'Free Trade' Isn't Free
To The Editor:

What is "Free Trade"? Free trade is the exchange of goods and services without the control of support of government. It is the commercial arrangement between private parties for mutual benefit. NAFTAis anything but free trade; it is government mass control.

"Free Trade" agreements have cost American jobs and [caused our] sovereignty to be diminished. Particularly disturbing is NASCO (North America's Super Corridor Coalition, Inc.) a Web site which graphically portrays the so called NAFTAsuper highways. This is NAFTAin turbo drive.

The NAFTA super highway will create "secured" trade corridors running through Mexico, the U.S., and Canada. The first customs checkpoint would be in Kansas City (1,000 miles from our southern border). We cannot secure our present borders, never mind trade corridors running through the length of our country. Congress has designated 80 such corridors.

Our porous borders are leaking tons of drugs a day. Weapons and terrorists can enter unchecked. Contraband or terrorists can be diverted at any point along these "secured" trade corridors. Property rights would be affected as these immense corridors are developed with billions of taxpayers' dollars. Ask your congressman where he got the authority to designate "High Priority Corridors" in the first place. Write your congressman. Sincerely, Vytautas Vileniskis Fresh Meadows