Globalization can save Latin America!
Long live globalization!

By Dr. Phoebe Godfrey

Is it possible that Richard E. Feinberg (a distinguished diplomat, writer and professor of international political economy at the Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies, University of California, San Diego), who spoke recently at the Texas A&M International University Center for the Study of Western Hemispheric Trade, knows something about capitalism that Adam Smith (1723-1790), the famous author of The Wealth of Nations, missed? Of course, Smith merely made studying capitalism and its forces a focus of his life's work, writing extensively about both its power to create wealth on the one hand and to bring "dreadful misfortunes" to the masses on the other. Could he have made a mistake? Smith saw that the only remedy to the "invisible hand's" damage to decent human existence was for the government to protect the masses from "the vile maxim of the masters of mankind." However, this implicit contradiction of capitalism is one that such slippery "free trade" pundits as Feinberg feel is not worthy of consideration. And with all his impressive credentials, why shouldn't he be at liberty to dismiss Smith's dismal prophesy, forging ahead to create his own version of capitalism? This is the 21st century, the age of cloning and the micro-micro chip, surely we can make capitalism into whatever we want it to be, such as "democratic." That's right, forget Smith and all the bad publicity he gave to capitalism, for Feinberg has invented "Capitalist/Democracy." In a stroke of genius Feinberg has brought together the best of both worlds, removing that once stigmatizing negative image of men, women, and children suffering in factories both in the past and present and replacing it with the happy faces of the world's free, employed, well-fed corporate citizens of the world -- now we really can have it all. We can get rich through the endless expansion of markets and we can watch human rights spread around the globe unfettered by the anachronistic powers of governments. What a relief. Isn't this what being American is all about? Sign me up, Feinberg! Except, I am afraid there is one little problem. . . .
In a market-driven culture where "truth" is whatever one chooses it to be to enhance one's bottom line, Feinberg is on the cutting edge of presenting "truth" without needing any troublesome data or historical evidence. In fact, he had all the evidence he needed. The very building he spoke in and the growth of Laredo were all the evidence he provided to answer what was not actually a question -- can globalization save Latin America? -- but rather an underhanded way to spend nearly two hours saying "yes," without ever having to say "why." Thus, when he proposed his great new version of capitalism there was no reason to give any historical evidence that capitalism has promoted democracy. This has now become fact. And fortunately for Feinberg and those who follow his assumptions, most Americans have no knowledge of American history and therefore merely nod their heads, wave their flags, and say "Amen." Should we therefore give thanks to the capitalists for giving African Americans, Native Americans, Mexicans, Asians, and women of all races the "right to vote?" Should we also give thanks to the capitalists for the eight-hour day, for the weekend, for banning child labor, for workers compensation, and all the other "labor laws"? According to Feinberg we should -- it is no doubt our patriotic duty. And how about the Clean Air Act and other laws protecting the environment and the lives of all Americans? Obviously, we owe them to industry as well. So when it comes to NAFTA and FTAA, both driven by the desire to spread the bounty of capitalism to Latin America, we should expect nothing less than the massive birth of democratic institutions just as it occurred here at home. Right? Wrong! That is, if one is interested in historical truth. Apparently Feinberg is not.
So where does that leave us? According to Feinberg, NAFTA has been such a complete success that the FTAA does not even need to be questioned. Questions such as "how is success being defined ?" and "for whom has NAFTA been a success?" do not need to be asked, let alone answered. The most important issue is that the FTAA was Feinberg's idea (he spent a good 20 minutes detailing that story) and that in itself should be all the proof we need. Yet the FTAA is not quite a done deal. Congress still has to vote on it, and it is possible that they may, as Feinberg said, "fall victim to parochial pressures." What? Is this possible in this great land of "Capitalist/Democracy" that Congress could still be so foolishly swayed by its constituents -- in other words its voters -- and not simply just do exactly as the corporately elected president desires? Obviously, something is wrong. Congress must be suffering from the same problem as the Zapatistas, identified by Feinberg as "not enough globalization," hence democracy, or rather capitalist/democracy. Thus, the cure is the same as the disease, making all questions, doubts, and debates irrelevant. For not only did Feinberg erase American history but he also did a wonderful job of forgetting that the number one impediment to genuine democracy -- not Feinberg's version -- in Latin America has been our military support of nearly ever dictator they have ever had all in the name of "Capitalist/Democracy."
Oh, but we are getting back to the ugly side of capitalism that Smith introduced! It really does not bode well in this "age of terrorism," in which we want to be seen as the world's only "victims," to mention the nasty, dirty, and wholly undemocratic affairs our government has been involved in. After all, the entire goal was always to fight peasants promoting "socialism" under which, horror of horrors, the people get a fair share (isn't that democracy?) No, the two have nothing in common, thereby making our wars in Latin America battles worth fighting for even if, for example, 300,000 Guatemalans had to perish as a result. Don't believe me? Thinking, where is my evidence? Ask Feinberg where his is. I am sure the 300,000 Guatemalans are also asking, as are the poor, the hungry, the landless, the over-worked, and the unemployed all around the world -- they all want some evidence that capitalism equals democracy. Yet I should not just pick on Feinberg -- for even the White House has refused the Freedom of Information Act request for proof documenting the administration's repeated assertion that NAFTA has increased U.S. household income by $1,300-$2,000 annually. And why should the White House, or Feinberg for that matter, give us proof and again "fall victim to parochial pressures?" Who are we people at an institution of higher learning to ask for proof? You dare to ask for evidence? Just look in any of the thousands of corporate-sponsored "textbooks" being used across the nation. Two plus two equals three. Capitalism equals democracy. NAFTA is a success. The FTAA will be an even bigger success. Globalization can save Latin America! Hence, long live globalization! Are you getting the idea? Good, now get out there and spread Richard Feinberg's inspirational news. Go preach, I mean, "teach."

(Dr. Phoebe Godfrey is a new professor of Sociology at Texas A&M International University. A native of New Jersey, she has a master's from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a Ph.D from the State University of New York at Binghampton. She is a former faculty member at several colleges in New York City, including Queens College, Lehman College, and St. John's University.)