NAFTA and Michigan

Hillary Clinton had a chance to do one of two things on the Peru Free Trade Agreement. She could announce her opposition to the proposal, or she could do what Wall Street demanded.

CLINTON ON TRADE: I’M AS AWFUL AS OBAMA

Clinton went with Wall Street. On the same day that a majority of House Democrats voted against the Peru FTA, the senator from New York endorsed the current economic-policy priority of the Bush administration.

In so doing, Clinton confirmed that the only thing more important to her than securing her lead in the race for the Democratic nod is keeping the likely financiers of her fall campaign happy, and Clinton joined Illinois Senator Obama in supporting the trade deal.

Edwards opposes! 
 

For those of you needing a clear distinction between the three top front runners, does this do it? 

More on the candidates positions on trade…

For me, there are two major issues candidates have to meet to get my vote.

First is trade.  One cannot be a Michigan resident and not care about the impact of trade on the industrialized midwest. 

Chrysler to Layoff Thousands of Workers November 2, 2007· Chrysler’s announcement that it will lay off another 12000 workers, or 15 percent of workforce, just days after – snip –

Michigan Unemployment Rate (Seasonally Adjusted)

September 2007 7.5%

Change Over Month  +0.1

Change Over Year +0.4

Michigan Payroll Jobs (Seasonally Adjusted)

September 2007 –  4,269,000

Change Over Month -11,000

Change Over Year -64,000

Historical Job Levels by Industry (Not Adj 2006)

2006 Annual Michigan  Goods Producing 836,500

2005 Annual Michigan  Goods Producing 874,200

2004 Annual Michigan  Goods Producing 896,900

2003 Annual Michigan  Goods Producing 915,000

2002 Annual Michigan  Goods Producing 968,200

2001 Annual Michigan  Goods Producing 1,035,000

2000 Annual Michigan  Goods Producing 1,114,000

1999 Annual Michigan  Goods Producing 1,103,000

1998 Annual Michigan  Goods Producing 1,085,600

1997 Annual Michigan  Goods Producing 1,062,000

1996 Annual Michigan  Goods Producing 1,042,700

1995 Annual Michigan  Goods Producing 1,035,000

1994 Annual Michigan  Goods Producing 999,800

1993 Annual Michigan  Goods Producing 947,700

1992 Annual Michigan  Goods Producing 934,200

1991 Annual Michigan  Goods Producing 932,700

1990 Annual Michigan  Goods Producing 991,400

Source: Michigan LMI

And in the same way that the current Democratic Party isn’t my father’s Democratic Party, manufacturing has little resemblance to the old assembly lines of the past. Keeping manufacturing jobs in this country is important to our national security and provides high wage, high skill jobs that support our middle class. 

But once again, the beltway boys don’t support the people, and The LA Times must be living in the Twilight Zone.  “In a rare victory for Bush???  All emphasis below is mine.

WASHINGTON — In a rare victory for President Bush since Democrats took control of Congress, the House approved a free-trade agreement with Peru on Thursday in a votethat exposed a major rift within the Democratic ranks over the issue.

Elect better Democrats!  How’s that working for us?

Despite efforts by leading Democrats to persuade a majority of their party to back a deal that included standards to protect workers and the environment, most Democrats nonetheless voted against it, including a number of freshmen who had highlighted job losses and other negative effects of globalization during their campaigns.

And what about our favorite Speaker?

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) and 108 other Democrats joined 176 Republicans in approving the measure, 285 to 132.

“I absolutely refuse to have the Democratic Party be viewed . . . as an anti-trade party,” Pelosi said. The agreement, she noted, included requirements to protect workers and the environment that represented a “drastic difference” from other trade pacts.

She absolutely refuses.  Gee, Representative Pelosi, I didn’t realize you were the Unitary Speaker.  Please note that 109 Democrats voted yes, and 116 voted no.  Needless to say, our Speaker voted with the minority of the Democrats who supported and voted with the Republican majority opinion.

The next big issue is the cost of the war.  Troops and civilians killed and maimed is obviously the worse offense being committed by the WH & Congress. This is followed closely by the Speaker’s refusal to impeach and hold anybody accountable for the lies that led to this slaughter and the -war profiteering- theft of billions and billions of dollars from our grandchildren.  This link will show you how just how -big the increase in military spending- huge the boondoggle is. 

Democrats were ineffective as a minority, and Democrats are ineffective in the majority.  I think we have a pattern here.  I hope Iowa gives Edwards the win he needs.

About the Author(s)

dkmich

Comments