Max,
Noone is calling anyone racist. But relying on Harry Wu to justify an
attack on China? Tibetan nuns? What does this have to do with the issue of
labor rights in China? Maybe in ads against China trade they can also
include pictures of Wen Ho Lee, my sense is the strategy is 'whatever it
takes'. I don't think you're a racist for supporting the AFL-CIO strategy,
I am certain your reasons for supporting it are the same as mine for
opposing it. You think it will accomplish the stated purpose, namely the
advancement of workers rights in China and the US.
Obviously I don't support a Fortune 500 stance on free trade. But I am
convinced by people like David Bacon and Bill Tabb that this strategy will
not only not work, but will make it even more difficult to accomplish the
intended goal. BTW, my position on this particular issue is, admittledly,
similar to HCKL's, but I am far much more convinced by the logic of David
Bacon and Bill Tabb in their recent articles on this issue than I am of
HCKL.
That said, I think it is to the advantage of the labor movement to not
embrace nativist/isolationist/racist elements involved in the anti-China
entry to WTO activism, since those elements have no sincere interest in
workers' rights in CHina or the US.
Steve
On Tue, 28 Mar 2000, Max B. Sawicky wrote:
> After the current anti-China strategy fails, hopefully when the labor
> movement is thinking about which way to go next, it will consider views
> such as this more seriously. I think Doug reported recently that there is
> considerable tension within the AFL-CIO about the 'yellow peril' strategy,
> so there is hope. . . .
>
> >>>>>>>>>>>
>
> The only fair response to the 'yellow peril' characterization
> would be that the other side, our partisans of free trade,
> you apparently, are pursuing the puerile imperialist stooge
> strategy, or PISS for short.
>
> Can't you criticize a policy w/o imputing racism/nativism/
> isolationism to its advocates?
>
> mbs
>
>
