Re: I am voting Republican

From: Rin Watt <katecwatt_at_gmail.com_at_hypermail.org>
Date: Sun, 15 Jun 2008 03:39:29 -0000

Joy, has free trade really taken anyone out of poverty? what are the
maquiladora zones in Mexico like? isn't it free trade that lets Nike
build sweatshops in the country of the month, paying 89 cents an hour?
 Jobs that used to be here, and union, are now in hellholes around the
world, paying teenagers in rice and tea for 12+ hour shifts. Which
didn't even lower the price of the shoes.

Does free trade prevent exploitation in these countries? does it pay
good wages, provide safe working conditions, build a middle class,
prevent child labor, punish sexual harassment, or produce stable
economies?

I can see free trade building wealth for American companies, WalMart
not least. But what has it done for the workers, here or there?

Seriously, I'd be happy to learn that there's more to free trade than
the picture painted by books like No Logo.

Rin
Received on 2008-06-14 20:39:30