From the equality of rights springs identity of our highest interests; you cannot subvert your neighbor's rights without striking a dangerous blow at your own. Carl Schurz

Monday, November 14, 2011

Of Free Trade and Democracy

I'm going to file this one under the category of things I never thought I'd see printed in a major newspaper. Peter Wilby in todays Guardian offers up a thorough critique on the effects the neoliberal free trade agenda has had on democracy in general and more specifically the EU, where we have recently seen two Bankster led coups in Greece and Italy.

"The people of Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Ireland have already learned that they must accept programmes of austerity, reductions in employment protection and the sale of public assets to the private sector. If they haven't elected leaders willing to do what is necessary, unelected leaders will be imposed instead. The French and the Belgians know that they also must watch their step." 

The EU crisis demonstrates that free trade has gone far enough:It's not just the European Union that needs a rethink – it's the whole world trade regime and its unelected overseers

2 comments:

  1. What's wrong with the level of France's debt anyways? They're doing pretty good: manageable debt level, low fiscal deficit, and a higher credit rating than the US. But after their success with Italy and Greece, the sharks smell blood in the water.

    ReplyDelete
  2. They do indeed smell blood plus they see the end of their run on the horizon and want to steal as much as they can before that happens

    ReplyDelete