Free Trade

Editor,
Free trade is good for rich international investors, bad for workers, bad for the environment, and bad for democracy.

That the American corporate press continues to shirk its responsibility to conduct a fair and open debate with respect to all of the underlying theory and all of the implications of neoliberal capitalism -- especially the details and consequences, both domestically and internationally, of the "American model" pushed by the World Bank and the IMF -- is as great a disservice to the American democratic process as their enthusiastic beating of the drums of war in the run-up to BushCo's aggression in Iraq.

Does the corporate press deliberately feed the American people simplistic conclusions, devoid of argument, concerning free trade because of the enormous benefits that accrue to predatory American capitalists by cultivating their ignorance?

And with respect to Hugo Chavez: would you please mention the success of his literacy programs, health programs, and anti-poverty programs every time you mention that he fears assassination, invasion, or destabilization of Venezuela orchestrated by the United States. Thank you.