Harsh realities of global trade
by Linda Gehman Peachey, Lancaster, Pa.
I appreciated the articles in the Oct. 21, 2008, issue that focused on the dangers of consumerism and greed. I also agreed with a number of Al Doerksen’s suggestions in “A Contrarian View of Anticonsumption Rhetoric” yet was troubled by his support for free trade and globalization. His article did not address the harsh realities of our global economy that often push farmers off their land, either because they cannot compete with subsidized grains from the United States or because corporations need the land for mining or to grow luxury foods for us. Farmers, who once grew much of their own food, are forced to look for jobs elsewhere and buy food controlled by others. Also, free trade policies often mean that factory workers, whose industries had been somewhat protected from foreign competition, are now laid off and must also look for new jobs.
These dynamics were clear in the city of Nogales, Mexico, which I visited recently on a Mennonite Central Committee learning tour. Over the past few decades, this town has grown from 25,000 to over 400,000 as people have come looking for jobs and adequate income. Most live in squatter communities without access to plumbing or electricity. Competition for jobs is fierce, so even those with fairly good jobs earn only 20 percent of what a minimum wage worker earns in the United States. Yet food prices are even higher than what we pay here, and those who have permission come across the border to buy their groceries. Many feel they have no choice but to leave their loved ones and risk everything in order to come to the United States to look for jobs that will support their families.
I know these issues are not easy. But as we discuss economics, I urge us to give special attention to those most vulnerable to exploitation and violence and push for solutions that truly work for them.
Associated Issue: Consumer desire - Oct. 21, 2008
Associated Article: A contrarian view of anticonsumption rhetoric
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