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PARTY INTERESTS FIRST
Nancy Pelosi is tasting the delicious and intoxicating effects of political power as Speaker of the House of Representatives. She alone has the option of calling up the trade bill with Columbia.
This brings up a clear conflict between what benefits her party and which option is favorable to the American public. Union workers in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan (for starters) have expressed alarm over NAFTA when their jobs migrated to Mexico and Central America. Hillary and Obama proclaimed loudly that they would “fix” the unanticipated shortcomings of that treaty.
Given the stress of keeping those states in the “Pelosi Tent”for the 2008 election, calling up the treaty with Columbia now could jeopardize a number of the anti-NAFTA voters. The well documented analysis that forty percent of new jobs are supplied by participation in the global market, places the benefits for the American public clearly in favor of confirming the trade pact. with Columbia.
Nancy's call for stimulating our economy by creating “jobs, jobs, jobs” is now facing unfavorable reaction from those who want to turn back the clock to protectionist trade policies. Holding off the vote on the Columbia treaty until after the election is playing into the hands of our competitors in the global market.
So, Madam Speaker, what will it be? Party interests first or a decision which benefits the American people. Time is of the essence, because each day of delay plays into the hands of our competitors in the EEC who are vigorously pursuing the Colombians ( and others) and who are trumpeting the strength of the Euro as compared with the US Dollar.
Global markets are not for the faint of heart, but unless our country wants to return to an agrarian economy, it is incumbent upon our national leadership to devise solutions to deal with the ever changing employment patterns dictated by International trade.
Election year politics appear to exacerbate the partisanship in our nation's capitol which, not surprisingly, works to discredit the initiatives taken by the opposing political party. These tactics not only impede the enactment of important legislation, but also force party leadership to choose who will be master ---- party or public.
So far, based upon the actions (or inaction) of Ms. Pelosi, the first priority in the trade pact with Columbia goes to the interests of her political party. The benefits to the American public by creating jobs which stimulate our economy are taking a back seat ---- or worse.
The legislative paralysis which occurs every four years, as the nation prepares for a Presidential election, is injurious to the economic health of our country as we grapple with the emerging players in the global market. It is another example of what Lincoln termed “a house divided” and is a strong message to the American electorate that corrective action is required. Since calls by the citizenry for bipartisanship have gone unheeded, an appropriate response is the replacement of incumbent legislators by electing Independent candidates whose loyalty is to their constituents and not to a political party.
Richard 'Todd Snoqualmie WA 5/13/08
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