Western ideals

Congratulations to President Clinton for making his first sound decision regarding foreign policy. His renewal of China’s most-favored nation trading status was well thought out. Hopefully, the liberals in Congress will not reverse this decision due to their lack of vision when it comes to internatinal issues.

Congress’ liberals are confusing the issue of trading partner and human rights. Senators and representatives such as our own Mitchell and Andrews demonstrate their incompetence vividly by opposing China’s MFN status. Instead of thinking the issue through to determine what consequences it holds for the future, they have a knee-jerk reaction.

A liberal or laissez-faire economic system such as ours is not just a financial entity, it is also a state of mind. The Industrial Revolution in England spawned international trade in the days of the serfs. But it wasn’t long until the peasant class revolted and created a liberal political system as well. Democracy was born out of an economic system because that system fostered certain principles that cannot belong only in the marketplace.

Henry Kissinger realized years ago that a similar type of revolution could occur in China. Instead of threatening them with weapons systems, break down the barriers of communism from the inside.

By opening up China, Nixon paved the way for a Western-style economic system. Trading with China encourages free enterprise. By continuing Bush’s MFN decision, Clinton ensures that the Chinese masses experience Western ideals and take them to heart. Jane Wellman East Eddington