Brian Holmes on Fri, 7 Dec 2001 12:01:01 +0100 (CET) |
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[Nettime-bold] fast-track for Bush |
After years of resistance by Congress, the new conditions of super-patriotism have given the American oligarchy the support they needed for a bill that will finally allow the president to sign whatever trade agreement looks juciest for the big corporations. A major victory for executive democracy and the neoliberal agenda of the WTO. Read it and weep at <www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A5609-2001Dec6.html> The essential points here: "Trade Bill Passes House by One Vote" By the margin of a single vote, the House yesterday agreed to give the president broader authority to forge international trade agreements, as GOP leaders used a last-minute deal to overcome intense Democratic opposition and deliver on one of President Bush's top legislative priorities. In securing passage of trade promotion authority, also known as "fast track," Bush achieved a goal that had eluded President Bill Clinton for years. But the achievement came only after Republican leaders held off gaveling the voting to a close so they could convince several of their own members to cast a politically unpalatable vote.... Bush hailed the action, saying it "will give me the flexibility I need to secure the greatest possible trade opportunities for America's farmers, workers, families, and consumers." Earlier, House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) warned his colleagues they could "support our president who is fighting a courageous war on terrorism . . . or . . . undercut the president at the worst possible time."... The legislation would give the administration greater leeway just as the World Trade Organization has embarked on a new round of talks aimed at lowering barriers to commerce worldwide. The United States is also hoping to extend its trade ties with Canada and Mexico to encompass most of Latin America. _______________________________________________ Nettime-bold mailing list Nettime-bold@nettime.org http://amsterdam.nettime.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/nettime-bold