Date: Fri, 06 Jun 1997 09:49:41 +0200

From: Tom Vogler

Subject: Re: FREEDOM FOR TIBET/DEMOCRACY IN CHINA ! - #58

Dear Agora.stm et al

Thanks for writing. My idea, or one that occurs to me, hopefully others also is:

A proposition of an alternative to MFN status for the PRC as a US trading partner, since the US stands for freedom supposedly- no other country has made quite the volume of grandiose statements about the natural tendency and desire of humans to have liberty- a propositon that states that the PRC just has not lived up to expectation, complied with conduct of basic decency, in fact has flagrantly violated values that many free market and democratic societies hold dear (executing political prisoners and selling their organs to black or grey markets); just does not deserve the ultimate reward for being a trade partner, that of the lowest level of tariff available to our import market, which is zero tariff.

Now here is where th propagandists have done such a thorough job at snowballing a very lame journalistic media- a slightly higher level of tariff (than zero) that would protect the production of consumer goods and services in the USA and still Allow the PRC plenty of profitable market here. Unless in fact their strategy here has been to dump goods at loss pricing in hopes of putting American (and any other) producers out of business.

This would lead to negotiation that includes more segments of society than just the fundraising arms of the whitehouse who will currently sell national security secrets if they think they can win 4 more years in power.

I hope for the sake of all freedom loving and compassionate people in the world that this stimulates discussion needed to jostle our leaders accordingly. Thanks.