Comments on: The reality of NAFTA http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/ The world’s first, full-service conservative Internet broadcast network Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:42:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: hatespam http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/comment-page-1/#comment-1083296 hatespam Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:53:57 +0000 http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/#comment-1083296 <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/04/AR2008040401572.html" rel="nofollow">5 Myths About NAFTA</a> By Philippe Legrain Sunday, April 6, 2008; Page B03 <blockquote>1 NAFTA has transformed the U.S. economy. 2 NAFTA has put countless Americans out of work. 3 "Fixing" NAFTA would be easy and cost-free. 4 Making NAFTA's labor and environmental regulations stricter would benefit U.S. workers. 5 Renegotiating NAFTA should be a priority for the new president.</blockquote> via <a href="http://www.townhall.com/TalkRadio/Show.aspx?RadioShowId=3&ContentGuid=02cf0cdd-a25d-47c2-ba30-8357c1e7bbed" rel="nofollow">Dennis Prager Radio</a> (<a href="http://rm1.9s.edgesuite.net/7b/38/7b38b5519823fc009ea67a327a3c6bb9-47fa77e2.mp3?sauth=1208800636_0b8e948920c0fdba93a90b1888b64b1b&siteid=PodCast&ext=.mp3&ct=audio/mpeg" rel="nofollow">mp3 link from podcast</a>) 5 Myths About NAFTA
By Philippe Legrain
Sunday, April 6, 2008; Page B03

1 NAFTA has transformed the U.S. economy.
2 NAFTA has put countless Americans out of work.
3 “Fixing” NAFTA would be easy and cost-free.
4 Making NAFTA’s labor and environmental regulations stricter would benefit U.S. workers.
5 Renegotiating NAFTA should be a priority for the new president.

via
Dennis Prager Radio (mp3 link from podcast)

]]> By: Entelechy http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/comment-page-1/#comment-1083215 Entelechy Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:18:02 +0000 http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/#comment-1083215 <blockquote>Engler isn’t sure whether the two Democrats are ignorant of NAFTA’s real impact <strong>or simply want to use it to demagogue people they assume are ignorant of it</strong>.</blockquote>

Engler isn’t sure whether the two Democrats are ignorant of NAFTA’s real impact or simply want to use it to demagogue people they assume are ignorant of it.

]]> By: Think_b4_speaking http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/comment-page-1/#comment-1083203 Think_b4_speaking Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:15:06 +0000 http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/#comment-1083203 <blockquote>Think_b4_speaking on April 21, 2008 at 11:21 AM I never understood EO’s. doesn’t a new president simply have to write a new one? I understand the precedent thing but if the national interest demand it wouldn’t a McCain president simply be able to null and void Clinton’s EO IRT shales? unseen on April 21, 2008 at 1:01 PM </blockquote> . Normally, yes, but he made it into a national scenic area or national wildlife refuge, or some such thing, so probably needs more than an EO to allow leasing. I'm no lawyer, but that's my understanding.

Think_b4_speaking on April 21, 2008 at 11:21 AM

I never understood EO’s. doesn’t a new president simply have to write a new one? I understand the precedent thing but if the national interest demand it wouldn’t a McCain president simply be able to null and void Clinton’s EO IRT shales?

unseen on April 21, 2008 at 1:01 PM

.
Normally, yes, but he made it into a national scenic area or national wildlife refuge, or some such thing, so probably needs more than an EO to allow leasing. I’m no lawyer, but that’s my understanding.

]]> By: RBMN http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/comment-page-1/#comment-1083185 RBMN Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:08:43 +0000 http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/#comment-1083185 Apart from the cost savings, why do they make movies with an American setting in Canada? Canada looks like America. Why does Canada look like America? Because they buy our cars, they buy our apparel, they buy our office equipment, they buy our Corn Flakes. Apart from the cost savings, why do they make movies with an American setting in Canada? Canada looks like America.

Why does Canada look like America? Because they buy our cars, they buy our apparel, they buy our office equipment, they buy our Corn Flakes.

]]> By: unseen http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/comment-page-1/#comment-1083176 unseen Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:01:08 +0000 http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/#comment-1083176 Also, we will need to rescind Clinton’s EO which put much of the US shale off-limits. Think_b4_speaking on April 21, 2008 at 11:21 AM I never understood EO's. doesn't a new president simply have to write a new one? I understand the precedent thing but if the national interest demand it wouldn't a McCain president simply be able to null and void Clinton's EO IRT shales? Also, we will need to rescind Clinton’s EO which put much of the US shale off-limits.

Think_b4_speaking on April 21, 2008 at 11:21 AM

I never understood EO’s. doesn’t a new president simply have to write a new one? I understand the precedent thing but if the national interest demand it wouldn’t a McCain president simply be able to null and void Clinton’s EO IRT shales?

