General Discussion

closeupready

(29,503 posts)

89. Coming from Bill Clinton's Labor Secretary who helped NAFTA get passed

Wed Jun 17, 2015, 02:42 PM

Jun 2015

by helping Bill sell it to a reluctant Congress, this is an interesting perspective.

Reich has never apologized for his efforts on NAFTA. What this op-ed seems to explain is that while Reich has always supported free trade and still does, the American people do NOT - not because they are stupid, but because elites like Larry Summers have hornswoggled the average American to believe that, whatever NAFTA represented was what "free trade" is. (Though most of us here on DU know that NAFTA was absolutely NOT about free trade, but about US 1% domination of subservient foreign markets at the expense of the global 99%.)

Thus, in light of the devastation that NAFTA precipitated on the median standard of living in the US, it would make sense (Reich argues) that Americans reject "free trade"/NAFTA.

K&R

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

113 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Robert Reich on the Real Reason the Corporate-Friendly TPP Is Nearly Dead [View all] kentuck Jun 2015 OP

No Deal! think Jun 2015 #1

" they say it’s worth the price of avoiding unfairness." One_Life_To_Give Jun 2015 #2

As someone said the general public probably doesn't know what they are talking about Rosa Luxemburg Jun 2015 #74

Proponents of TPP on DU come on here and say, "Those jobs are going away TPP or no TPP." Enthusiast Jun 2015 #3

wish I could rec a reply rurallib Jun 2015 #4

No, actually, they are saying ... 1StrongBlackMan Jun 2015 #6

The jobs aren't coming back but their products are... kentuck Jun 2015 #8

Lower labor and environmental (regulatory) costs ... 1StrongBlackMan Jun 2015 #10

Those jobs are not already gone. We must put the brakes on right now. Enthusiast Jun 2015 #19

Right Now turbinetree Jun 2015 #33

+1 Enthusiast Jun 2015 #36

But you haven't decided your position on TPP yet because the details haven't been made public LondonReign2 Jun 2015 #35

No ... I haven't taken a position on TPP because what is in it hasn't been made public ... 1StrongBlackMan Jun 2015 #38

Of course you have taken a position. Seriously, you are fooling no one LondonReign2 Jun 2015 #45

Yes ... You're correct. I have taken a position ... 1StrongBlackMan Jun 2015 #51

So have you asked Obama to make the details public? cui bono Jun 2015 #61

No ... I haven't because I know that ... 1StrongBlackMan Jun 2015 #66

When has a Dem President sided against his own party to pass a deal written cui bono Jun 2015 #73

He has not "sided against the party" since polls show most Democrats support TPP. pampango Jun 2015 #79

so what is this 'fast track' then? redruddyred Jun 2015 #91

Here's Pampango with the bull$hit propaganda, yet again brentspeak Jun 2015 #97

Rather than going after me, it would be helpful if you posted the polls showing opposition of the pampango Jun 2015 #99

There is a good need to expose you brentspeak Jun 2015 #100

I am sure that everyone appreciates your commitment to exposing my pratfalls. Even I appreciate your pampango Jun 2015 #102

Lol brentspeak Jun 2015 #103

Again, you post nothing to back up your opinion. If these polls are bogus, you should have an easy pampango Jun 2015 #105

You may be correct but look at what has happened to labeling our meat (food) products because jwirr Jun 2015 #43

You realize most anti-free-traders also support terminating the H1-B program, right? n/t Chan790 Jun 2015 #64

Yes. n/t 1StrongBlackMan Jun 2015 #67

A thought. Bubzer Jun 2015 #86

...but they will come back. That is very much the point... Chan790 Jun 2015 #63

+1 Enthusiast Jun 2015 #78

already coming back, but to different parts of the country, with lower wages. redruddyred Jun 2015 #92

That's why we in traditionally-union states need to not stop at killing FTAs. Chan790 Jun 2015 #95

+10. n/t whathehell Jun 2015 #98

I think maine voted against right to work recently redruddyred Jun 2015 #111

Wrong. When I asked my Senators about the TPP they both gave me bullshit but were sure rhett o rick Jun 2015 #72

Whose side am I on here? The side that waits to see what's in it ... 1StrongBlackMan Jun 2015 #83

The side that's standing on the track waiting to see if the train will really run over them. nm rhett o rick Jun 2015 #87

Yeah! That side. n/t 1StrongBlackMan Jun 2015 #88

From the history of your posts, I assume you don't mind making favored partners out of anti gay Bluenorthwest Jun 2015 #112

No, I oppose making favored partners of anti-human rights regime ... 1StrongBlackMan Jun 2015 #113

Well put n/t fasttense Jun 2015 #7

Hear, hear Enthusiast. Succinctly stated. raouldukelives Jun 2015 #9

they don't understand because they are among those who benefit from pimping off American jobs Skittles Jun 2015 #62

But I believe they do care, I have to. I love this country too much as I know they do. raouldukelives Jun 2015 #84

yes they care Skittles Jun 2015 #90

Yes! Trade can be used as a tool to improve global working conditions and labor while at the Ed Suspicious Jun 2015 #13

Let 'em cry protectionism. It's been so long since we have had protectionism, they no longer Enthusiast Jun 2015 #22

