“(not blaming the GOP exclusively for the problem, just saying the GOP needs to be the solution)”
The push for changing our trade laws began under President George H.W. Bush. He was a big proponent of globalization, particularly expanding trade with China and Mexico. NAFTA and tariff reduction in general were big initiatives of his administration. NAFTA was negotiated by Bush, and signed by Clinton. By 2001 the trade deficit with Mexico and Canada was 12 times the size it was at the time Bush negotiated the agreement.
Clinton continued the Bush policies. He signed NAFTA. The final round of GATT tariff reductions occurred during his first term. The WTO replaced GATT in his second term. In 1999 he signed a huge trade bill with China. Over 300 tariff reduction agreements were signed with other nations under Clinton.
George W. Bush continued the “free trade” policies. He signed CAFTA (NAFTA for the Caribbean). China became a member of the WTO. A number bilateral trade agreements were signed by Bush. His free trade agreements with South Korea, Columbia, and Panama were held up by the Senate.
Obama is continuing the push with the TPP (Trans Pacific Partnership) and proposal for a free trade agreement with the European Union. Under his administration the agreements with South Korea, Panama, and Columbia were renegotiated and signed. He campaigned to renegotiate NAFTA but nothing has been done to change NAFTA.
The record shows both parties have been aggressive facilitators of open markets, low tariffs, and export of US jobs. Don’t count on Jeb Bush to be involved in any solution to return jobs to the US.
Both of our current political parties are selling-out American manufacturing.
Big time.
We need a new political party in America. With the principles of the GOP: standing up for individual freedoms, fighting for our rights. And economic issues of democrats like JOBS for all Americans.
That is what we need. Freedom and jobs.
Those are the things which neither political party in America is standing up for. Neither one.
Stand up GOP. Or prepare for a historic backlash.
Your choice.