]]> By: unseen http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/comment-page-1/#comment-1083170 unseen Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:59:21 +0000 http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/#comment-1083170 the tax policy of this country has more to do with the outflow of jobs than anything Nafta has done. I'm not a big fan of Nafta because of its political ramifications like unenforced borders, illegal immigration wink and nob policy etc. when you can save 15% off labar costs by moving across the border (social security tax), save on workerman's compensation taxes, etc then it becomes harder for companies to resist the lure of shipping jobs oover seas or south of the border. If you want the jobs to stay make the tax policy reflect that goal not work against that goal. the tax policy of this country has more to do with the outflow of jobs than anything Nafta has done. I’m not a big fan of Nafta because of its political ramifications like unenforced borders, illegal immigration wink and nob policy etc. when you can save 15% off labar costs by moving across the border (social security tax), save on workerman’s compensation taxes, etc then it becomes harder for companies to resist the lure of shipping jobs oover seas or south of the border. If you want the jobs to stay make the tax policy reflect that goal not work against that goal.

]]> By: Corsair http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/comment-page-1/#comment-1083161 Corsair Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:56:14 +0000 http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/#comment-1083161 The problem is Free trade agreements are not fair to American companies. Our government so over regulates our businesses (sometimes needed), that it makes it hard to compete, yet our trading partners subsidize their companies (or own them directly) making the playing field very uneven. So our companies build overseas to try to bypass our rules and regulations (and lose American jobs). Yet if we add tariffs to offset these costs that our companies then you no longer have free trade. We cannot have free trade agreements that work if we are the only ones following the agreements. Until our partners are willing to have actual free trade we need Fair trade agreements. The problem is Free trade agreements are not fair to American companies. Our government so over regulates our businesses (sometimes needed), that it makes it hard to compete, yet our trading partners subsidize their companies (or own them directly) making the playing field very uneven. So our companies build overseas to try to bypass our rules and regulations (and lose American jobs). Yet if we add tariffs to offset these costs that our companies then you no longer have free trade. We cannot have free trade agreements that work if we are the only ones following the agreements. Until our partners are willing to have actual free trade we need Fair trade agreements.

]]> By: MarkTheGreat http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/comment-page-1/#comment-1083098 MarkTheGreat Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:23:12 +0000 http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/#comment-1083098 Hmm, double quoting didnt' work correctly, in the above post "The drop ..." is the first text that is mine. Hmm, double quoting didnt’ work correctly,

in the above post “The drop …” is the first text that is mine.

]]> By: MarkTheGreat http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/comment-page-1/#comment-1083096 MarkTheGreat Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:22:21 +0000 http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/#comment-1083096 <blockquote></blockquote><blockquote>Had the US applied NAFTA to the rest of its trade, our imbalance would have dropped from $155 billion since 2000 to a mere $25 billion. </blockquote> A $25 billion tweak, in our favor, would be quite substantial. The drop in our favor is $130 billion. $25 billion is the amount that the deficit is projected to drop to. Compared to $155B, $25B does qualify as a <em>mere</em>.

Had the US applied NAFTA to the rest of its trade, our imbalance would have dropped from $155 billion since 2000 to a mere $25 billion.

A $25 billion tweak, in our favor, would be quite substantial.

The drop in our favor is $130 billion. $25 billion is the amount that the deficit is projected to drop to. Compared to $155B, $25B does qualify as a mere.

]]> By: saiga http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/comment-page-1/#comment-1083088 saiga Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:19:12 +0000 http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/#comment-1083088 The absolute dumbing down of the American voting public continues. But don't worry, when McCain grants Amnesty to 20 million illegal cheaters, the educational mean, median, and mode averages of the electorate will be markedly lowered yet again. It is easier to dupe ignorant peasants than educated professionals . . . . Wait a minute, with Obama, they look about the same. One group doesn't have a clue, and the other is thinking themselves into stupididy. Great. The absolute dumbing down of the American voting public continues. But don’t worry, when McCain grants Amnesty to 20 million illegal cheaters, the educational mean, median, and mode averages of the electorate will be markedly lowered yet again.

It is easier to dupe ignorant peasants than educated professionals . . . . Wait a minute, with Obama, they look about the same. One group doesn’t have a clue, and the other is thinking themselves into stupididy.

Great.

]]> By: Romeo13 http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/comment-page-1/#comment-1082989 Romeo13 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:29:07 +0000 http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/#comment-1082989 Its actualy more simple than folks want it to be... It has NOTHING to do with economics... the Dems have taken that stance because the Reps are the Free Trade Party... Its all about opposition, not whats good for the country. Its actualy more simple than folks want it to be…

It has NOTHING to do with economics… the Dems have taken that stance because the Reps are the Free Trade Party…

Its all about opposition, not whats good for the country.

