During the debate over NAFTA more than a decade ago, a corporate lobbyist tried to persuade Jeff Faux, founder of the progressive Economic Policy Institute, that he should support the deal. Mexican President Carlos Salinas was “one of us,” the lobbyist said. At first Faux didn’t understand who the “us” was. Then, he realized, “Despite the considerable political and social… return to article
-
subscribe to print magazine
-
email this article to a friend
-
Reader Comments (1)Page 1 of 1 pagesIn 1993 I wrote to my representative, Don Manzullo, urging him to vote against NAFTA. This was the last paragraph of that letter.
“NAFTA would probably be good for many businesses, for the short term. It would probably be good for stockholders. It will be good for the upper class Mexicans who, no doubt, must be the buyers of our goods. It would probably not be good for the unskilled worker and the middleclass taxpayer, but then, what is ?
NAFTA = Not A Fine Thing, America.”
----------------------------
In 2005 I wrote to him with my negative comments on CAFTA and pointed out what a disaster NAFTA has been. In his reply touting the benfits of CAFTA, he also bragged that our exports are up 84% since the North Americcan Free Trade Agreement.
The fact that we are “exporting” to General Motors Electro-Motive Division, G.E, Avery-Dennison, Johnson & Johnson and others which used to be here in Illinois, was lost to him.
Our city, formerly a major machine tool manufacturing center, has lost over 10,000 since 1993. More than 50 people I know by name have lost their jobs. My business of forty years has evaporated. And my yonger son has lost two jobs and has been working part time for three years.
My other son, a national merit scholarship graduate of a major university, is in in imminent danger of losing his job to India. Tell me why any U.S. high school grad should waste the time and money on higher education if planing to stay in our country.
Posted by whattheheck on Mar 8, 2006 at 6:45 PM Page 1 of 1 pages -
register a new account »Posting Security
Also by David Moberg
- Our Imperfect Unions
- Dismantling the Myth of McCain
How the Republican senator's maverick image is a sham - Main Street Squeeze
- Winning the White Working Class
- The Healthcare Union War
Tensions between the California Nurses Association and SEIU escalate at the Labor Notes conference - Dissent in the Ranks
SEIU Is the Nation's Fastest Growing Union -- But at What Cost?
Popular Discussions
- The 9/11 Faith Movement
Many Americans believe 9/11 was a conspiracy by the U.S. government
1968 posts since Jul 11 06 - What’s the 411 on 9/11?
891 posts since Dec 21 05 - Democrats: It’s the War
659 posts since Nov 1 05 - Was the Presidential Election Stolen?
459 posts since Jun 19 06 - A Fundamental History Lesson
The rise of National Socialism proved politics and religion don't mix
426 posts since Oct 10 05
© 2006 In These Times | Reprint Policy | Privacy Policy | Powered by Expression Engine | RSS Feeds
