Thread: CAFTA Passed in the Senate: Pressure House & embold Bush

BobC,
Great Questions. I would like to see some responses to them as well.

I did a little research on my own

http://www.payscale.com/salary-survey/a ... fid-29191/

Vicente, please be so kind to answer the questions given to you. Also, where is the link to the article that you posted. Our rules require that you provide a link to articles that you post so they can be verified. I have no doubt that they are visiting, but it still needs to be there. Thanks.

Reply to JP_48504 :


JP asked :

Vicente, please be so kind to answer the questions given to you. Also, where is the link to the article that you posted. Our rules require that you provide a link to articles that you post so they can be verified. I have no doubt that they are visiting, but it still needs to be there. Thanks.

I read the article about the chairman of the Ways and Means Committe in a local Newspaper called "El Colombiano". Also "La Republica" newspaper has given me a lot of Information on Bill Clinton's visit and Bill's "Pro Cafta" declarations.

I could be wrong without a bad intention so please correct me and check if what I am saying is true or false.

I will continue giving the souce of news.

Please correct me if the name of The House Representatives are wrong. Or if there is anything wrong with this information.


Judy. I know a lot of my friends here in Colombia are anti Free Trade Agreements. But the upper classes and the businessmen, or the very well educated are enthusiastic about the prospect of a trade agreement with the USA.

Colombia is one of the poorest countries in Latin America but Business is required to affiliate employees to social security. Options include Private Social Security ( out of the State ). So there is an array of choices. And there are other options of Social Security for independents or for the very poor. Pensions and other benefits are largely private ( out of state control )

Through the help of private enterprise ( Chilean Style ) the coverage has increased a lot. All those services provided before by the State are becoming private and non governmental.

The minimun salary would be like US $150 per month with other benefits and additional moneys paid in June and December. There are other benefits of vacations and paid affiliations to Social Security. But it is no big deal by American or European Standards. So I am not bragging because it is impossible.

All injuries are covered by compulsory insurance of Labor Laws. And the pension sysem is also compulsory ( Private Enterpise, Chilean Style ) at least in theory, because it could be evaded in the underground economy.

But all these beauties are for the Formal Economy. There might be a big underground economy where these things don't apply. Like many domestic shops sewing and working garments, doing crafts, or labor in rural or remote areas.

I do not think that Colombia is going to be ruined by a Trade Agreement with the U. S. but Agriculture will certainly suffer a lot.

I believe that the hard working qualities of the Colombians and the resilience and stubborness of Colombians are going to save the day.

There is a tremendous optimism on the upper classes that the country is going to progress full steam ahead.


Vicente Duque

JP --- You are asking Web Sources or Confirmations of the News :



I may have posted an error about the location, not Colombia, but Washington, but I am not yet sure of that.


But I am not yet sure, because "La Republica" says that the "Ways and Means" Committee Chairman came to Colombia and Ecuador on Tuesday.

And the House Representatives were perhaps not four but eight members.

I found this one :

"Al encuentro asistieron el senador William Thomas y los representantes Devin Nunes, Sam Jhonson, Jerry Weller, Clay Shaw, Ron Lewis, Wally Herger y Stephanie Tubbs Jones."

"El Tiempo" Newspaper :

http://eltiempo.terra.com.co





Another confirmation in "La Republica" :




"La Republica" Newspaper :

http://www.larepublica.com.co

This Newspaper says that the American Congressmen visited Colombia :

"Hoy es el momento, agregó al explicar las razones de su visita a Colombia y Ecuador, a donde lo acompañaron también los representantes Devin Nunes, Jerry Weller y Clay Shaw. Según Thomas, no ha sido polÃÂ*tica esperar hasta mañana cuando hay una urgencia como la que se tiene de concluir un proceso comercial como el que hoy se adelanta."



So we have to add these congress people :

Stephanie Tubbs Jones, Representative, Democrat, Ohio
Sam Jhonson, ( Johnson ?? ), Representative, Republican, Texas
Ron Lewis, Representative, Republican, Kentucky
Wally Herger, Representative, Republican, California


It seems that all eight congressmen are representatives and the only female and democrat is Stephanie Tubbs Jones



Confirmation in "Portafolio" Newspaper :



http://www.portafolio.com.co

According to "Portafolio" the Chairman of the Ways and Means Committe said :

"You could diminish our intentions of Negotiation if you continue with the mañana, mañana, mañana !!!"

Which means TOMORROW, TOMORROW, TOMORROW !!!


There is a confusion. Perhaps there were two meetings, one in Washington and another in Bogota. I don't know. I might be wrong.

Please American Friends, Investigate if 8 House Representatives went to South America on Tuesday, July 5 of 2005.


Vicente Duque

Vicente!! Thanks for sharing all that excellent information. I too believe in the nation of Colombia and all nations. I have learned recently that Chile is a progressive country in South America. We have also learned that many of the Free Trade Agreements have rules regarding genetically engineered seeds. Be wary of that. There will be a law requested of each nation to outlaw the saving of natural seeds. You will then be dependent upon GMO farm products and the companies that sell them.

We've just learned that GMO seeds have an adverse impact on the environment, killing honey bees, Monarch butterflies, other insects, birds that eat insects and seeds, and small mammals.

We've also just learned that NO HUMAN TRIALS were performed on this food by the companies and none were required by the US USDA OR FDA.

We are now becoming human guinea pigs.

My opinion is that your country can excel without entering into a trade agreement with the US. Our countries will continue to do lots of business. The purpose of the USA Trade Agreements is only to enrich the owners of a few companies in our country and yours. The people need to speak against all Trade Agreements with the US that restrict free activity like saving natural seeds or normal farming practices.

You should also oppose Free Trade Agreements that allow free flow of people, labor and goods into the United States because there will be no jobs here. The best chance for success is to continue to build your country and negotiate deals one by one with businesses in other countries including the United States.

All these agreeements are moving towards a One World Government controlled by the United Nations and the World Trade Organization. I'm 100% certain that Colombians will not like that any more than we will.

Keep us posted Vicente!! So nice to hear about your country!!

I received a letter from Rep. Spencer Bachus (Alabama)
he is PRO-CAFTA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have got to get on the ball and get a fax out! Anyone here from Alabama call, write, fax Rep. Bachus office!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by ohflyingone

I received a letter from Rep. Spencer Bachus (Alabama)
he is PRO-CAFTA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have got to get on the ball and get a fax out! Anyone here from Alabama call, write, fax Rep. Bachus office!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

tell him he is fired!


vicente,
thank you for the links.

Sessions is now on my SH_T list for voting for cafta! I guess Bachus is next!

Vicente--answer my questions, please.

Thanks JP. I already know the answers to the questions I asked--consider this a test for "vicente."

BobC :


Is everything OK with the answers that I gave you ???

Do you have different data ???

Did I say something wrong ??

Is there any answer missing ???

Do you want to ask something else ???

What the House of Representatives is going to decide in the next days will affect the lives of many people ( or all people ) around the Western Hemisphere.

I know that I can not influence the outcome. ( Perhaps you can ). But I can learn a lot and I can study a lot. And I feel a lot of pleasure when I learn, study or understand a topic or when I discover an astonishing result or weird statistical data.

Whatever the outcome in the House we will learn a lot. And the data and roll call will be enormously interesting. The effects either way will be devastating.


I don't want to be a nuissance, a contradictor or an offensive guy but only a friend and student. You can ask any question. Thanks for talking to me.


Vicente Duque