NAFTA verdict undeniable

zdnet.com/ ^ | August 8, 2003 | Pat Buchanan

[comnet]

"Sure, NAFTA was really a wonderful deal for America. Two years after we negotiated and signed it, our trade surplus is gone, we've got a $15 billion trade deficit with Mexico, 300,000 jobs have gone south, the Florida winter tomato industry is on its back, illegal immigration is soaring into this country, Mexico is the prime source of narcotics and drugs, and my good friend Sen. Dole negotiated a $50 billion bailout with Bill Clinton for the regime that brought this all about. "

Pat Buchanan

NAFTA verdict undeniable

Any doubts what happened under NAFTA?

Just follow the money and who lost their jobs

In a quintessential cover story in the American Conservative - Death of Manufacturing - Pat Buchanan exposes the fraud of Free Trade. This is a must read, especially for those Libertarians who cling to the abstract notion that intellectual possibilities are viable and practical in the real world. Notwithstanding their fantasies, self interest and national economic independence is the supreme basis for economic policy that benefits citizens. Those who strive to generate profit upon unholy alliances are at best, befuddled accessories or worse case, greedy traitors.

As the saying goes the devil is in the details. The score card is the trade deficit. The burden is carried by those who are unemployed. And the final casualty is the autonomy of the nations economy.

Is economic primacy important to you and your countrymen? A Free Trade Policy has regard only for the business venture. National concerns and the best long term interests of the average American has no stature in a game of systematic dismantling of the self sufficiency.

The Buchanan thesis rest upon the worth of maintaining America as a free society. It’s easy to be deluded into thinking that freedom is enhanced with the vast array of consumer items offered for sale at your local discount outlet. Nevertheless, cheap prices from foreign producers only feeds the trade shortfall. How backward does one need to be to avoid the inevitable? When production leaves for off shore havens based upon a playing field that is rigged to serve only the monopolists, how free can we remain as a people?

The conclusion from this essay is clear: “Free trade is a bright shining lie. Free trade is the Trojan Horse of world government. Free trade is the murderer of manufacturing and the primrose path to the loss of national sovereignty and the end of our independence.”

The NAFTA swindle is a transparent scam. Here is Pat’s summary, the only one you need to remember: “ NAFTA has helped to convert California into Mexifornia and the Golden State into a Third-World country. Ten years after its passage, Mexico’s leading export continues to be Mexicans.”

In the end, the social cost from a conscious dissemblance of manufacturing within our own borders means the loss of high scale livable wage jobs. Let’s be honest and admit the truth. Americans no longer have a work ethic of previous generations nor does the average worker have the stomach to labor for subsistent level pay. However, that is only a consequence of the larger issue. The political decisions to vacate domestic manufacturing from our own people is analogous to running a closed shop that benefits only venture monopolists, international bankers, global money launders, stateless managers and governmental hacks.

The flight out of California illustrates this civic price being paid, but this same syndrome also applies to other former bastions of industry. According to the Census Bureau Report - State by State Migration Flows: 1995-2000 - California, New York and Illinois served as "a trio of gateway states that simultaneously lost migrants to other states while gaining migrants from abroad."

The surrender of manufacturing employment as a sacrifice to the Free Traders, has forced this mass exodus of layed-off Americans - our own displaced persons. If you believe this is an intrinsic result, inevitable and unalterable; your confidence in political elites and their distortion of economic self-interest must mean you only buy Chinese. National suicide is not natural. But for the Free Trader mesmerized by visions of bountiful prosperity, produced under the illusion of backwater cheap labor, just what happens when the cash runs out because jobs left for overseas?

The big picture is confirmed by Pat Choate and cited by Mr Buchanan in his flagship magazine: “In the 1970s, [the United States]mounted a decades-long deficit of $75 billion. . . . In the 1980s, the deficit soared to $843 billion as Japan began to take away our industries. . . . In the 1990s, that trade deficit doubled to $1.7 trillion. . . . At this pace, we’re probably going to have a $6 trillion cumulative deficit in this decade - and that’s probably an understated number given the pace we are losing our manufacturing base.”

