Thursday, April 27, 2006

We don't really want a monster taking over

We don't really want a monster taking over
Tip toe around
Tie him down
We don't want the loonies takin' over
Tip toe around
Tie him down
May pretty horses
Come to you as you sleep
I'm not gonna to sleep
And let this wash over me
--Radiohead

If any Conservative comes out in favour of this softwood deal in an attempt to see things from the "US" perspective, they can't really be considered a patriot.

This is the result of mob rule.
Another deal may send the message to Canadian companies that NAFTA's dispute resolution system is worthless. Last summer, a NAFTA panel handed Canada a decisive legal win. But the United States vigorously disputes Ottawa's interpretation of the decision, and the fight has continued.

Canada has won every NAFTA challenge and is now dealing with an intransigent trade partner, unconcerned with any negative signals it sends outside its borders. This is a failure of "idealism" and "good faith". This is a failure of courts and justice. This is "might is right" in trade terms. Anyone who tells you "that's just the way it is", doesn't understand international trade. Signed contracts and courts signal that "justice" will prevail and not blunt force and mobsterism.

What signal does this send?

It says the US cannot be trusted with signed international accords.

It says that the US has absolutely no right to haggle China about its yuan policies.

It says that Canada should consider hardball when the Arizona rivers run dry and suddenly the worlds largest supplier of freshwater happens to be north of the 49th parallel.

I can't imagine why Doha has failed. This isn't world trade leadership. Not by a long shot.
Never mind the stars and stripes
Let’s print the watergate tapes
I’ll salute the new wave
And I hope nobody escapes

I’m so bored with the u...s...a...
But what can I do?
--The Clash

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