As a proud Democrat, I have never been as disappointed in the U.S. senators of this state and Oregon as I am now. Sens. Maria Cantwell, Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., chose to accept child labor violations and currency manipulation to pass the Trade Promotion Authority bill. These three chose to support multinational companies rather than protect American workers who will lose jobs to foreign countries. That is exactly what happened with NAFTA, and there’s no difference between this trade bill and that one.
Currency manipulation results in foreign companies escalating or devaluing their currency to their advantage, depending on whether they are importing or exporting the products in question. Our goods cost more in countries such as China, and their products cost American purchasers less.
Child labor laws allow countries to pay only 58 cents per hour to child workers to make goods that are exported to countries such as the U.S. Besides being cruel and immoral, it causes more U.S. companies to outsource their work. Why hire an American to do a job that can be done for pennies in Asia?
This is a classic example of how money in politics can modify a politician’s behavior to go against their better judgment and against the people who elected them.
