jay> I have long been ambivalent about the MAI. These kinds of
jay> international agreements have the potential to contain the
jay> transnationals, which is something national governments can
jay> not do.
The problem with the MAI is that it commits signatories *not* to
contain the TNC, to submit to ajudication of purported containment by
panels which can be assumed to have TNC interests at heart and to a
notion of a *possible* profit foregone as compensatable damage.
A proposal that imposed similarly draconian restraints on the future
actions of TNCs, now, would be quite another thing.
I think the MAI is an attempt to wedge the gears of any possible
democratic governance before it become clear just what 100% free flow
of capital means. What it really means is....I think I feel a rant
coming on and I want to keep this short. :-)
- Mike
