As you point out, we have had a trade deficit for a long time and it is increasing. The purchasing power of the middle and working classes has been stagnating since the 70's. There is more wealth but it is concentrated in the hands of a few. The high tech jobs that were supposed to replace the old manufacturing jobs have failed to materialize.
I have made no secret that I am a labor Democrat who is a friend of the right on social issues and believes in old fashioned concepts like national soverignty. I consider myself to be a fiscal conservative, but don't buy into "trickle down" economics. While I obviously can't speak for the Republican Party, I do know that Republicans used to favor economic nationalism and tariffs and I think your party would benefit if it returned to that postion.
One of the reasons that the Democratic Party has lost ground among working class voters is that Bill Clinton and Al Gore sold them out on free trade. As a result, these voters have been voting Republican because they find the GOP more in line with their values on issues like gun control, abortion and gay marriage. For a long time, I have been lecturing my fellow Democrats on the need to get back to economic populism and a more traditional value system.
Likewise, it made me sick to see Pat Buchanan practically excommunicated from the Republican Party by the small "l" libertarians and neo-cons because he took a position on trade issues that was once a mainstay of the Republican Party.
CAFTA will be defeated because the American people across political and ideological lines are waking up and recognizing that we have been lied to by the one worlders and big business interests. The sleeping giant is finally awakening and the political party that ignores it will do so at their peril.
More assertions with no basis in fact. Look here for comparative household income, by quintile, since 1970. (it's increasing)
There is more wealth but it is concentrated in the hands of a few.
Really? Just more DNC talking points trying to gin up class envy and class warfare.
The Gap between Rich and Poor
The Middle Class is Expanding
Musty Old Lies About Income Inequality
The high tech jobs that were supposed to replace the old manufacturing jobs have failed to materialize.
Whatever are you talking about? We've created more than 21 million new jobs since 1994 and real incomes have risen. Do you live in John Edwards' other world? Here is a breakdown, by job category, from 1990-2000. Notice that all categories, other than manufacturing and mining, have increased substantially.
Total U.S. Employment by Industry
Now, since 1994 (NAFTA) we've created more than 21 million new jobs.
BLS Stats 1994-2005
Since 1994 (NAFTA), real incomes for all workers have risen more than 11%. Notice that, in the decade prior to NAFTA, real incomes for all workers shrank more than 8%.
Real Incomes for All Workers
Finally, since 1992 manufacturing production has increased 50%. We produce and export more now than at any other time in our history.
Chart
I do know that Republicans used to favor economic nationalism and tariffs and I think your party would benefit if it returned to that postion.
Why, because our party has done so poorly the last 25 years? Because our economy has done so poorly in the past 25 years? Are you serious? We are the economic engine and envy of the world and the only remaining superpower. Do you know anything about the correlation between economic freedom and wealth? In case you missed it on this thread, here it is again.
Economic Freedom and Per Capita Income
Bill Clinton and Al Gore sold them out on free trade
There is no doubt that Bill Clinton and Al Gore sold out working class voters but it had nothing to do with free trade. NAFTA was the vision of Ronald Reagan.
Pat Buchanan practically excommunicated from the Republican Party by the small "l" libertarians and neo-cons because he took a position on trade issues that was once a mainstay of the Republican Party.
Buchanan is an isolationist and a protectionist (if there is a difference). If his message had an audience, he'd have received more than 450,000 votes in 2000. Can you tell me the last time this country rejected a free trade agreement? Fact is free trade has never been the issue you think it is. The people know better than the demagogues and protectionism will be a hard sell in these exceptional economic times.
The one-worlders are in your party. You guys are the ones who are cozy with the U.N. - not my president. Globalization is an economic phenomenon driven by the speed of information and the use of talent. Nothing can stop it. That's the real giant and he hasn't been sleeping.
Maybe if you learned a little more about economics, did a little more homework and stopped buying into the MSM doom and gloom you'd leave the party of negativism. The best example of your naivete is your belief that CAFTA won't pass because people are waking up to the evils of freer trade. That's just absurd.
There are just two reasons CAFTA may not pass: First, usually reliable free trade democrats have been intimidated by their party into delivering Bush a defeat which will, hopefully, establish him as a lame duck early. Second, the sugar cartel is using their influence to protect their welfare payments. Reps from states that produce cane sugar and sugar beets are scared to death to vote against them. That's it. No idealogical swing. Just politics as usual.
