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Rae Vogeler on Free Trade
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Free trade has been anything but free to workers
US trade policy has been good for business, but bad for our people. "Free trade" has been anything but free. We have paid with lower wages, lost jobs, a worsening environment and a declining quality of life. Citizens in other countries have paid a
similar price. Trade policy should improve the lives of our citizens, not just the profit margins of corporations. To do this, trade agreements must set a floor for wages, working conditions, environmental standards and human rights.
Source: Email interview with OnTheIssues.org
Oct 1, 2006
Renegotiate NAFTA, CAFTA & GATT
Renegotiate NAFTA, CAFTA, GATT and other trade treaties. These treaties further trade by undercutting labor rights, human rights, the economy, the environment and domestic industry. The treaty bodies, which are not elected, can (and have) overturned our
nation's laws because they were 'unfair to business'. The treaties were written solely to protect the profits of multi-national corporations. We need fair trade that guarantees the rights of people in all countries.
Source: Email interview with OnTheIssues.org
Oct 1, 2006
Remake the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank
Remake the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. These agencies issue loans under terms that guarantee the rights of lenders, often by harming the economies and environment of the recipient nations.
Many nations are now unable to repay their debts without further harming their economies. Forgive the debts of recipient nations. Re-write the rules to allow public ownership, control of their own resources and protection of their environment.
Source: Email interview with OnTheIssues.org
Oct 1, 2006
US policy good for business, but bad for people
US trade policy has been good for business, but bad for our people. Free trade has been anything but free. We have paid with lower wages, lost jobs, a worsening environment and a declining quality of life. Citizens in other countries have paid a similar
price.Trade policy should improve the lives of our citizens, not just the profit margins of corporations. To do this, [we need] "fair trade" agreements which must set a floor for wages, working conditions, environmental standards and human rights.
Source: Campaign website, www.voterae.org, "Platform"
Jan 25, 2006
Renegotiate NAFTA, CAFTA and GATT
[We should] renegotiate NAFTA, CAFTA, GATT and other trade treaties. These treaties further trade by undercutting labor rights, human rights, the economy, the environment and domestic industry.
The treaties were written solely to protect the profits of multi-national corporations. We need fair trade that guarantees the rights of people in all countries, not 'free' trade that pits us against one another in a race to the bottom.
Source: Campaign website, www.voterae.org, "Platform"
Jan 25, 2006