NAFTA

When did it become acceptable for Americans to allow

Torture? Yesterday, after congress failed to override a presidential veto of a bill outlwaing "Torture". The president referred to "Torture" as a valuable tool in America's ability to fight terrorism. Now it is absolutely our national policy.

Rendition; Where was the outrage?

When we all learned about the Secret prisons, where we took people to be tortured and that our President and Vice President had approved them; Why was our President not impeached?

We can argue about NAFTA (though you know where I stand on these trade deals), but we have to agree the legacy of the first two terms of President Bush and even greater damage done by nearly a dozen years of a Republican-controlled Congress grows clearer every day.

Dollar falls in Europe, Canada, Japan...

I got laid off under NAFTA in 2001. I got involved in politics shortly thereafter. In 2002, 2004, 2006, and early in 2008 I was told it was a non-issue. Democrats are for trade, and that's that.

Sigh....

Dear Senator Clinton: (0 / 0)

Hi.

My name is Leslie Hubbard.

I live in NC, near the Research Triangle park. I lost my telecom job in 2002 because of NAFTA. So did all my coworkers. It's almost 2008. I still don't make what I made in 2002. With all due respect, Senator, I can't for the life of me figure out what you find so funny about that ... numbers, charts and Ross Perot be damned.

It's pretty clear that you don't really understand the reality of OUR economy in the post-NAFTA world. God bless your husband, but clearly he don't get it neither. Y'all don't get or you've forgotten what it's like to not have enough to eat, to not have even a dollar to your name when the last cup of rice is gone and the small garden in the yard is playing out in the early weeks of fall.

While the genie is probably out of the bottle, North Carolina Democrats are working to undo the damage done by Robin Hayes's job draining NAFTA. Kudos to McIntyre for keeping a campaign promise.

Displaced Workers Assistance Bill Passes U.S. House

McIntyre Says: “We must do all we can to help those who have lost their jobs because of free trade agreements.”

US Representative Mike McIntyre announced today that the U.S. House of Representatives has passed legislation to help those workers who have lost their jobs due to plant and factory closings.

While home for the 4th I got to interview former House Majority Whip and Edwards Campaign Manager, David Bonior...

This seems like a pretty good way to use NAFTA.

Now this is what I am talking about...trans-national Solidarity. If the Corporations can move across borders at will...so should Workers' Solidarity....

CM

At his annual year-end fundraiser, Charles Taylor NC-11 was hit with a question on job loss (the area has lost 6,100 jobs since January 2003), His response was to point to 100 jobs being sent to Mexico and blaming NAFTA. From the Citizen-Times:

Taylor and Allen met with media representatives prior to the start of the dinner. When asked about the region’s future now that another 100 jobs will be lost after last week’s announcement that Asheville’s Cardinal Health plant is relocating to Mexico, Taylor blamed the North American Free Trade Agreement.