NAFTA is the conveyance upon which the outflow hits home in the most visible way. The virtual bankruptcy of California has a fundamental linkage to the damage done by NAFTA. The best test of loyalty to real Americans is demonstrated by one’s attitude about the Free Trade rip-off. Politicians need to follow the wisdom of the economic miracle that built our country. SELF Interest in national economic independence and self sufficiency. If you want solutions, stop the outflow, rebuild U.S. industry and create domestic jobs.

[harpseal]

ping


On or off this list let me know.

[harpseal]

A plan to fix the problems the current trade environment has foisted upon us

1.Get rid of government subsidies for offshore investment of US companies. OPIC is the first such program which should go but support of World Bank programs that subsidize the outflow of Capital would be another.

2. Use tariffs on those nations which are engaged in unfair trade practices such as currency manipulation (China and India for example), those nations which refuse to open their markets to US products (China for example with its 50% tariffs on US consumer goods and non tariff barriers), those nations that subsidize competition to American Industry (airbus for example) and those nations which have slave conditions for their workers.

3. Use tariffs and other means to prevent the relocation of jobs offshore that are essential to the national defense. If necessary take control of the company seeking to export vital technology or industry by means of eminent domain (No I do not like this last option and I will only defend its use as an absolute last resort like say in the case of rare earth magnets essential to smart bomb technology).

4. An immediate end to guest worker programs. If people wish to come to the USA to work and make a life let them immigrate according to the rules.

5 Provide economic development zones where the corporate income tax is zero for operations within these zones. In order to operate in this zone a company must agree to only purchase American components if available and employ only American citizens or legal immigrants in these operations. These economic development zones shall be eventually be expanded to include every bit of every state once the benefits are shown I would like them to be totally implemented immediately but I realize4 that may be overreaching.

6. Scale back unnecessary regulation including the tort system. Institute a cap on punitive damages, limits on class action suits, and limits on liability to the actual percentage of liability with no plaintiff able to collect if said plaintiff was involved in the commission of a felony at the time of the alleged tort or was more than 49% negligent in the alleged tort. Note that the loser in a frivolous lawsuit shall pay the attorney fees of the winner. There are many other regulatory structures that also need to be included that need to be included such as repealing the Family leave mandate, getting rid of OSHA etc.

7. Increase the domestic content in purchases by the Department of defense and give absolute preference in non-domestic content to proven allies of the USA over say the French or Germans. The only reason any content for DOD purchase may come from non US allies is that content is not available elsewhere and is essential.

8. Do not allow expense involved in moving operations overseas to be included in business expenses under the IRS code.

9. Prosecute for perjury anyone who has made a false statement in order to employ an H1B or L1 visa worker. I will be lenient on the actual perjurer if he/she was ordered to make this false statement and he/she provides testimony to aid in the conviction of the person ordering the perjury. Just because a person is a CEO does not give them a pass on criminal behavior.

10. Prosecute anyone who orders the transfer of vital defense technology overseas except to strong allies of the USA. The UK and Australia come to mind as meeting these criteria first.

11. Deport all illegal aliens immediately and take measures that prevent the entry of any more illegal aliens. Fine all companies knowingly employing illegal aliens Criminal sanctions should be imposed on anyone helping an illegal alien stay in the USA in violation of our laws.

12. Decrease the punishing levels of taxation on companies and eliminate the double taxation on corporate dividends. See effects of item 5 for how minimal this will be if item 5 covers the entire USA

13. Eliminate the minimum wage so that the worker can be paid based on productivity. Overtime compensation will remain the same but instead of 150% of the "wage" the worker would receive 150% of the production pay. If #1 through #13 are enacted # 14 becomes an irrelevancy as no one will be working for that low a wage.

