Another "Triumph" Of "Free" Trade

As noted here, Dubya met today with Guatemalan president Alvaro Colom and of course praised the president of that nation for implementing “reforms.”

And as noted here from the White House site (a repository of lies if one ever existed), President Highest Disapproval Rating In Gallup Poll History said…

We've had a good discussion about a variety of issues. We discussed bilateral relations between Guatemala and the United States, which are very strong. We are friends. We treat each other with respect. Our objective with U.S. foreign policy is to have a neighborhood that is peaceful and prosperous, where social justice is important; want to achieve social justice through good health policy, good education policy, good judicial policy. The United States is pleased to help this government as best as we possibly can help the average citizen get a good education and have good health care.

I’m not sure I have the time to refute that paragraph as thoroughly as I should, but I don’t know how anyone can consider Guatemala “peaceful” (and “prosperous” is definitely open to interpretation also).

Reviewing random news stories related to Guatemala since Colom took over this January (not blaming him exclusively for the violence endemic in that country), you find an account of 30 police officers taken hostage (February), kidnapped Belgian tourists (March) a political figure accused of ordering murders of his enemies (March also - let me put it you this way; a “CSI” show from there would probably run 24/7/365), as well as the random lethal earthquake and occasional disaster such as a bus accident that killed 37 people recently.

And by the way, the overall poverty rate is 51 percent (some of the people comprising that stat are in the pic, I’m sure).

Also, as noted here (pertaining to the issue of “social justice”)…

The AFL-CIO accused Guatemala of failing to meet the terms of a free-trade agreement by allowing companies to bust union organizing campaigns and not prosecuting murders of union members.

The complaint by the largest U.S. labor federation is the first under the Central American Free Trade Agreement and forces the Bush administration to decide whether to begin consultations on the case with Guatemala.

``There is a climate of terror for trade unionists,'' Thea Lee, the chief international economist at the AFL-CIO, said in an interview. ``But so far the Bush administration hasn't lifted a finger to enforce any of the labor chapters.''

And if anyone is wondering why trade unionists in Colombia are opposing a trade agreement between us and their country, consider that the delay is leverage of sorts for the unions to demand justice for the murders of members and organizers. Once the agreement is signed, as is the case with CAFTA and Guatemala, that leverage is gone, and there’s no motivation for anyone in either government to do the right thing.

There actually is some good news here; this story tells us that USAID, Mercy Corps and Wal-Mart are working on behalf of rural farmers in Guatemala. And that sounds nice until you realize that, as noted here, Wal-Mart can pretty much set whatever price they want for the goods grown by the farmers, and somehow I can’t believe that the people behind those big, yellow, smiley faces are going to be too keen on the whole “workers rights” concept.

So it sounds like Guatemala is right on track for that whole “social justice,” “peace and prosperity” thing as far as President Clueless is concerned. Just don’t expect that 51 percent number to budge anytime soon, OK?