You can’t stop the machine

SEATTLE: The two most powerful forces that have transformed the world in recent decades have been the expansion of globalization and the information revolution. These two great engines have been chugging away, integrating Asia into the global system and ushering in a digital age that is now invading every corner of life. Democratic opposition to fast-track trade authority for President Obama is blind to the fundamental reality of this era -- you can’t turn off the machine.

You can’t stop China from growing. You can’t prevent Africa from deepening its integration into the global system. These forces, now deeply entrenched, will continue to gain steam. The potential trade deal with Asia, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, could, however, shape these trends in a direction that is compatible with American ideals and interests. That’s why congressional -- mainly Democratic -- opposition is so misguided.