[comnet]

Socialists US, EU, Canada team up at WTO (Socialists One world… one system…“harmonize” trade rules
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/963472/posts

[comnet]

Although no timeframe or figures are given, the joint paper calls for "a simple, ambitious, harmonising formula" for reducing tariffs along the lines of the so-called Swiss Formula.

[comnet]

Tariffs make America what it was

[harpseal]

Clearly our current trade envirornment is a disasster. Maybe Nadta would have worked if only Mexico and Canada were included as the investment in Mexican industry with access to the American and Canadaian market would have been a temporary blip but the GATT tariff reductions short circuited any great improvements in the Mexican economy.

It is my opinion that the USA could have devoted enbough investment to bring Mexico up soley becaus eteh drain would not have been so huge but twhen we opened ourselves to Chinese imports without a full opening of the Chinese markets we were effectively draining too much from the American economy. Now we need the remedies noted in my 13 points.

[pierrem15]

Are you running for office? You've got my vote!

[GaConfed]

Well, if harpseal were to be seen to have a chance of winning, he would most assuredly be bumped off.

[Starwind]

You should add repeal of IRS section 1706 to enable individuals to contract with customers for work without IRS intimidation of customers for employment taxes paid/owed by the contractor.

Repeal of 1706 would allow more people to start their own business and contract out their services directly to customers and eliminate the cost of intermediary agencies, thus making the independent contractor more competitive and profitable, while still being liable for all employment taxes as a normal independent contractor.

Home owners and neighborhood association bylaws should not prevent someone from operating a lawful unobtrusive business in his home, provided there is no abnormal traffic to and from the residence. Associations often object to frequent UPS and Fed EX deliveries, once they know a business is operating in a home.

[FITZ]

That cartoon is only too true.

[harpseal]

Thanks for the kind words. In my younger days I actually spent two terms in a State legislature other than the state I now live in. I have no desire to enter politics as a candidate as I hdo not have the aptience for it I would too soon tell someone off and call them a liar when they lied. I have no stomach for political payoffs and would tell those who thought they could buy access to go F*** themselves. My gun control stance is modified Weaver for handguns but I also teach isosolces (sp?). My stance on affirmative action is that the Constitutions says equal and race or ethnicity should not be considered for anything period. Lets jusdge people on the content of thier cahracter not the color of their skin. I believe in teh US Consttution as written and my two favorite justices on teh Supreme Court are Scalia and Thomas. All in all I don't think I could get elected to anything anywhere in the USA.

What I would like is for people to contact The White House their house and senate polidiots and get this program through.

Now one of the facts of life is the movers and shakers in the Republican and Democrat parties both come to Free Republic to get a good idea as to what is going on. If GWB does not occaisionally look himself he has others do it for him. if we can build enough support the economy will be fixed.

[Uncle Miltie]

"national economic independence is the supreme basis for economic policy that benefits citizens."

Juche' Alert!

[harpseal]

Let me phrase it this way the repeal of Section 1706 is something I would dearly love to see since Moynihan and Packwood slipped it into the tax law in the 1980's. I have not put it in before this because it seemed too specific. However, since you asked.

1. Get rid of government subsidies for offshore investment of US companies. OPIC is the first such program which should go but support of World Bank programs that subsidize the outflow of Capital would be another.

2. Use tariffs on those nations which are engaged in unfair trade practices such as currency manipulation (China and India for example), those nations which refuse to open their markets to US products (China for example with its 50% tariffs on US consumer goods and non tariff barriers), those nations that subsidize competition to American Industry (airbus for example) and those nations which have slave conditions for their workers.

3. Use tariffs and other means to prevent the relocation of jobs offshore that are essential to the national defense. If necessary take control of the company seeking to export vital technology or industry by means of eminent domain (No I do not like this last option and I will only defend its use as an absolute last resort like say in the case of rare earth magnets essential to smart bomb technology).

4. An immediate end to guest worker programs. If people wish to come to the USA to work and make a life let them immigrate according to the rules.

