Sirotablog
David Sirota is a political journalist and nationally syndicated newspaper columnist at Creators Syndicate. David writes about political corruption, globalization and working-class economic issues often ignored by both of America's political parties.
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October 30, 2007 9:13 AM
NEW REPORT: How Free Trade & Deregulation Are Making Us Less Safe
This week, I joined the Campaign for America's future as a senior fellow focusing on globalization, trade and economic inequality. As part of my work at CAF, I'll be contributing to CAF's blog on trade/globalization issues over at their website (though rest assured, my daily ongoing blogging/writing will remain at my home at Working Assets, and I will still be co-chairing the Progressive States Network, writing my column and finishing my book...and theoretically taking a vacation in December).
Today, I did my first post over there in conjunction with CAF's brand new report showing how the government is simultaneously passing free trade deals while starving our product safety agencies of resources.
As we are opening our country up to more imports made without any regard to product safety standards, we are weakening our domestic systems that are supposed to protect us against hazardous products and chemicals (this is the subject of my upcoming nationally syndicated weekly newspaper column).
Beyond the Consumer Products Safety Commission being underfunded, it is also statutorily inhibited from being an aggressive regulator. As the Wall Street Journal notes in its front-page report today, the commission "usually refrains from alerting the public about potential hazards until an agreement is reached" with the company that made the product in question. Put another way, our government may know a hazardous product is on shelves in American stores, but it leaves those products there so as to make nice with the manufacturer first.
Go read CAF's full report here and see how the right wing's free trade and deregulatory ideologies are putting our country at risk. As you can see, a number of Democrats are pushing legislation to strengthen the CPSC and to stop the new package of NAFTA-style trade agreements that once again include no basic labor, environmental or product safety standards. And in the next few days, the Progressive States Network should have a Stateside Dispatch showing what states can do in the event that lobbyists in Washington stymie congressional Democrats' efforts.
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About David Sirota
David Sirota is a political journalist and nationally syndicated newspaper columnist at Creators Syndicate. He is the New York Times bestselling author of Hostile Takeover. He lives in Denver, Colorado. His daily blog can be found at CREDO Action. He contributes regularly to the Denver Post's Web site, is a senior editor at In These Times magazine and is working on his second book. He has been profiled in Newsweek and the Rocky Mountain News and is widely known for his reporting on political corruption, globalization and working-class economic issues often ignored by both of America's political parties. Sirota serves as co-chair of the Progressive States Network, a 501(c)3 organization that supports state legislators and that is a partner of CREDO.
You can subscribe to Sirota's e-mail newsletter by going to davidsirota.com and signing up in the lefthand corner. To find out more about Sirota, download his official biography or see his recent media appearances. You can e-mail him at sirota@credoaction.com.
The views expressed on this blog are his own, and do not necessarily represent the views of Working Assets (publisher of CREDO Action) or the institutions Sirota works for.
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More David Sirota
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Discussion
Its not the lobbyists throwing up road blocks, its Reid, Hoyer and Pelosi who are deliberately carrying out K Street wishes in regards to trade and consumer product safety.
We need to get rid of them first before we can protect the American people.
Speaking of "free" trade and deregulation, given the major recall fiasco Mattel is facing due to "cheap" toys made in China, one would expect ANY of these Democrats to call for an all out CANCELLATION of the China Permanent Normal Trade Relations "Pact". Unfortunately, not even Dennis Kucinich is calling for an all out cancellation of that SCAM ! I seriously doubt that the Democrats will ever learn to connect the issues and events properly instead leaving it to us supporters resulting in more pissed off voters. Very sad !
Who we need to punish is the American companies and importers. Because they know they are importing dangerous and often toxic shit. The CEO's and their partners need to do some jail time and harsh monetary penalties need to be applied.
In fact thats what the Democrats like Waxman want to do.
The problem is, is that the Consumer Product Safety commission is run by a Bush stooge who blocking any sort of strengthening of the agency.
NOT buying Chinese items is actually cheaper and better in the long run.
I look for US made items first, then look for items made in other countries NOT China, preferably Japan, Korea, Taiwan, the EU, and LA countries. I only buy Chinese if I can't find anything else.
Usually the US and EU made products are a bit higher, but they are better made and last longer so the cost is often cheaper in the long run. For instance, I bought a not-cheap Korean made stainless steel coffee mug several years ago. It survived a 10' fall to a concrete patio, with only a dent, and even now keeps coffee hot longer than the brand new Chinese ones. Cheaper is not better.
China is not going to change its spots, it will still send out inferior and toxic goods. It is not only doing it to us but to other countries, there have been similar toxic goods scandals in Australia and the EU.
The money does not help the Chinese people, but their rocket-rattling government, which is building up it's military for nefarious reasons.
There are better goods, and more deserving countries.
Screw the corporations, if they want to deal in China, after shafting American workers, let them go broke.
PEOPLE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN CORPORATIONS!
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