--- In [EMAIL PROTECTED], "Dan Minette" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>According to
>http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nyt/20010727/ts/senate_backs_strict_safe
>ty_tests_for_mexican_trucks_in_u_s__1.html
>
>it would require that the trucks pass a safety check before they are
>allowed on the roads. Bush's plan gives an 18 month grace period.
>Canadian trucks have a lower failure rate than US trucks, about 15%,
>so that seems like a pretty good reason to allow them in.
I saw nothing about a grace period in the article.
I did, however, see the following comment in the article:
"The inspections would be more intensive than those generally
required of Canadian trucks crossing the border."
I also saw the following:
"The White House and the Mexican government have described the
provision as a clear violation of the trade agreement that could open
the United States to reprisals.... Mexican officials have said in
recent weeks that Mexico would consider restricting American
agricultural imports "
Clearly, this is a significant instance of Mr. Daschle and the
Democrats acting unilaterally in a manner that upsets our allies.
And this is about breaking a Treaty that we already signed and
ratified!
>Lott's comments about the Democrats voting against Hispanics seems to
>indicate the real reason for the vote. The Hispanic vote is crucial
>to the future of the Republican party.
Clearly, upholding our Treaty obligations has nothing to do with.
Clearly, the fact that Mr. Lott and others are fairly strongly in
support of most free-trade measures has nothing to do with it either.
Clearly, the fact that people of a particular national origin are
being singled out for tougher application of the laws has nothing to
do with it either.
I love how everything the Republicans do is looked at in the most
cynical light around here. Sure, there's political benefit - but
most politicians don't do much of anything that doesn't have *some*
political benefit!
>What are
>Mexico's trucking regulations? Do they compare to that of the US?
I find it very difficult to believe that the US trade negotiators
agreed to include the trucking industry under NAFTA without
comparable regulations.
>I think that there is a difference between racial profiling blacks
>where innocent people are stopped because of their race and deciding
>that the inspection process for country A is close enough to that
>practiced in our country so that we can accept their inspections as
>valid, while considering country B's inspections to be to a lower
>standard.
I love this.
Of course, blacks predominantly live in inner-cities. People who
live in inner-cities predominantly have older cars. Thus, cars owned
by blacks are more likely to be safety hazards and fail inspections.
I'd *love* to see the odds of passing a law that requires African-
Americans to submit to a higher-set of safety requirements than Anglo-
Americans.
>> They should be held to the same standard in all respects.
>> Any Mexican truck that can pass an American inspection should
>> be allowed to operate in America immediately.
>
>If you first line includes following safety regulations for truckers
>hours etc. I would totally agree with you. Bush's comments seem to
>indicate that they should be allowed to be on US roads unchecked.
What comments?
Everything I have seen has said that Bush's plan will simply hold the
Mexicans to the same standards asthe Canadians. Given that Mexico
has signed the exact same treaty with us as Canada, and that portion
of the Treaty goes into effect on January 1st, then that is the only
fair and just thing to do. Same for trucking hours. Require Mexican
drivers to meet the same standards as Canadian drivers.
JDG
