Yes, all of the FTAs are really awful. I just went to a lecture last night about Costa Rica and CAFTA. They’re the only country in Central America that has not yet signed CAFTA. They have a referendum up for vote in October.

Currently, their medicine budget of $92 million buys almost 500 different drugs. (I think she said 491, but could be off by a few.) If CAFTA passes, they will only be able to buy 4. Why the difference? Because, the free trade agreement is anything but free. It requires them to buy the name brand drugs from the U.S. at our ridiculous prices instead of allowing them the freedom to keep buying South American equivalents.

There are many other such provisions. One really nice little tidbit is that they will no longer be able to handle their own matters with corporations. One oil company wanted to drill in Costa Rica. The government said no. The oil company sued for the $67 billion they might have made if allowed to drill. Costa Rican courts denied the claim.

Under CAFTA, this would have been handled in an international court, many of whose officials are beholden to and board members of corporations. They ALWAYS rule in favor of the corporation.

There are many other such niceties. Cruelty to animals is hugely supported by all of the “free trade agreements” as well as by the World Trade Organization rules. It’s really quite disgusting.

Perhaps I’ll move the bulk of this post and some further elaboration into a new topic one day. But, today is not looking good.

“At least part of the reason we do it is because of bad accounting.” The bad accounting comes from no accountability. No one is held accountable. We have a society more involved with O.J. and Paris Hilton.

Nice article.