Originally Posted by onlyoneplanet

I wouldn't expect CAFTA to help Central America very much, or at all. In fact, I'm quite sure it will only make their situation worse.

Look at what NAFTA has done to Mexico, you'll see maquiladoras all over the borderlands and ghettos within walking distance. In the rowdy areas (areas where workers often try to organize), there have been cases in which the maquiladoras were being guarded by men in uniform with fully automatic weapons -- often paid for by the U.S. I might add.

Over 60% of small Mexican enterprises went out of business after NAFTA went into effect, you call that progress? Out of the 1200 government owned businesses, there's now less than 200, just reapin' the profits. Public services like water, electricity, education, and environmental services become privatized and suddenly fathers are running away to America for work while mothers send their children off to work in sweatshops because in struggling to pay for water and electricty, they had to take their kids out of school.

While Mexico is the 8th largest exporter in the world, it's the 54th in human development. Hands are shaken, backs are slapped, cigars are lit, and families are trying to make a living off of slave wages.

The only thing that makes free trade 'free' is the expanded rights of foreign investors without the burden of expensive domestic labor, environmental regulations, etc.

CAFTA won't help Central America, there is simply no doubt about it.