]]> By: Christine http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/comment-page-1/#comment-1082983 Christine Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:26:38 +0000 http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/#comment-1082983 "Used to be that unions, especially Cesar Chavez’ ag workers, would work to enforce border security. Now, not so much." Now, scumbags are going around to the Mexicans who work at car washes and urging them to sign up to be in a new union for illegal aliens. Not that it will happen...Welcome to the slave labor capital of the US. How about the NAFTA Super-dee-dooper highway Hilly and Barack? Are ya'll for that? (Not that it matters, it's a done deal). “Used to be that unions, especially Cesar Chavez’ ag workers, would work to enforce border security. Now, not so much.”
Now, scumbags are going around to the Mexicans who work at car washes and urging them to sign up to be in a new union for illegal aliens. Not that it will happen…Welcome to the slave labor capital of the US.
How about the NAFTA Super-dee-dooper highway Hilly and Barack?
Are ya’ll for that? (Not that it matters, it’s a done deal).

]]> By: whitetop http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/comment-page-1/#comment-1082981 whitetop Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:26:01 +0000 http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/#comment-1082981 The liberal thought process is truncated, short-sighted. They are all about instant gratification, and they ignore the long term consequences of their own ideas (e.g., welfare, greenhouse gas redux, pulling out of Iraq, dumping the Shah of Iran, etc.). They stop thinking when their hot buttons are pacified. We elect short-view "leaders" like Carter, Clinton and Obama at our own peril. The liberal thought process is truncated, short-sighted. They are all about instant gratification, and they ignore the long term consequences of their own ideas (e.g., welfare, greenhouse gas redux, pulling out of Iraq, dumping the Shah of Iran, etc.). They stop thinking when their hot buttons are pacified. We elect short-view “leaders” like Carter, Clinton and Obama at our own peril.

]]> By: Think_b4_speaking http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/comment-page-1/#comment-1082971 Think_b4_speaking Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:21:57 +0000 http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/#comment-1082971 <blockquote>forget both. the future is in the oil shales in the rockies. Canada is showing the way. Est of 3 TRILLION barrels of oil in those shales. that’s more then all of the middle east. unseen on April 21, 2008 at 11:14 AM </blockquote> . Infrastructure and refineries are already being planned for the shale, but in the interim, we could sure use the other sources. Also, we will need to rescind Clinton's EO which put much of the US shale off-limits.

forget both. the future is in the oil shales in the rockies. Canada is showing the way. Est of 3 TRILLION barrels of oil in those shales. that’s more then all of the middle east.

unseen on April 21, 2008 at 11:14 AM

.
Infrastructure and refineries are already being planned for the shale, but in the interim, we could sure use the other sources. Also, we will need to rescind Clinton’s EO which put much of the US shale off-limits.

]]> By: unseen http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/comment-page-1/#comment-1082964 unseen Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:14:57 +0000 http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/#comment-1082964 Think_b4_speaking on April 21, 2008 at 10:34 AM forget both. the future is in the oil shales in the rockies. Canada is showing the way. Est of 3 TRILLION barrels of oil in those shales. that's more then all of the middle east. Think_b4_speaking on April 21, 2008 at 10:34 AM

forget both. the future is in the oil shales in the rockies. Canada is showing the way. Est of 3 TRILLION barrels of oil in those shales. that’s more then all of the middle east.

]]> By: Agrippa2k http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/comment-page-1/#comment-1082955 Agrippa2k Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:07:42 +0000 http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/#comment-1082955 It is the liberal/socialist/environmentalist that ruined the potential and spirit of NAFTA. Ross Perot didn't help either, distracting us from the real threat that fit his model - China. The goal was to recreate the economic booms of Japan and SoKorea. These closed societies were immune to the influence of US Labor and Environmental fanatics. South America and Africa have been paralyzed for decades turning any attempt at progress to ash. It is the liberal/socialist/environmentalist that ruined the potential and spirit of NAFTA. Ross Perot didn’t help either, distracting us from the real threat that fit his model – China.

The goal was to recreate the economic booms of Japan and SoKorea. These closed societies were immune to the influence of US Labor and Environmental fanatics. South America and Africa have been paralyzed for decades turning any attempt at progress to ash.

]]> By: rbj http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/comment-page-1/#comment-1082948 rbj Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:02:56 +0000 http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/#comment-1082948 <blockquote>Engler isn’t sure whether the two Democrats are ignorant of NAFTA’s real impact or simply want to use it to demagogue people they assume are ignorant of it.</blockquote> I vote for demagoguery.

Engler isn’t sure whether the two Democrats are ignorant of NAFTA’s real impact or simply want to use it to demagogue people they assume are ignorant of it.

I vote for demagoguery.

