AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums About Belize Nation Central America Free Trade Agreement

Amanda...In 2003 even the European Union had enough of Fidel and imposed economic sanctions after a series of arrests on the island. Some US sanctions lifted in 2000 after the passing of the Trade Sanctions and Export Enhancement Act of 2000. Holding a grudge for 40 plus years over some nuclear missles pointed at us and a dictator on par with some of the best(worst) of them is archaic at best. However it's still communism which you also agree is bad(another thread). And GWB, slick willy, GHWB ,Uncle Ronnie , Jimmy Carter, tricky Dick and LBJ have all been too busy during their respective terms with other agendas to really examine what to do with Mr.Castro. It will really be interesting to see what happens when things such as the US policy and Cuban leadership finally change. The Soviet Union abandoned Cuba long ago. I wonder the effect that has had on the economy there. It's also interesting that Cuban citizens usually rank number two in Naturualized US Citizenship each year, right behind Mexican citizens. As for most Americans...well they are doing good if they can even point to Cuba on a world map. But, don't dumb Yanks make good condo buyers? And it's amazing the PUP's propoganda has you satisfied with sunshine and higher taxes with no return on the investment. And immissing, Jesse summed it up. It's CARICOM not CAFTA for Belize at this time. Just a few thoughts from another most American citizen.

You think I pay much attention to any propoganda?

One would guess that once ole Castro passing on, things will change in Cuba and most likely their US visitors statistics will go through the roof. Many US citizens visit there now, via Mexico.

The US is filling up with Cubans and Mexicans, and the US citizens seem to be flocking to other countries in their retirement years.

The old adage - the grass is always greener on the other side - applies to many peoples thought processes.

I don't think communism is bad, however I prefer to live in a democratic society.

I have invested my entire life in Belize - I have to admit my return on investment is phenomenal.

I know everybodys life isn't all sweetness and light, but I've got to admit that I am really, really happy living here.

I could live in the UK and pay my 40% income tax rate, and dream about sunshine in Belize - or I can stay here, pay my 15% income tax rate and look outside my window at the Caribbean sea. Hmmmm tough choice.

Hey - did I sell you a condo?

Simon,

It is curious to note that CAFTA is the subject of much debate here in the states too. Except that Congress thinks its a bad deal for US farmers, grower's and the like.

I admit that I am just becoming educated on the subject and am willing to be educated, but there are clearly two sides to the story.

In any event, one nice thing would be the elimination of most of the duties on consumer goods to the member nations. Given the cost of some things are nearly doubled by the duties, I'd think that would be an incentive to investment and trade.

That said, this is an early opinion and one I am open to revisiting.

What...? you can trust the US Government, just ask any Native American!

There are some very good sites (and some just stupid ones) on CAFTA and what the final goal is (FTAA). A Google search will give you an idea of the arguments for and against.

The main issue is not duties, in general dropping duties is a good thing for the consumer. If Belizeans had more disposable income it would work out nicely but they don't.

The problem is the subsidies that make the playing field so unfair as to prevent the smaller economies from making greater inroads to the US market. US farmers will cry but the US sugar industry receives more in subsidies than the entire GDP of many small countries (including Belize). If the market for sugar was truly open to Belize the economy here would take a big boost. The same pretty much applies for most of our major industries.

I'm not really on the hemp bandwagon but Belize could do very well with that crop but I'll bet if it was attempted on a large scale that the US would be the first to step in and put a stop to it. On and on it goes...

I may sound anti-American but I only have it for those in government who could really give a shit about what their foreign policy does in the rest of the world.

Americans are great, their government sucks and unfortunately most Americans are shielded from the realities of the rest of the world and the effects of US foreign policy. I think a lot of people would be pissed to know what goes on in the name of America, they would certainly have a better of idea as to why there is so much anti-American sentiment around the world. Nobody likes a bully.

Yeah, if it weren't for the money we supply, we'd be even easier to hate, I'm sure.

Once again, the larger the target, the more flak thrown. Hell, we're the Wal-Mart of world politics.

If we--and by extension, our government--didn't, as you espouse, "give a shit about what their foreign policy does in the rest of the world," I'd think we'd just cut off all foreign aid, take what we wanted and call it done. Agreed?

I really take offense to the concept that Americans don't care about the rest of the world. Historical record certainly argues the opposite.

Can you imagine what most countries who depend on the money given (or "loaned") to them by the US, whether it be official aid or tourist dollars, would look like without that support?

Can you?

OK, go ahead. Bite away.

" THE WAL*MART OF WORLD POLITICS " ? I love it !!!

Amanda that hurt. I am in the UK where it has been cloudy for weeks, but no proper rain. We are about to have a hosepipe ban in London because of drought although we have to wear rain coats and take umbrellas out every day because it spits for 10 minutes out of every hour. I am about to write my cheque for %40 to the taxman, and I am looking out over an factory which is about to be converted into 14 high density flats for people on low incomes and a couple of dumped cars. I just can't understand why you think Belize is so lovely!

I think Simon is right. My family live in the USA and I love watching Fox news for the ironic pleasure of reactionary broadcasting. I get quite an insight into USA attitudes whenever I visit. Most people in the USA really are unaware how USA foreign policy affects other countries and how the USA is perceived in the rest of the world. I agree that most USA people are wonderful but the government has done them a great disservice. That said, very few governments do well by their country. It is always interesting to watch the news in the USA and see how things are reported so differently there. It seems that many USA folk who depend on the television news are misinformed and uninformed.

The foreign aid argument:

US foreign aid - .01% of GDP, most other developed countries - .8% to 1%. Not quite so generous as you were probably led to believe and almost always tied to a stick, or a club in some cases.

If the trade playing field was more balanced the US .01% would be a great number but face it the playing field is anything but level.

Less than 10% of the US population have passports and 24 hr tv news and USA Today spend more time focusing on the school bus accident in Des Moines than the more substantial issues and events that occur internationally and affect world population. Most are not aware the US gives proportionately less intl aid than many other countries and that most other countries have their version of the US Peace Corp. etc. It takes alot of effort to ferret out news and facts while juggling a full time job, family, mow the lawn and putting in 30 minutes at Curves. Just look at how many Americans don't care enough to vote. Due to location and size, Americans don't move around from country to country as easily as people on the Continent do, so exposure to other cultures in some places is limited to immigrants. Anyway, Happy belated 4th of July.