NAFTA Superhighway (be afraid)

[BizmanUSA]

From the RP Forums

Thought this was important - Sort of the Snake with Two Heads article

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Bush Administration Intends to Start Pilot Program Labor Day Weekend

Contact:
Leslie Miller
(202) 624-6911
August 29, 2007


(Washington, D.C.) — The Teamsters on Wednesday sought an emergency injunction to block the Bush administration from opening the U.S. border to unsafe Mexican trucks, three days before the pilot program is scheduled to begin

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters was told by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) that it intends to grant authority on Sept. 1 for Mexican trucks to drive beyond the border zone and throughout the entire United States.

“What a slap in the face to American workers -- opening the highways to dangerous trucks on Labor Day weekend, one of the busiest driving weekends of the year,” said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa.

The Teamsters, along with other highway safety and environmental groups, said the program breaks laws requiring the Department of Transportation to:

Create a program that yields statistically valid findings;

Show that U.S. trucks have the same right to travel in Mexico that Mexican-domiciled trucks have to travel here; and

Reveal the inspection results for motor carriers allowed to drive beyond the border zone.

A memorandum accompanying the Teamsters motion stated that “In their rush to open the border, FMCSA and the Department of Transportation (DOT) are commencing a pilot program that does not comply with the congressional requirements that are statutory prerequisites for the program to begin.”

The lawsuit was filed in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco.

“Congress has repeatedly and overwhelmingly set stringent safety conditions for the cross-border trucking program to meet before our borders are thrown open,” Hoffa said. “The Transportation Department inspector general’s report released Aug. 21 made it clear that those conditions have not been met. The Bush administration’s reckless endangerment of the American people is matched only by its brazen disregard for the law of the land.”

Among the conditions identified by the inspector general:

Border states keep poor records of Mexican-domiciled truck drivers’ traffic convictions;

Checks of the validity of Mexican-domiciled commercial drivers’ licenses against
Mexico’s database resulted in a failure rate of nearly 20 percent;

The government won’t be able to inspect every truck every time it crosses the border;

Drug testing continues to be questionable in Mexico.

Founded in 1903, the Teamsters Union represents more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States and Canada.

[ChamberedRound]

Link to the above press release here:
http://www.teamster.org/07news/nr_070829_1.asp

In addition, here's another article on the issue:
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pitt.../s_524851.html

The first steps toward a North American Union... ugh. On that note, also see this thread for a discussion of the NAU:
http://www.pafoa.org/forum/national-...ress-fall.html

[KeithPA]

The lawsuit was filed in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco.

Thats the last Appeals court I think I would ever want to file something important in. I wish them luck lol.

[LorDiego01]

How are Mexican trucks "dangerous" as the article states?

Won't this mean we get cheaper products at our supermarkets?

[rwilson452]

the Mexican trucks are know for faulty maitanence no/bad breaks and such.

How are Mexican trucks "dangerous" as the article states?

Won't this mean we get cheaper products at our supermarkets?

[LorDiego01]

the Mexican trucks are know for faulty maitanence no/bad breaks and such.

lol yaaaaa oooooookkaaaayyyy...

I totally believe the low level of maintenance, but no breaks... thats just silly.

[BearTitan]

Won't this mean we get cheaper products at our supermarkets?

Yes, that is exactly what it means.

Wouldn't want a little fair business competition with our neighbors to the south. Sure, it's OK if Mexicans take the jobs that we don't want, but we sure don't want them competing with our American workers head to head on good paying jobs.

Guys, it's a global economy. Are you going to buy the peaches for $2.89 a pound that were driven here by a Mexican driver and truck, or are you going to buy the peaches that are $2.99 a pound that were transferred at the border and driven here by an American driver and truck.

I think we all know the answer to that one.

[rev214]

Guys, it's a global economy. Are you going to buy the peaches for $2.89 a pound that were driven here by a Mexican driver and truck, or are you going to buy the peaches that are $2.99 a pound that were transferred at the border and driven here by an American driver and truck.

its a trick question...the american driver's company closed up their U.S. location and now operate south of the border...

[LorDiego01]

its a trick question...the american driver's company closed up their U.S. location and now operate south of the border...

aahhh... the wonders of government regulation and licensing...

[Lougotzz]

Yes, that is exactly what it means.

Wouldn't want a little fair business competition with our neighbors to the south. Sure, it's OK if Mexicans take the jobs that we don't want, but we sure don't want them competing with our American workers head to head on good paying jobs.

Guys, it's a global economy. Are you going to buy the peaches for $2.89 a pound that were driven here by a Mexican driver and truck, or are you going to buy the peaches that are $2.99 a pound that were transferred at the border and driven here by an American driver and truck.

I think we all know the answer to that one.

I would rather buy the product for the .10 cents more. Why because the American will pay taxes and contribute to the US SS program. In the long run the .10 you save witll probably cost you a buck. We can see it now. Buying all the crap from china and the Americans have less of a gross national product. We are in trade deficits with china.

Nothing beats made in America no matter how much propaganda you sell with the foreign product.