GATT Vote

Your Sept. 18 editorial urging Congress not to “waffle” and “delay” on approving GATT and, implicitly, urging that we dispense with democratic process via “fast-track” authority, is imperialist, ends-versus-means, nonsense.

What GATT and NAFTA represent is no less than a “trade” coup by capital. They are inherently illegitimate trade policies because they have not emanated from Congress and the people.

The reason for a sick, unbalanced “trade” process derived from NAFTA and GATT is that the agreements excluded labor’s participation. They were written, even dictated, by “revolving-door” lawyers representing capital alone, whose entire livelihoods and professional careers are based on multinational patronage.

Without labor and the people’s full participation, all such “trade” agreements are not only illegitimate but destined to induce great costs and turmoil and fail.

KENT WELTON

Dana Point