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"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32
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Author:  Barbara Anderson
Bio: Barbara Anderson
Date:  September 13, 2007
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Topic category:  Other/General

Sacrifices on the Altar of Free Trade

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was sold to the American people through their representatives in Congress as a win-win agreement for us all. The promise was that it would open up foreign markets to our industries and thereby create more jobs for Americans, leading to more prosperity.

It turns out that the only winners are the multi-national companies that now outsource jobs for cheaper labor and rosier bottom lines. With fewer jobs that pay less, our workers have lost a valuable livelihood, while the corporations’ CEOs and others at the corporate top of the ladder are making unheard-of salaries, bonuses and other benefits.

Also, in other trade agreements that have opened up our markets, we now see Red China developing its industries and fueling its massive military buildup. On TV Red China flaunts the modern and deadly armaments they have bought and the seemingly endless sea of soldiers in uniform. Those armaments were purchased with money from their goods sold to the American people. There was a time when this country would not trade so freely with Red China, a time when morality still was a component in determining just who would get the benefit of our profitable market. Although Red China is still a mostly closed society, we knew long ago about the complete lack of human rights. We knew of the sweat shops. We saw the valiant attempt at some semblance of rights for the people at Tiennamen Square. We saw a small, lone figure challenge the might of the masters of Red China as he stood in front of a large tank. Those attempts were quickly squashed as some of those protesters were mowed down in one way or another. Sacrifices.

We have heard from those who escaped that grim fate that other sacrifices are being made. Dissidents are imprisoned and used as stock for organ transplants. These prisoners are killed when the demand arises for their organs. This is a highly lucrative market. What would someone pay for an organ that would save one’s life? Waiting for months or years on a donor list in this country or others often means the death of the ones waiting. So healthy political prisoners become valuable commodities on the organ market. Sacrifices.

Humans are not the only stock being used for profit in Red China. Devvy Kidd, in her article of December 14, 2005, writing for NewsWithViews.com, tells of the horror of watching a video of what happened to dogs and cats:

“The men grabbed each cage off this huge truck and threw them to the ground - as high up as 3‘. The cries of these adorable dogs and cats as they hit the ground sent me into shock. Several dogs and cats crammed into each cage, many already bloodied and many whose bones would break upon impact. I can still hear their screams.

As I watched the video progress, I realized that I was crying. The screams of live dogs and cats as they were skinned alive, their big eyes begging for mercy and receiving none, ripped my heart out and brought incredible rage from deep down inside. The next shots of cat pelts laid our on the floor with all the dead bodies still twitching in piles cast aside like garbage, would have driven someone with a weak stomach right to the bathroom. It hardened my resolve against trading with barbarians. I can still hear their screams.

………This is an everyday operation by 'businessmen' who drive their trucks on the street like a produce truck would in the U.S. It’s estimated these barbarians skin millions of dogs and cats every year - while they are alive. As I watched these ‘workers’ go about their barbaric practice, I wondered how Americans could continue supporting them with their consumer dollar? This is Communist China in all its brutality. The skinning of live dogs and cats is done for money. These barbarians sell the pelts and toss the ‘meat’. These pelts are illegally being intertwined with fake fur for many retail items being sold in the U.S., I.e., doll clothes and into fabric for human garments, I.e. parka hoods and sweaters”. Small sacrifices.

Although this is supposed to be illegal in the U.S., we have seen the loosely controlled imports from Red China which have damaged the health of even our children. Lots of our pets were poisoned by ingredients in dog and cat food from Red China. Some died. Sacrifices must be made. One common thing to come into contact with most of our children, toys, have been found to have dangerous elements in them. Toys ‘R’ Us says it imports about 70% of its products, largely from Red China. Our own industries must compete with those that break our laws. Our own industries have been heavily controlled by our laws for many years, precluding massive injury to children. But, goods from Red China are cheap, so sacrifices must be made.

Our FDA, charged with overseeing the safety of products introduced to U.S. markets, has reported that “tainted food imports from China are being rejected with increasing frequency because they are filthy, are contaminated with pesticides and tainted with carcinogens, bacteria and banned drugs“, according to an article on WorldNetDaily.com on June 26, 2007. Sacrifices.

WND’s same article reports on tires imported from Red China that have been found to be defective, resulting in allegedly at least one fatal traffic accident, spurring a lawsuit in New Jersey. In the suit Jeffrey B. Killino, an attorney in the law firm representing the families of the deceased and injured, stated:

“The Hangzhou Rubber Company deliberately and secretly removed a safety feature from these tires and two young men died as a direct result. This was a tragedy that didn’t have to happen, but hopefully we can prevent future fatal crashes”.

WorldNetDaily sums up some of the tainted and dangerous products Red China is sending to us. They include seafood, toys, fireworks, electrical products and much more. (June 26, 2007) Added to that list is honey. As almost 70% of the honey used in this country is imported, mostly from China, the FDA should have been concentrating on this food. It is problematic that so much is imported when we have had many producers in the past in our own country who were willing to abide by FDA rules. How many have been driven out of business by cheaper foreign imports?

So-called Free Trade has broken down our defenses against tainted foods and other dangerous imports. Our agencies that were set up to monitor these products are overwhelmed.

We the People are buying these products in massive quantities. To prove this, I challenge you to look at the source country for the products available to you. That cute little jacket with the faux fur may not be entirely fake fur. It may be one of the animals described by Kidd after watching a video of how those pelts are harvested. She keeps repeating “I can still hear their cries”. Can you hear those cries, not only of animals we consider pets, dogs and cats?

Can you also hear the cries of those in this country who have lost their jobs? How about the cries of children poisoned by tainted food or toys containing lethal toxic lead? And, the cries of the families of Americans who trusted imported tires on their cars….to their deaths?

Or, are these just the cost of doing business, of getting that shirt or some sandals for a cheap price? As long as we are buying, the big companies are going to be supplying. Are these sacrifices we will continue to make?

“An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us.”

Barbara Anderson

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Biography - Barbara Anderson

Barbara regularly writes for CapitolHillCoffeeHouse. She also appears in California Chronicle, Border Patrol, and Citizens Caucus. Her primary interest is illegal immigration, but she writes about other subjects as well.

Barbara lives in a large city on the West Coast. Her loyalties are with God, family, country, heritage and borders.

She enjoys music, painting, poetry and song writing.


Read other commentaries by Barbara Anderson.

Copyright © 2007 by Barbara Anderson
All Rights Reserved.

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