What has NAFTA done for us?

Question

"In 1992, The New York Times said NAFTA promised "jobs, wealth and economic activity throughout the continent." Over 15 years later, we clearly live in that shining new era of free trade:
Canadian economist Bruce Campbell details a net loss of 276,000 jobs under free trade, beginning with the U.S.-Canada deal in 1989.

U.S. economist Robert Scott reports NAFTA has eliminated some 766,000 manufacturing jobs.

Mexican peasants have called NAFTA their "death warrant." The 1995 peso crisis devastated Mexico's economy, doubling the number of unemployed, dropping real wages 27 per cent in just two years.

Low-priced imports of U.S. corn and other agricultural products forced some two million Mexican farmers off the land. These are the families who cross the border and worsen the U.S. "immigration problem."

Between 1993 and 1995, employers used illegal plant-closing threats in 50 per cent of all union certification elections; 15 per cent actually did shut down within two years of a union victory - triple the rate found in the late 1980s, before NAFTA went into effect."

Do you think the invitation only (and only to corporate executives) discussions this month in Canada to extend the impacts of NAFTA under SPP are a good idea?

MISES, that might be better for other countries, where their poor work for little, but would be worse for people in our country who would have to get work by working for less. And the money is still primarily in our country and my thought is that it should be spent here.

Answer 1

NAFTA has been beating the USA into the ground. NAFTA has been about breaking up American Industries, and The Unions to rid the USA of Middle Class Americans. Bush's meeting with PM Harper of Canada, and Mexico's Prez Caulderon in Canada is to talk about the SPP. Which Bush is calling the expansion of NAFTA. He is calling on Congress to hand him another "victory". Bush doesn't have to mention the SPP will be the replacement for NAFTA if he is already calling it the NAFTA expansion. As SPP was put to us there, it's another way to break up the trucking industry and union in this country. That Bush can't sign anything without the act of Congress to allow it. That is why Bush hasn't brought up the SPP to Congress as it's the NAFTA expansion project.

I had opportunity to talk with my Rep just the other night after the up-dates of what they all have been doing in the last several months in Washington D.C. I was also able to give him a list of what WE all want fixed in this country, and in our government. Be interesting to hear what he'll have to say via e-mail.

If your Reps are in or near your cities, and towns... It would be a good idea to get involved there. Where you get to talk to them in person, rather than over the phone, e-mails, and such.

Answer 2

The rich got richer under NAFTA. The taxpayers have systematically found themselves out of jobs and pensions when their companies close their doors and head for the border.

The USA bent over and ended up receiving 12-30 million able-bodied workers who DON'T pay taxes or speak English, as an added NAFTA signing bonus!
^

Answer 3

Given our country away.

Under NAFTA, the illegals are welcome to keep the cost down for the business owners regardless of what it costs the US citizens in benefits, stolen Id's and tax fraud.

NAFTA has invited every kind of poison imaginable through our open borders - and they don't have any intentions of securing them.

NAFTA has taken away multitudes of jobs from the US citizen which means the government is relying on fewer tax dollars to keep them funded - while illegals use those benefits without contributing.

NAFTA is depriving US citizens of retirement benefits because they can no longer find jobs with benefits.

NAFTA has taken away the healthcare of the US citizens by giving our jobs to the illegals - who also rely on our tax paid for healthcare for the needy.

NAFTA has allowed unregulated Mexican trucks into the US with drunk drivers, no insurance, no pollution regulations and who knows what they're hauling.

NAFTA has encouraged people to break our laws and abuse the rights of every US citizen.

The rich get richer and the poor get poorer! We don't need higher taxes to cover the costs. We need jobs with benefits that put money back into the government.

End NAFTA and bring America's jobs home where they belong.

This is what started in the Democratic presidency under Clinton.
http://www.irc-online.org/content/2730

This is the expanded damage in the Republican presidency under Bush.
http://americas.irc-online.org/am/4466

This August 20th and 21st, President George Bush and Mexican President Felipe Calderón will travel to the remote Canadian resort of Montebello, Quebec to confer with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper about the future of North America. Their agenda will be dominated by a little known "NAFTA plus" strategy they are calling the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP).


Remember NAFTA—the trade deal that consolidated the power of corporations and took the bottom out of the U.S. and Mexican economies? Four more bilateral trade agreements—between the United States and Colombia, Peru, Panama, and South Korea—modeled on NAFTA, are pending in Congress. Congress will also be considering whether to reauthorize Fast Track, a move that would give the president the power to continue imposing this disastrous trade policy with no discussion, no studies, and no congressional or citizen input.
http://americas.irc-online.org/am/4240

Answer 4

NAFTA has done nothing but hurt BOTH countries middle class and poor. The only ones benefiting from it are the CEO's and shareholders..illegal immigration is just one of the effects of NAFTA.

Answer 5

The North American Free Trade Agreement has become a vacuum for American jobs. Hard working, older Americans are unemployable because the only job experience they have is doing work that has now been moved out of the US to save corporate dough.
NAFTA was a debacle that made the rich richer and screwed over the American worker.

Answer 6

The SPP is yet another financial disaster for America. From what I have read Canada doesn't have much of a role in it, but once again good ol' America will be pouring the $$$ into Mexico to help create and improve their businesses, to help provide medical insurance for their citizens,and to help them fight their war on drugs. Go figure, all the things we need right here in our own country. I don't think any government meeting should be held in private. That is why we have the problems we have today.

Answer 7

First: Free trade do not need NAFTA or any treat

Divison of labor is the key to real progress,
In a Global Economy we most do what we do best ....
Efficicency is the word in global market.

At this time we live in a global and open economy

Politicians are playing all this pretty bad, like always they are
regulating the market and production factor.........planning Chaos. Looking for money and power.

Look China and India, they are in the rigth direction.........even with all their fails............

We need to return to really free economy, respect private properties, avoid warfare and wrong welfare, return to Jefferson spirit (what did US a great country)...........

Mises.org

Answer 8

DAR for president! I have absolutely nothing to add to what you have stated.To answer your question...Nothing.NAFTA has done nothing to make American or anyone's lives better.As you pointed out it has created MORE problems in all 3 countries but more so in America and Mexico.And I believe you also have a link showing they want to expand it too if I'm not mistaken.

Answer 9

To put it simply,NAFTA sucks.It hasn't done what they were trying to sell us. Just another way to ruin the USA.

Answer 10

nafta