Forum Post: What is the Occupy position on GATT/NAFTA and tariffs?
Posted 13 years ago on Nov. 7, 2011, 6:26 p.m. EST by nevergiveup
(0)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
Since jobs, or the lack thereof, are central to the movement, is there a declared position against trade policies which have encouraged the exportation of American jobs and industries? Shouldn't we be actively opposed to the importation of cheap Chinese and other goods, often produced by virtual slave labor? Shouldn't we strive for protective tariffs which would restore industrys like steel, textiles, and electronics manufacturing in the U.S?
I would say OWS in general is against NAFTA.
Speaking for myself, GATT/NAFTA and other "free trade" agreements are designed to destroy the American middle class and herald in the NWO.
NAFTA is unconstitutional, by the way. It was never passed by the two-thirds necessary before entering into foreign treaties. Obama could simply declare it null and void. But of course he works for them . . .
Both parties are traitors to the sovereignty of America.
Tariffs have worked well for Korea, Japan and the Asian tigers. They have always been part of the American system which made America a great economy.
Our membership with the WTO has allowed China greater access to our country that they deserve. They put a 25%-300% tariff on our goods and steal our tech. NAFTA was the one that started it, but together they have both been an issue. A non-profit fair trade group, Economy In Crisis, identified the contention between Wall Street greed, their control of our government and so-called "free trade" before the OWS movement started. They have a very good video tying things together here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NykQq4XzaQ8
Fair trade over free trade would go a long way towards proper wealth distribution.
Well, there has been a stated goal to oppose neoliberalism, and the free trade lies are a part of that agenda. I would very much like to see it spelled out that the movement is opposed to free trade.
This video from the 90s should be a must-watch for all OWS supporters. Charlie Rose (showing himself for the neoliberal tool he is) interviewing Sir James Goldsmith on the ravages of free trade: http://occupywallst.org/forum/if-you-really-want-to-understand-what-ruined-our-c/
Nafta was the start of the downfall of our manufacturing base. It was talked about by Bush 1, put in place by Clinton, and ramped up all of the other "free trade" agreements under Bush 2 and Obama.
Congress abdicated their responsibilities by giving the executive branch all the power over these agreements.
Do you remember during the Presidential campaign that Obama said he would open up and renegotiate Nafta? One of his top advisers speaking overseas said that he didn't really mean it, but had to say it because it was what the people wanted to hear.
Well then no one believed her and so it was just brushed over. What we have gotten is more job killing rules from Nafta with the Mexican trucks now being able to bring in their loads to anywhere in the US from Mexico. Loads that used to go onto US trucks, with US drivers!
More jobs lost that paid well.