5 Provide economic development zones where the corporate income tax is zero for operations within these zones. In order to operate in this zone a company must agree to only purchase American components if available and employ only American citizens or legal immigrants in these operations. These economic development zones shall be eventually be expanded to include every bit of every state once the benefits are shown I would like them to be totally implemented immediately but I realize4 that may be overreaching.

6. Scale back unnecessary regulation including the tort system. Institute a cap on punitive damages, limits on class action suits, and limits on liability to the actual percentage of liability with no plaintiff able to collect if said plaintiff was involved in the commission of a felony at the time of the alleged tort or was more than 49% negligent in the alleged tort. Note that the loser in a frivolous lawsuit shall pay the attorney fees of the winner. There are many other regulatory structures that also need to be included that need to be included such as repealing the Family leave mandate, getting rid of OSHA etc.

7. Increase the domestic content in purchases by the Department of defense and give absolute preference in non-domestic content to proven allies of the USA over say the French or Germans. The only reason any content for DOD purchase may come from non US allies is that content is not available elsewhere and is essential.

8. Do not allow expense involved in moving operations overseas to be included in business expenses under the IRS code.

9. Prosecute for perjury anyone who has made a false statement in order to employ an H1B or L1 visa worker. I will be lenient on the actual perjurer if he/she was ordered to make this false statement and he/she provides testimony to aid in the conviction of the person ordering the perjury. Just because a person is a CEO does not give them a pass on criminal behavior.

10. Prosecute anyone who orders the transfer of vital defense technology overseas except to strong allies of the USA. The UK and Australia come to mind as meeting these criteria first.

11. Deport all illegal aliens immediately and take measures that prevent the entry of any more illegal aliens. Fine all companies knowingly employing illegal aliens Criminal sanctions should be imposed on anyone helping an illegal alien stay in the USA in violation of our laws.

12. Decrease the punishing levels of taxation on companies and eliminate the double taxation on corporate dividends. See effects of item 5 for how minimal this will be if item 5 covers the entire USA. Eliminate all IRS provisions that inhibit free use of independent contractors by businesses for example section 1706.

13. Eliminate the minimum wage so that the worker can be paid based on productivity. Overtime compensation will remain the same but instead of 150% of the "wage" the worker would receive 150% of the production pay. If one through 13 are enacted % 14 becomes an irrelevancy as no one will be working for that low a wage.

[Ciexyz]

I'm pessimistic that the economy can ever be fixed. Years ago when our country was negotiating terrible trade agreements with the Japanese, giving them every break and advantage, I shook my head and wondered, why are they doing this? Don't they care about America?

And the answer is clear. The Powers That Be do NOT care about America.

So all we can do is ride it out until things stabilize in, oh, fifty years.

[Starwind]

Kewl.

[harpseal]

I'm pessimistic that the economy can ever be fixed. Years ago when our country was negotiating terrible trade agreements with the Japanese, giving them every break and advantage, I shook my head and wondered, why are they doing this? Don't they care about America? And the answer is clear. The Powers That Be do NOT care about America.

If they do not care then that will become crystal clear over the next months and years. Better to try this first over the alternative.

So all we can do is ride it out until things stabilize in, oh, fifty years.

well there comes a point at which what Claire Eolfe described as that awkward time is over. I would submit that this will end long before fifty years due to either foreign or civil war or both.

I do not relish thos ethoughts so I have nothing to lose by trying to make things better.

[Cacophonous]

Good post. Thanks.

[templar]

" ...Two years after we negotiated and signed it, our trade surplus is gone, we've got a $15 billion trade deficit with Mexico, 300,000 jobs have gone south, the Florida winter tomato industry is on its back, illegal immigration is soaring into this country, Mexico is the prime source of narcotics and drugs, and my good friend Sen. Dole negotiated a $50 billion bailout with Bill Clinton for the regime that brought this all about. "

Well, it seems to be working as intended.

[staytrue]

Tariffs make America what it was

Limited govt. (not this 40% taxing govt.) and WWII destroying most of the world except for the americas, made the US what it was.