LETTERS: FREE-TRADE PACTS FURTHER AGGREGATE CORPORATE POWER

To the editor:

I want to comment on the Free Trade Area of the Americas proceedings in Quebec. Perhaps the greatest threat to our democracy is the increasing power of transnational corporations operating outside the jurisdiction of any sovereign state or democratic process. As one example, Cargill Inc. controls more than 50 percent of the grain in the world. This sort of centralized consolidation of power is the case in virtually every area of the economy. So-called free-trade agreements give even more power to these corporations.

To conservatives, I pose an important question: How is it that you can be against big-government involvement in your lives, but you apparently don't mind vast areas of your lives being controlled by non-elected corporate elites to whom you are little more than a distant consumer?

In the course of my life, I have seen viable, locally initiated and controlled free enterprise -- the family farm and the small business -- eroded and replaced by distant, impersonal corporations. Why is it that conservatives never address this consolidation of corporate power over our food, clothing, media -- literally every aspect of our lives? I thought conservatives were for local control, or maybe that concern only applies to the federal government. I'm confused. Maybe some of our local elected officials can explain the apparent inconsistency. They should be sure to list the top donors of the major parties as part of their answer.

ROBERT J. POLACK JR.

Cape Girardeau