Here We Go Again....


"Esposito: You have a chance to die for freedom.
Fielding Mellish: Yes, well, freedom is wonderful. On the other hand, if you're dead, it's a tremendous drawback to your sex life."
-quote from "Bananas" - a film written and directed by Woody Allen

I love, "Bananas", Woody Allen's second movie. It is wacky and silly and serious. The serious part is that this film reflects a time when Americans thought of Central American countries as "banana republics" owned by Dole and other meglo-agobusinesses.

Times have not changed, obviously. The lack of public discussion and debate about the administration's Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) is almost as sparse for this monumental undertaking as it was in ramming the Patriot Act through our Congress. At least the Patriot Act has a "sunset" provision which requires Congress to re-approve or eliminate provisions of the Act this year. CAFTA does not have it. In fact....

"..,A free trade agreement would be reciprocal, and without a limited term, unlike current statutory trade preference laws, assuring all partners of a long-term outlook that will strengthen North American cooperation with Central America," says President Bush in this White House press release from 2002.

I would hope (erm..make that pray) that Congress includes a sunset provision in this Agreement to protect us from endless corporate greed and exploitation. How does Central America feel about this "agreement?" It is hard to find any news about Central America in the American press, but this article suggests that people in some of those countries do not want to go back to the status of a "banana republic."

Wonder if Woody Allen is considering a "remake" of his 1971 film. That might be the only information the American public gets on this issue.

May all beings know love and peace.