]]> By: captivated_dem http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/comment-page-1/#comment-1082935 captivated_dem Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:50:49 +0000 http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/#comment-1082935 <blockquote>Think_b4_speaking on April 21, 2008 at 10:31 AM</blockquote> I was strictly focusing on the $25 billion being <em>mere</em>, as if that was just pocket change. Nothing more nothing less.

Think_b4_speaking on April 21, 2008 at 10:31 AM

I was strictly focusing on the $25 billion being mere, as if that was just pocket change. Nothing more nothing less.

]]> By: Think_b4_speaking http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/comment-page-1/#comment-1082914 Think_b4_speaking Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:34:31 +0000 http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/#comment-1082914 <blockquote>Forget ANWR, what about the suspected oil in Montana? SeniorD on April 21, 2008 at 10:25 AM </blockquote> . We need both, as well as drilling offshore Florida (which republicans are currently aiding democrats in blocking). On a daily use basis, any one of these can supply 3-4% of needs, and with all three producing, we can cut off one or more dictators.

Forget ANWR, what about the suspected oil in Montana?

SeniorD on April 21, 2008 at 10:25 AM

.
We need both, as well as drilling offshore Florida (which republicans are currently aiding democrats in blocking). On a daily use basis, any one of these can supply 3-4% of needs, and with all three producing, we can cut off one or more dictators.

]]> By: Think_b4_speaking http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/comment-page-1/#comment-1082912 Think_b4_speaking Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:31:50 +0000 http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/#comment-1082912 It seems there are two possibilities here. Either 1.) both of these clowns are totally ignorant of trade and economic policy, or 2.) they know that North American oil is the bulk of the NAFTA deficit, and want to cut us off from it, in order to make us further dependent on despots. Neither of these alternatives is pleasant to consider. It seems there are two possibilities here. Either 1.) both of these clowns are totally ignorant of trade and economic policy, or 2.) they know that North American oil is the bulk of the NAFTA deficit, and want to cut us off from it, in order to make us further dependent on despots. Neither of these alternatives is pleasant to consider.

]]> By: patrick neid http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/comment-page-1/#comment-1082910 patrick neid Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:31:03 +0000 http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/#comment-1082910 Nafta is just too easy for the Dems to pass up. The hot air, that great sucking sound from Ross Perot, still resonates. A lie told an infinite number of times is taken for the truth. For simplicity sake the Colombia trade pact, held up by Pelosi, is a perfect example of double digit IQ Dem trade nonsense. The pact makes official what has been our trade with Colombia for a decade and further, for the first time, requires Colombia to import our goods without tariff--tariffs that run as high as 85%. American goods will dramatically drop in price for average Colombians. Can't have that, can we, helping dirt poor campesinos is not cool for current Dems because it might make Bush et al look good in S. America. It might even hurt Senor Chavez! Nafta is just too easy for the Dems to pass up. The hot air, that great sucking sound from Ross Perot, still resonates. A lie told an infinite number of times is taken for the truth.

For simplicity sake the Colombia trade pact, held up by Pelosi, is a perfect example of double digit IQ Dem trade nonsense. The pact makes official what has been our trade with Colombia for a decade and further, for the first time, requires Colombia to import our goods without tariff–tariffs that run as high as 85%. American goods will dramatically drop in price for average Colombians.

Can’t have that, can we, helping dirt poor campesinos is not cool for current Dems because it might make Bush et al look good in S. America. It might even hurt Senor Chavez!

]]> By: SeniorD http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/comment-page-1/#comment-1082896 SeniorD Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:25:41 +0000 http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/#comment-1082896 Forget ANWR, what about the suspected oil in Montana? Forget ANWR, what about the suspected oil in Montana?

]]> By: captivated_dem http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/comment-page-1/#comment-1082894 captivated_dem Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:24:18 +0000 http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/#comment-1082894 <blockquote>Had the US applied NAFTA to the rest of its trade, our imbalance would have dropped from $155 billion since 2000 to a <em>mere</em> $25 billion. </blockquote> A $25 billion tweak, in our favor, would be quite substantial.

Had the US applied NAFTA to the rest of its trade, our imbalance would have dropped from $155 billion since 2000 to a mere $25 billion.

A $25 billion tweak, in our favor, would be quite substantial.

]]> By: mred http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/comment-page-1/#comment-1082833 mred Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:51:26 +0000 http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/#comment-1082833 pimf pimf

]]> By: mred http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/comment-page-1/#comment-1082830 mred Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:50:38 +0000 http://hotair.com/archives/2008/04/21/the-reality-of-nafta/#comment-1082830 <strike>We could open ANWR and the coasts to oil production, and we could build the first new refineries in 30 years to produce our own gasoline.</strike> How long can the Dems walk this tight rope between union jobs and the envirowackos? We could open ANWR and the coasts to oil production, and we could build the first new refineries in 30 years to produce our own gasoline.

How long can the Dems walk this tight rope between union jobs and the envirowackos?

]]>