Kick at the Darkness

As is so eloquently outlined at Tilting at Windmills, the key to the softwood lumber question (or any other trade question) does not really lie with the WTO or NAFTA. It lies with PAC's, 527's, precinct captains and other vagaries of the American political system. Hurricane Katrina is bearing down on S. Florida right now. Pretty soon, they will be wishing their softwood lumber was a little cheaper. Someone in our government, tactfully, needs to point out to the good people of S. Florida and Louisiana that they could have much cheaper lumber if only their government would allow them to. Several key congressmen are fighting hard for the tarifs, we need a few fighting against them and pointing out how their constituents are tangibly hurt by the trade restriction would help. We can't beat the US from without, but we can get what we want by working from within.