Letters: Poverty ‘trickles down’ via CAFTA
Having just returned from a Witness For Peace delegation to Nicaragua, I can personally attest to the fallacy of the “trickle down” theory. My delegation’s focus was on food security, the certainty of having enough to eat each day, and food sovereignty, the peoples’ right to define their agricultural and food policy.
The impact of CAFTA on at least the 73 percent of Nicaragua’s population that make less than $2 a day is ominous. Advocates of CAFTA and other free trade agreements postulate that there are benefits of unfettered competition which will trickle down. They contend that removing obstacles to a free flow of goods will increase efficiency and productivity and each country will find its niche and wealth will trickle down.
Unfortunately for Nicaragua, the elimination of import tariffs on virtually all agricultural goods that are most important for small farmers in the region will result in dumping of subsidized U.S. farm products, undermining the livelihood of the small producers in the region who make their living from traditional agriculture.
Eighty percent of Nicaragua’s food is currently produced by small and medium producers with no access to credit or technology and without any assistance from their government. The only thing that will trickle down to the majority of Nicaraguans is a spiral of poverty. It is impossible to compete on an unequal playing field. The reality is that U.S. policies and corporate practices are already contributing to poverty and oppression in Nicaragua.
Aleita Hass-Holcombe
Corvallis
U.S. should ease global warming
I recently read an article that reported the United States rejected a Canadian bid to draw Washington, D.C., into future global talks on climate change. I feel this is a bad idea because without global climate change initiatives, global warming will continue to deteriorate the ozone layer.
As a young adult, I feel that this is a irresponsible and can only lead to destruction and financial ruin. I urge the United States to accept the Canadian bid to join the rest of the world in controlling carbon dioxide emissions and turning global warming around.
Matteo Gouveia
CHS student
Corvallis
AOI supports toxic reporting
Your Raspberries section recently chastised Associated Oregon Industries for supporting a reduction in pollution emission reporting. I would certainly agree with you if it were true.
The Toxic Release Inventory reporting program is an established federal program built into the normal activity of Oregon companies. AOI is not in support of the proposal.
Yet I understand why you thought we did. When interviewed, I informed the reporter (not the Corvallis Gazette-Times) that AOI did not support the proposal. But, when asked if paperwork was an issue, I responded that environmental engineers would always rather be reducing pollution than doing paperwork, just as a physician would rather be treating patients than filling out forms. It was placed in the story as if to show AOI supported the reporting reduction.
Ironically, it was an AOI-backed bill that funded an additional — even more complete — reporting mechanism on the state fire Marshal’s Internet site.
The error was not yours; you drew a rational conclusion from the article, and I understand your concern.
John Ledger
Vice President
Associated Oregon
Industries
Bible stands mum on suicide view
In answering Fred Decker’s query on what the Quran says about suicide, Will Bradley’s Dec. 9 letter competently informed us that it strongly speaks against it. This raises the question, what does the Bible, in particular the New Testament, have to say against suicide? Unlike the Quran, the Bible appears to have no direct injunctions against suicide at all! Should Jesus have spoken out against suicide? He didn’t. And should not the supposed suicide of Judas Iscariot have caused Paul to speak about it?
I see a couple reasons for the lack of New Testament condemnation of suicide. One is that Jesus knew in advance, according to the Gospels, that he would undergo crucifixion and die, yet he did nothing to prevent or escape that fate, which he felt was God’s will that he should obey. This behavior is tantamount to suicide itself, and where would Christianity be if it were believed Jesus hadn’t died on the cross? Hence it might not make sense to Christians to condemn suicide if their Lord in a sense willingly committed it. Second, the betrayal of Jesus by Judas was considered such a heinous crime that it might have been thought that Judas’ suicide “served him right.”
It would be interesting to learn what the suicide rate is among Iraqis or Muslims in general. Among U.S. males, it ranks around eighth of all leading causes of death. Under extreme conditions, however, as in Iraq, what one’s holy book says is easily ignored or reinterpreted.
Jim Deardorff
Corvallis
U.S. will not win the war in lraq
I cannot help but wonder how anyone can honestly defend the actions of our military in Iraq. To begin with, one must be irrational or exercise twisted logic to defend the destruction of the nation of Iraq. Who can justify this travesty? How can anyone believe that it is OK to completely destroy the infrastructure of a nation and then self-congratulate for re-building it using the resources of the defeated nation? This is the most obscene expression of self-righteousness!
Moreover, how can the military justify the usage of chemical, yes, I mean chemical weapons (white phosphorous bombs and depleted uranium warheads are indeed chemical weapons) in Iraq? Is it not our government a signatory of international treaties that ban the usage of chemical weapons?
Those who believe that this military adventure in Iraq will result in success should think very carefully. I do not know of a single example in history where the invader has been able to subdue the locals in the long run.
I therefore challenge my fellow citizens to think critically and ask yourselves if the actions of our military are worth supporting. Also, be aware of those who want you to believe that this war has anything to do with preserving the American way of life, because it does not. One of the biggest threats faced by any democracy is an out of control military. Worse yet is the notion that it should be viewed as a sacred cow by the citizenry!
Mario Edgardo Magaña
Corvallis
A sad goodbye to Richard Pryor
Richard Pryor was a ground-breaking actor and comedian who died at 65 of a heart attack on Saturday. His hilariously audacious style influenced a generation of comedians. He also starred in many Hollywood films, some of which I have seen. Richard Pryor’s good humor and fun disposition will be missed, and his films and comedy routines will continue to get a laugh out of audiences.
Julie Woodman
CHS freshman
Corvallis
|
|
You must be logged
in to comment.
It's free and quick!
|
|
|
 |
RSS 
GT Reader Comments