Americans are catching on to the North American Union scheme and voicing their opposition. The right wing grassroots organization, American Policy Center (APC), has just concluded a survey of one million American households. The survey, titled "Do Americans Support a North American Union" asked a series of questions concerning the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) and the Trans Texas Corridor (TTC). Included with the survey was a four-page report prepared by APC entitled "NAU Fact Sheet", providing details about the SPP, the TTC, as well as an explanation of how these programs are being implemented without public scrutiny in meetings held behind closed doors, like the one just completed in New Orleans.
The chosen households represented no specific political ideological positions. They were from a wide variety of American households living in the direct path of the proposed Trans Texas/NAFTA Corridor, running from Mexico to Canada across the midsection of the U.S. -- learn more at ((http://www.naturalnews.com/023058.html)) and ((http://www.naturalnews.com/022974.html)) .
The survey questions were:
1. Have you heard of the Security and Prosperity Partnership? 58 % of those responding said they did Not know about the SPP.
2. Do you think private corporations should have the power to enforce trade policy that may adversely affect our national sovereignty and independence? This question related directly to the establishment of public/private partnerships between private corporations and government, granting no-compete clauses and comprehensive development agreements which provide guarantees by government to the corporations as investment returns. The TTC is not a free enterprise, but is government sanctioned monopolies. As this question was explained by the APC, 95% of respondents Opposed such policy.
3. Chapter 11 of the NAFTA agreement states that disputes over NAFTA-related issues will be heard in NAFTA courts superseding U.S. local, state and federal courts, including the Supreme Court. Question three asked, Do you think this would be a threat to U.S. sovereignty? 91% of respondents said Yes.
4. The SPP calls for expanding the U.S. security perimeter to include the borders of Canada and Mexico. Question 4 asked, Do you think it would strengthen U.S. security to expand our borders to the outer borders of Canada and Mexico? 87% of respondents answered No.
5. Do you think it will strengthen U.S. Border security to allow trucks from Mexico and Canada to travel, free of inspection, up a corridor which has been built and is controlled by foreign corporations into the heartland of the United States? Texas Department of Transportation has already signed a 50-year agreement with a Spanish company named Cintra to build the TTC. In September of 2007, the Bush Administration started a pilot project to allow Mexican trucks to cross the U.S. border without inspections and be free to travel inside the United States. The Senate has also passed the omnibus spending bill that "was clearly written and designed to put the breaks on the current pilot program", according to Senator Byron Dorgan. Yet the Bush Administration, under the leadership of Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, continues the program, now in violation of federal law. 95% of respondents to this survey Opposed the Mexican truck project.
6. Would you support efforts to replace the U.S. dollar with a common North American currency some call the "Amero"? Though denied by the Bush Administration, there has been much discussion about the creation of a North American currency that would mimic the Euro. In an October, 2007 appearance on the Larry King Show on CNN, former Mexican President Fox answered in the affirmative when King asked about the creation of a united currency. 92% of respondents said they would Not support such a common North American currency.
7. Do you believe there should be public hearings and debate on this policy before it is allowed to move forward? So far, there has been no congressional legislation, hearings, or oversight concerning the establishment or operation of the SPP. No federal money has been officially allocated by Congress. No official authority has been provided for the creation of the SPP. 95% of respondents answered Yes, there should be debate and discussion with public participation. Americans believe it is wrong to make such significant national policy changes without debate and discussion.
8. Should the Bush Administration be allowed to move forward with its plans to create a "North American Community" without Congressional approval? Again, the American people have shown they understand that it is Congress which should decide such policy as this. They responded with a resounding 97% No to this question.
9. Do you believe the United States should be "harmonized" or merged into a union with Mexico and Canada? The words most often used by the Administration concerning the SPP are "harmonize" and "integrate". The U.S. is a representative Republic; Mexico is a socialist government; and Canada is part of the British Crown. There are no grounds for "harmonization" unless drastic changes are made to the U.S. judicial and financial systems. 88% said No to harmonization with Mexico and Canada.
10. Respondents were asked to provide comments and thoughts on the SPP. The word most often used was "treason". Another said, "I want no part of the social health care of Canada and I do not want to incorporate Mexico's turmoil and poverty into our United States.". Many others said, "I want secure borders, not easy traffic between the U.S., Canada and Mexico. And another bluntly said, "Bush's actions formulate a horrifying destruction of our proud nation". Many others used even stronger language. Once Americans learn about the SPP, they are clearly opposed.
In the face of this overwhelming opposition, on April 21-22, in yet another closed door meeting in New Orleans, President Bush and heads of state from Mexico and Canada continued to deny the SPP is anything more than a "dialogue" among the three nations.
Tom DeWeese, president of the American Policy Center, sees it differently. "As the Texas Department of Transportation signs an agreement with the Spanish company Cintra, containing no-compete clauses and guaranteed returns; as the Kansas City council loans $2.5 million to build the inland truck port called KC Smart Port; as the twenty SPP working groups continue to write policy; as the Mexican trucks roll over our borders; as high level meetings go on –- the Bush Administration dares to deny that Anything is happening. Why? The responses to APC's survey show why. When Americans understand the truth, they say No in resounding numbers." Concludes De Weese, "Clearly the American people are overwhelmingly opposed to the harmonization of North America. We just want our country –- strong, independent and secure."