The free-trade battle: should the World Trade Organization be stopped?

• Position: Opinion - Brief Article

YES

In a democratic society, we presume the right to make laws that reflect the deepest values of citizens. But this is no longer the case. With the emergence of the World Trade Organization (WTO), democracy has moved to the back burner. It no longer matters what democratic societies want; what matters is what global corporations want, as expressed and enforced by global trade bureaucracies in Geneva.

Created in 1994, the WTO is already among the most powerful, secretive, undemocratic, and unelected bodies on earth. It has been granted unprecedented powers that include the right to rule on whether laws of nations--concerning public health, food safety, small business, labor standards, culture, human rights, or anything--are considered "barriers to trade." If so, the WTO can demand they be changed, and punish a country that refuses.

The very popular Marine Mammal Protection Act--specifically the provision that protects dolphins from being slaughtered by tuna fishermen--was found to be a barrier to the free trade of tuna fishing. The U.S. may have to rewrite those protections; meanwhile, millions more animals may die. Laws in all countries are being homogenized, endangering strict health, environmental, and labor standards in countries that have them.

But there is good news: As we saw in Seattle, hundreds of groups are now protesting what's going on.

--TURNING POINT PROJECT (a coalition of environmental, labor, and policy groups)

NO

Is there anything more ridiculous in the news today than the protests against the World Trade Organization in Seattle? I doubt it.

These anti-WTO protesters--who...