HIllary and NAFTA, just for the record!

[Liberal Veteran]

"We all know the record of the DLC, the Progressive Policy Institute and, of course, the Clinton-Gore Administration. The economic recovery plan stands first and foremost as a testament to both good ideas and political courage. National service. The Brady Bill. Family Leave. NAFTA. Investment in science and technology. New markets. Charter schools. The Earned Income Tax Credit. The welfare to work partnership. The COPS program. The SAFER program. All of these came out of some very fundamental ideas about what would work. The results speak for themselves. Those ideas were converted into policies programs that literally changed millions of lives and, I argue, changed America."

"I think, on balance, NAFTA has been good for New York and America."

The Associated Press reported on 3/6/96 that she said, "NAFTA is proving its worth" and later praising NAFTA as "a free and fair trade agreement."

In her memoir, Clinton trumpeted her husband's "successes on the budget, the Brady bill and NAFTA."

In 1998, Bloomberg News reports that she praised corporations for mounting "a very effective business effort in the U.S. on behalf of NAFTA.

[PoliticalAmazon]

1. Here's info on Hillary's slavish support for sending jobs to India...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5470049

[Rosa Luxemburg]

3. She must be 'hauled over the coals' on NAFTA

[enid602]

6. Why?

Did we lose jobs due to NAFTA? Is the idea of integrating North America economically a bad one? Did Mexico come out a winner? Remember, Mexico's acceptance of NAFTA was predicated on their acceptance of WTO as well, and Mexico thus had to accept unlimited trade from China. The net effect on Mexico has been job losses in the hundreds of thousands. I know everything's simple talking points in Obamaland (e.g., IWR 'bad,' NAFTA 'bad,' Universal health care 'bad,' etc), but what would obamawads do about trade? Close off the borders? Seems to me the European Union has been a model example of developed countries who've thrived as of late, and yet, they too endorse and practice free trade. They've even opened up the EU to Eastern Europe, and are considering even letting Turkey in the EU.

I know the temptation of cutting off all trade is is a strong one, but if Obama's opposition to NAFTA is the centerpiece of his economic and trade policy, he's even more myopic than I thought.

[BearSquirrel2]

7. They DO NOT ...

They DO NOT endorse the practice of free trade. They have protected economies. The UNITED STATES is the only country engaged in such open markets and the results have been devastating!!!

NAFTA is bad. But WTO is devastating and if this country is going to survive as an independent entity, we need to denounce these agreements. In replacement we need:

1) An international organization of democratic nations in which fair trade is implemented.
2) Agreements from within that only FAIR trade will be conducted in these nations. Access to markets would be predicated on electoral and progressive structural reforms. Tariffs would be applied proportionally and uniformly.

We have no need to protect our jobs from going to Europe. They have higher living standards then we do.

[enid602]

9. EU

The Netherlands' trade deficit with China is almost twice as much as ours on a per capita basis. You'll not find any Asian car makers that are not present in the EU. Sure, EU corporations fund industrial development and have legislation which does not encourage outsourcing or off shoring profits. In that sense, their economic policies are light years ahead of ours. I've never understood why Bushco is so in favor of outsourcing and off shoring; seems counter-intuitive to me, and no doubt to the Europeans as well.

Nonetheless, just because the EU has better economic/trade policy, does NOT mean that they are anti-free trade. And pummeling NAFTA will by no means ensure that affluence will return to the Rust Belt or elsewhere in the US. In that sense, I really wish people on this board would look at the intricacies of trade policies, rather than continue to hammer on NAFTA, like they've done with re: to IWR, health care, and the rest of Obama's 'policies.'

[BearSquirrel2]

10. Cut Mexico out of NAFTA

I'm not in the slightest worried about trade with either Canda or the Euros. It's Mexico and China that are the problem. They do not have real labor or environmental standards. So yes, free trade is not a problem so long as you're trading with the RIGHT people!!!

BTW Mr. "Chicago Boy", how do you expect this economy to function after all the manufacturing jobs are sent overseas? And what about all the white collar jobs that they possibly can. Do you think that companies can act as outsourcing fronts forever as marketers when there are only a few people left with disposable income left to market to? Or are you one of those people who believe in economic leveling, so when we are all poorer than shit and live in hovels, THEN the jobs will come back?

Finally, exactly HOW do you think this nation will function if we are completely dependent on CHINA for our equipment and India for our IT infrastructure? Who do you think will be calling the shots you asswipe shit for brains!!!!

[enid602]

11. OK

Well, if our government invested in people and industries (as do the Europeans) instead of war, we might be able to produce goods that the world can actually use. In that sense, the Europeans have been able to stay much more competitive, despite their free trade policies with regard to China, India, etc. Of course, bringing the poorer countries of Eastern Europe into the EU has made Europe more competitive, and ensures their future success.

But such concepts are lost on you Obamawads. Just keep repeating the talking points (NAFTA bad, IWR bad, Universal Health Care bad); it's much easier that way.

[BearSquirrel2]

12. They don't have free trade ...

You can call a pig a chicken, it will still snort. If the Euros had unfettered free trade the way we do, they would have the same problems. Capital follows the largest profit and Euros make more money than Americans do working LESS HOURS. If the Euros DID have free trade they wouldn't make a single goddam thing in Europe. Why on Earth would a capitalist keep his production domestic when he could cut his labor costs to a tenth by moving to China? Rich assholes in Europe are just as ruthless as rich assholes in America.

The difference is the unions are stronger and THEY DO PROTECT THEIR LOCAL ECONOMIES!!! Hell, the damn farmers shut down France every ten years or so by blockading the roads over low commodity prices. Try that in the US, see what happens.

Buddy, you're lying. That's all there is to it. Capital flows to the greatest return. The thing that continues to shock and amaze me about you free marketers is that you forget the dogma you spew whenever it is convenient for you.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

8. Actually

your statements are not exactly true

[Rosa Luxemburg]

2. PLease send a letter to the Editor of all the newspapers about this!

[anonymous171]

4. lol. This is why she's been pushing this. Desperately trying to keep Bill out of the news.

[WillyT]

5. And THIS !!!

Link: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=5221553

:shrug:

[futureliveshere]

13. She is her own iceberg.

:rofl: