, even when they are.</p> Brave people never like to be thought of as victims, even when they are.

]]> By: BrettG http://firedoglake.com/2008/05/22/the-us-must-not-reward-murder/#comment-1457660 BrettG Thu, 22 May 2008 19:59:58 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/05/22/the-us-must-not-reward-murder/#comment-1457660 <p><em> “don’t think that we’ll be able to reverse the downward trends in income equality and in labor’s share of productivity gains until we get a pro-labor movement started in this country again. Until that happens, I think it’s much harder to get the taxpayers and consumers here to wake up and see that what’s going on in Colombia is an extension of what is happening to workers here. Labor-hostile governments are essentially democracy-hostile, imho.”</em></p> <p>You are very right. It’s difficult enough in the US and we don’t face the violence. Hopefully the November elections will tilt things more in the favor of workers’ rights!</p> “don’t think that we’ll be able to reverse the downward trends in income equality and in labor’s share of productivity gains until we get a pro-labor movement started in this country again. Until that happens, I think it’s much harder to get the taxpayers and consumers here to wake up and see that what’s going on in Colombia is an extension of what is happening to workers here. Labor-hostile governments are essentially democracy-hostile, imho.”

You are very right. It’s difficult enough in the US and we don’t face the violence. Hopefully the November elections will tilt things more in the favor of workers’ rights!

]]> By: mui1 http://firedoglake.com/2008/05/22/the-us-must-not-reward-murder/#comment-1457659 mui1 Thu, 22 May 2008 19:59:25 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/05/22/the-us-must-not-reward-murder/#comment-1457659 <p>BrettG,<br /> What do you think is the biggest incentive that Bush has for pushing this deal? Is it the reward from companies doing business with Colombia, or dioes it havemore to do with geopolitical/economic dominance, with Venezuala as a target.</p> BrettG,
What do you think is the biggest incentive that Bush has for pushing this deal? Is it the reward from companies doing business with Colombia, or dioes it havemore to do with geopolitical/economic dominance, with Venezuala as a target.

]]> By: BrettG http://firedoglake.com/2008/05/22/the-us-must-not-reward-murder/#comment-1457657 BrettG Thu, 22 May 2008 19:56:53 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/05/22/the-us-must-not-reward-murder/#comment-1457657 <p>Thanks Mui.</p> <p>They are brave people and you can’t help but admire the line by Luís Alfonso Velásquez Rico, from the Unitary Workers Center (CUT) , that is quoted above:</p> <p>“Don’t think of us as victims.”</p> Thanks Mui.

They are brave people and you can’t help but admire the line by Luís Alfonso Velásquez Rico, from the Unitary Workers Center (CUT) , that is quoted above:

“Don’t think of us as victims.”

]]> By: mui1 http://firedoglake.com/2008/05/22/the-us-must-not-reward-murder/#comment-1457655 mui1 Thu, 22 May 2008 19:53:10 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/05/22/the-us-must-not-reward-murder/#comment-1457655 <p><i>Unfortunately again, the unionists in Colombia are being targeted by highly sophisticated, well-funded, and well-armed groups. Most of our brothers and sisters in Colombia consistently advocate peaceful resolution and non-violence, even in the face of such danger. </i></p> <p>It was a humbling and moving experience to have them in DC, knowing that they were literally putting their lives in danger for coming here and speaking their minds. They were appreciative for the visits with Members of Congress (they held big press conference with Senator Sherrod Brown and Congressman Mike Michaud and had numerous other meetings). <br /> It’s heartbreaking to have people standing up for something decent getting slaughtered. Their voices should be heard.</p> Unfortunately again, the unionists in Colombia are being targeted by highly sophisticated, well-funded, and well-armed groups. Most of our brothers and sisters in Colombia consistently advocate peaceful resolution and non-violence, even in the face of such danger.

It was a humbling and moving experience to have them in DC, knowing that they were literally putting their lives in danger for coming here and speaking their minds. They were appreciative for the visits with Members of Congress (they held big press conference with Senator Sherrod Brown and Congressman Mike Michaud and had numerous other meetings).
It’s heartbreaking to have people standing up for something decent getting slaughtered. Their voices should be heard.

]]> By: Dakinikat http://firedoglake.com/2008/05/22/the-us-must-not-reward-murder/#comment-1457654 Dakinikat Thu, 22 May 2008 19:52:50 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/05/22/the-us-must-not-reward-murder/#comment-1457654 <p>There is such a move towards monopolism in commerce and trade these days it is really sad. I don’t think that we’ll be able to reverse the downward trends in income equality and in labor’s share of productivity gains until we get a pro-labor movement started in this country again. Until that happens, I think it’s much harder to get the taxpayers and consumers here to wake up and see that what’s going on in Colombia is an extension of what is happening to workers here. Labor-hostile governments are essentially democracy-hostile, imho.</p> There is such a move towards monopolism in commerce and trade these days it is really sad. I don’t think that we’ll be able to reverse the downward trends in income equality and in labor’s share of productivity gains until we get a pro-labor movement started in this country again. Until that happens, I think it’s much harder to get the taxpayers and consumers here to wake up and see that what’s going on in Colombia is an extension of what is happening to workers here. Labor-hostile governments are essentially democracy-hostile, imho.

]]> By: eCAHNomics http://firedoglake.com/2008/05/22/the-us-must-not-reward-murder/#comment-1457652 eCAHNomics Thu, 22 May 2008 19:42:56 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2008/05/22/the-us-must-not-reward-murder/#comment-1457652 <p>Thanks. My expertise, as you know, is domestic U.S. economy, so I don’t automatically know about how many of these things work out for other countries. Liked your last sentence.</p> Thanks. My expertise, as you know, is domestic U.S. economy, so I don’t automatically know about how many of these things work out for other countries. Liked your last sentence.

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