Amen to that! kentuck Jun 2015 #26

Some things are worth protecting, bvar22 Jun 2015 #59

Yes! Enthusiast Jun 2015 #60

Agreed. And that's what Scandinavian countries do. Their RW populist parties want tariffs pampango Jun 2015 #80

^^^this^^^ L0oniX Jun 2015 #15

^ BlancheSplanchnik Jun 2015 #20

They spent decades dirtying the tariff word along with the liberal word and others. Enthusiast Jun 2015 #23

If I am not mistaken they were made illegal in NAFTA. jwirr Jun 2015 #44

Fuck NAFTA. Chan790 Jun 2015 #65

I would agree. The tarriff is one of the tools that can be used and they take it away because jwirr Jun 2015 #71

When FDR reversed Herbert Hoover's high tariffs and proposed the International Trade Organization. pampango Jun 2015 #81

As Prof. Richard Wolff would say: PotatoChip Jun 2015 #32

Yeah. No kidding. I love Professor Wolff. Enthusiast Jun 2015 #37

I love that idea. Regional businesses could still make a reasonable profit and supply jobs. jwirr Jun 2015 #46

He's great & he has a weekly radio program. U4ikLefty Jun 2015 #107

Absolutely! hedgehog Jun 2015 #50

Rec. Rec. Rec. Rec. And Rec. Fair Trade, not Fake-Free Trade! Dont call me Shirley Jun 2015 #54

This response deserves its own thread. Betty Karlson Jun 2015 #76

+1 million! KnR. nt tblue37 Jun 2015 #101

It's not a trade deal. It's a Corporate Rights deal, and a bad one magical thyme Jun 2015 #5

Stop! You're both right! TPP is TWO *clap* TWO *clap* TWO bills in one! Buns_of_Fire Jun 2015 #12

LOL Auggie Jun 2015 #21

Pffft! Enthusiast Jun 2015 #24

It's also a floor wax and dessert topping. n/t winter is coming Jun 2015 #52

Yep, just like NAFTA, CAFTA, the Uruguay GATT/WTO, Korea, and all the others. Elwood P Dowd Jun 2015 #49

ITO/GATT - FDR/Truman, NAFTA & WTO - Clinton, Korea - Obama, only CAFTA (the smallest) - Bush. pampango Jun 2015 #82

They desperately want their worldwide "Reagan Economic Zone" Art_from_Ark Jun 2015 #108

+1 Enthusiast Jun 2015 #53

Nearly dead? zentrum Jun 2015 #11

When "free trade" is not free in costs of US jobs. L0oniX Jun 2015 #14

And the peasants are about to storm the Bastille. Le Taz Hot Jun 2015 #16

There's definitely things going on that we don't know... kentuck Jun 2015 #17

+1! Oh, baby! Enthusiast Jun 2015 #25

I am so fucking glad you are back Autumn Jun 2015 #31

Well, thank you, Autumn. Le Taz Hot Jun 2015 #41

we just need a sinister member of the House of Orléans MisterP Jun 2015 #70

this psychology of economics is great for Bernie thesquanderer Jun 2015 #18

It's been unfettered, alright. Laissez-faire or whatever you want to call it, Enthusiast Jun 2015 #27

2.1 Mil. EU citizens petitioned to & did stop TTIP cold last week. Divernan Jun 2015 #28

HUGE K & R !!! - THANK YOU !!! WillyT Jun 2015 #29

it's b/c fool me once shame on........ shame on you?.............. fool me we cant get fooled again Romeo.lima333 Jun 2015 #30

Thanks for posting this. mmonk Jun 2015 #34

Nearly dead? historylovr Jun 2015 #39

I'm opposed to trade, except in very limited circumstances Dems to Win Jun 2015 #40

Crazy, isn't it? Thank you Dems to Win! raouldukelives Jun 2015 #104

And thank you, raouldukelives! Dems to Win Jun 2015 #106

Free trade is killing us madokie Jun 2015 #42

You mean fake "free trade". Our so called "free trade" deals, including TPP, are nothing more Elwood P Dowd Jun 2015 #47

YES by all means YES madokie Jun 2015 #48

Do not stop calling Congress and Whitehouse to express opposition to these global corporate Dont call me Shirley Jun 2015 #55

This info should be an OP... AzDar Jun 2015 #110

KnR hifiguy Jun 2015 #56

nobody supports free trade in large part because it ain't free trade Man from Pickens Jun 2015 #57

For Reich's imaginary game of $1000 to each pair rock Jun 2015 #58

I don't think so MFrohike Jun 2015 #68

It just needs to disappear. Phlem Jun 2015 #69

Most Americans want background checks too. Spitfire of ATJ Jun 2015 #75

TPP is TBTF the band leader Jun 2015 #77

And the results would be like TATB discntnt_irny_srcsm Jun 2015 #85

Coming from Bill Clinton's Labor Secretary who helped NAFTA get passed closeupready Jun 2015 #89

I'm cynical Snow Leopard Jun 2015 #93

TPP is a conspiracy-in-plain-sight nikto Jun 2015 #94

Rumors Of It's Demise Have Been Greatly Exaggerated n/t Autumn Jun 2015 #96

Stop the TPP! AzDar Jun 2015 #109