Both Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump know this and that is why they are getting the lion’s share of people to their political rallies. Jobs is the big issue.
Here are three recent articles on how these trade deals (NAFTA, CAFTA, and yet to be enacted TPP and TTIP) are making the wealthy fabulous wealthy while lowering wages and jobs prospects for ordinary Americans.
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Slightly disagree with Frank’s article in that he believes the manufacturing jobs will return; I agree with Reich/Bernstein that new higher paying jobs in R&D, education, energy distribution, internet services, etc. are better and more likely for the USA right now (Sanders agrees).
On the flip side, is the Heritage Foundation’s praise of FTAs. Of course it is controlled by ideologues and/or billionaires for billionaires (whether they know it or not). 88% of the people writing the TPP has been from business interests. Their chief concerns are extending intellectual property for decades, and providing cheap labor. There have little if any concern for environment or labor practices; in fact the TPP and TTIP have provisions that enable corporations to sue governments that do try to save the environment and/or enforce labor rights. These free trade agreements (FTAs) have helped create low wage jobs abroad and flooded our markets with cheaper goods. But our middle/lower class people have little money to buy those cheap goods while the wealthy buy higher class stuff or just stash their money away. One chief unintended result of NAFTA/CAFTA is that it has killed the small farmers in Central America forcing them to run to the US often splitting up families. Trumpism would deny even these desperation moves of these farmers.
The State Dept has offered it's praise of FTAs given . Both Democratic and Republican establishments have come out in favor of FTAs since their donors (the Corptocracy and Wall Street) are for it and the subject matter is too complex for most Americans to understand. However, Americans do feel the results (lack of good paying jobs) and that is what both Sanders and Trump are playing to (rightfully so, imo).
Trump is not worthy to be President due to other factors - his shear arrogance, penchant for badmouthing people/groups, intention to increase foreign interventions, ridiculous claims what what he will do (e.g. infrastructure improvements and deporting immigrants/building a wall) while lowering taxes, etc..... Sanders OTOH has a plan - he sees jobs in more government-funded research (especially renewable energy), higher paying education jobs, infrastructure repair and expansion, mass transportation, Medicare-for-all, all funded by increased taxes on the rich, removal of SS tax cap, a small financial transaction tax, and carbon taxes. except he may have to compromise on infrastructure or assume a Keynesian kick to revenues and/or productivity improvements. READ this last link please.
This is a huge issue affecting millions of people in this country, but it is little understood.
Any comments?