Thread: Big business calls the shots now

A Canadian perspective on the SPP. My Internet/posting skills are still in the stone age, so if anyone would post the article in full, it would be greatly appreciated.

See: www.thechronicleherald.ca/NovaScotian/850197.html

Big business calls the shots now


SILVER DONALD CAMERON


NOT LONG AGO an old friend e-mailed me, wondering why there is "so little media attention to the SPP?"

SPP? I responded. Whuzzat?

"Security and Prosperity Partnership with the U.S. and Mexico," came the response.

That got me to digging around. And the SPP turned out to be a familiar old beast from the black lagoon, hydra-headed and slimy. SPP is the new name for the old American project of Manifest Destiny — absolute control over the whole continent.

The project has plenty of other names: NAFTA-Plus, Deep Integration, the North American Union. "North American Union" sounds groovy, sort of like the European Union. But the EU is an assembly of 27 mid-sized animals, while the NAU would be a union of two mice and an elephant.

The Security and Prosperity Partnership is largely the child of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives, which is about as "Canadian" as the National Hockey League. Members include such maple-draped beavers as General Electric, General Motors, Fedex, Microsoft, Mitsubishi, Pratt and Whitney and Shell — all with the word "Canada" appended.

The Canadian Council of Collaborators might be a better name. The Canadian Council of Chief Executives is the local chapter of the international capitalist conspiracy, and like the World Trade Organization, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and others, its mission is to eliminate any impediments to the ability of international capital to make money whenever and wherever it likes. National boundaries are just another impediment, along with labour unions, minimum wages, environmental regulations and consumer protections.

The Security and Prosperity Partnership has its roots in 9-11, which forced the American-Canadian border to close for a short time. Former American ambassador Paul Cellucci later commented that the new U.S. attitude toward its borders was that "security trumps trade." To keep the border open for trade, Canadian Council of Chief Executives president Tom d’Aquino proposed "more fundamental harmonization and integration" with the U.S.

Fifteen months later, the council announced a North American Security and Prosperity Initiative. It wanted a "new deal" — shared defence and security, and a comprehensive agreement on agriculture, metal, minerals and energy. Soon afterward, the council created a 30-member CEO Action Group to advance that agenda.

Next, the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations set up a tri-national Independent Task Force on the Future of North America, co-chaired by former finance minister John Manley and vice-chaired by d’Aquino. In March 2005, the task force reported, calling for a continental security perimeter, a common external tariff, a common border pass and a North American energy and natural resources strategy. Same agenda. And it wanted this done by 2010.

A group of people inside a common border, with a common tariff and a common passport, protected by a common defence force and sharing the natural wealth of the continent — that’s effectively one country, not three.

Is that what Canadians (or Americans) actually want? Not according to the polls, but the governments instantly fell in line. On March 23, 2005, just nine days after the task force report, Paul Martin and Vicente Fox joined George Bush in Waco, Tex., to create the tri-national Security and Prosperity Partnership to pursue that same agenda.

Since then, the governments of Canada and Mexico have changed, but the partnership rolls right along. It now includes a North American Competitiveness Council — at least 10 CEOs from each country, who are charged with directing the partnership process and ensuring that "governments look to the private sector to tell them what needs to be done." Among the firms represented are Lockheed Martin, Wal-Mart, General Motors, Home Depot Canada, Canfor and Suncor. Nobody represents you and me.

And what does it mean, for instance, to adopt "a wide-ranging plan to streamline regulatory and security protocols across North America?" In May, CanWest News Service clarified that. A fast-tracked initiative under the partnership, said CanWest, would lead Canada to raise its limits on pesticide residues on fruit and vegetables as "part of an effort to harmonize Canadian pesticide rules with those of the United States, which allows higher residue levels."

Ah. The partnership doesn’t mean that the U.S. will adopt good Canadian ideas. It means that Canadian regulations will be weakened to match the U.S. ones. The elephant will have his way.

The three governments now annually discuss progress in closed meetings. Participants like Stockwell Day won’t even say what has been discussed. The next meeting is in Montebello, Que., three weeks from now. The leaders will meet inside a 25-kilometre "security perimeter."

God forbid that mere citizens should get anywhere near the corporate elite that is deciding their future. God forbid that matters like health, culture, education and environment should be considered as important as corporate greed.

Get this. In 2005, the leaders declared that the Security and Prosperity Partnership reflected the three nations’ shared belief in "strong democratic values and institutions."

They said it with a straight face, too.

Visit Silver Donald Cameron’s website at www.silverdonaldcameron.ca

I believe the number of states who have representatives who have or are in the process of introducing or have passed legislation that bars participation in the SSP/NAU. This website says 19 but I believe the number is up to 25 now.

http://www.jbs.org/node/3430

This has to become all 50 to overwhelmingly make a statement against this self-serving merger. Call your Representatives NOW!

But the EU is an assembly of 27 mid-sized animals, while the NAU would be a union of two mice and an elephant.

Originally Posted by Rockfish

I believe the number of states who have representatives who have or are in the process of introducing or have passed legislation that bars participation in the SSP/NAU. This website says 19 but I believe the number is up to 25 now.

http://www.jbs.org/node/3430

This has to become all 50 to overwhelmingly make a statement against this self-serving merger. Call your Representatives NOW!

Can the federal government override the states refusal to this "participate" in this nightmare??? I hope not because we are in trouble if thats so!!!!

The Mayor of Oklahoma recently retracted his signing of a formal NAU agreement he signed in 2004. It was signed by 90 other people. The media didn't say a word. We have been betrayed. What democracy??

I am trying find out who the other 90 are. Will update.

I was shopping yesterday with my daughter and looking at tags to see the country of orgin, I was shocked when I found tags that said " U.S., Canada, Mexico!!! made in Guadamala! and I was also pissed and felt betrayed!
By the way not one article of clothing made in America! Infact then I started looking at other things and the only thing I found made in America was Scotch brand tape!



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