No, I'm not talking about the seamy secret service activity, I'm talking about the purpose of the visit itself - a far more serious scandal. That is, another sell out of the world's workers for the sake of the corporations. Free trade is just as much a misnomer as free markets. Trade and markets are only really free when there is equal power on both sides, as there was in Jefferson's days. The bigger and more powerful the businesses become, the less free the trade is. Prior free trade agreements and other trade deals, most preferred status, etc., have led to the loss of jobs from the U.S. and the migration of stricken people from Mexico and Central America into it.
I'm not against trade agreements, just the way they are structured today. We could write them very differently - with environmental and worker protections, so that we could help other countries move forward, instead of being pulled backwards ourselves. Once more we have not achieved that.
There are two things almost everyone can do to change this, even if we can't make any headway with our elected officials. One: buy fair trade whenever you can. Two: join a union. You may think there is no union in your job, but you might be surprised. Many occupations have unions out there. Look for them.
If you want to get more involved, there are organizations that promote fair trade deals - and you could always look for candidates that support these ideas.
I just wanted to make you aware of the problem. Now you are and it's up to you.
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