http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jan/04/nafta-20-years-mexico-regret
But what about Mexico? Didn't Mexico at least benefit from the agreement? Well if we look at the past 20 years, it's not a pretty picture. The most basic measure of economic progress, especially for a developing country like Mexico, is the growth of income (or GDP) per person. Out of 20 Latin American countries (South and Central America plus Mexico), Mexico ranks 18, with growth of less than 1% annually since 1994. It is, of course, possible to argue that Mexico would have done even worse without NAFTA, but then the question would be, why?

From 1960-80 Mexico's GDP per capita nearly doubled. This amounted to huge increases in living standards for the vast majority of Mexicans. If the country had continued to grow at this rate, it would have European living standards today. This is what happened in South Korea, for example. But Mexico, like the rest of the region, began a long period of neoliberal policy changes that, beginning with its handling of the early 1980s debt crisis, got rid of industrial and development policies, gave a bigger role to de-regulated international trade and investment, and prioritized tighter fiscal and monetary policies (sometimes even in recessions). These policies put an end to the prior period of growth and development. The region as a whole grew just 6% per capita from 1980-2000; and Mexico grew by 16% – a far cry from the 99% of the previous 20 years.

For Mexico, NAFTA helped to consolidate the neo-liberal, anti-development economic policies that had already been implemented in the prior decade, enshrining them in an international treaty. It also tied Mexico even further to the US economy, which was especially unlucky in the two decades that followed: the Fed's interest rate increases in 1994, the US stock market bust (2000-2002) and recession (2001), and especially, the housing bubble collapse and Great Recession of 2008-9 had a bigger impact on Mexico than almost anywhere else in the region.

hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh


http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/11/24/what-weve-learned-from-nafta/under-nafta-mexico-suffered-and-the-united-states-felt-its-pain

While much has been said about its impact on U.S. job loss and eroding labor conditions, some of the most severe impacts of Nafta have been felt south of the border.

Corn imports drove down farmers' price, driving millions to migrate north. It lowered labor rights and environmental rules, hurting all workers.
Nafta has cut a path of destruction through Mexico. Since the agreement went into force in 1994, the country’s annual per capita growth flat-lined to an average of just 1.2 percent -- one of the lowest in the hemisphere. Its real wage has declined and unemployment is up.

As heavily subsidized U.S. corn and other staples poured into Mexico, producer prices dropped and small farmers found themselves unable to make a living. Some two million have been forced to leave their farms since Nafta. At the same time, consumer food prices rose, notably the cost of the omnipresent tortilla.

As a result, 20 million Mexicans live in “food poverty”. Twenty-five percent of the population does not have access to basic food and one-fifth of Mexican children suffer from malnutrition. Transnational industrial corridors in rural areas have contaminated rivers and sickened the population and typically, women bear the heaviest impact.

He has an agenda.

"A STEP to rival the creation of NATO, or a mortal threat to American jobs from cheap Mexican labour? The arguments for and against the North American Free-Trade Agreement (NAFTA) before its launch on January 1st 1994 were hyperbolic. Twenty years on, NAFTA’s backers have won the argument."

http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21592612-north-americas-trade-deal-has-delivered-real-benefits-job-not-done-deeper-better

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/12/29/nafta-mexico_n_4515862.html

"Some critics single out Mexico's farm industry, saying NAFTA has crippled Mexican farming prospects by opening competition to the heavily subsidized U.S. farm industry. Economists dispute this assessment. The Economist notes that despite increased competition, Mexican farm exports to the United States have tripled since NAFTA's implementation, in part because of reduced tariffs on maize.

Experts say trade liberalization between Mexico and the United States has had positive consequences for Mexicans generally, not just Mexican business interests. For instance, the deal has led to a dramatic reduction in Mexican prices for clothes, televisions, and food, which helps offset slow income growth. GEA, a Mexico City-based economic consulting firm, estimates that the cost of basic household goods in Mexico has halved since NAFTA's implementation. Mexican workers in the car manufacturing and aeronautics sectors of northern Mexico have benefitted from the treaty and helped expand the country's manufacturing base.

And Mexico has enjoyed an intangible benefit of NAFTA: The country has adopted orthodox economic management practices and is no longer prone to crises. . . . . ."

http://www.cfr.org/trade/naftas-economic-impact/p15790




Remember, trade agreements are about more than trade.

"We Made a Devil's Bargain": Fmr. President Clinton Apologizes for Trade Policies that Destroyed Haitian Rice Farming

President Bill Clinton, now the UN Special Envoy to Haiti, publicly apologized last month for forcing Haiti to drop tariffs on imported, subsidized US rice during his time in office. The policy wiped out Haitian rice farming and seriously damaged Haiti’s ability to be self-sufficient. On Wednesday, journalist Kim Ives of Haiti Liberté questioned Clinton about his change of heart and his stance on the return of ousted Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

http://www.democracynow.org/2010/4/1/clinton_rice

Undocumented's do not get decent jobs when they come here. It is practically slave labor. And plenty of studies already show that NAFTA did nothing good for the towns around the US plants that came in to Mexico to exploit cheap labor.

Give it a fucking rest.

made out of refrigerator boxes.

>1. Maybe after conference he'll tell people quit criticizing Mexicans getting decent jobs under NAFTA.

Hoyt- why? Why the constant defense of these things?

They are not good.

There are better models.

They are a scheme to steal the worlds future by deceit.

People can have legitimate and varying views and disagreements over trade po;licies. Whether you think NAFTA is the greatest thing since sliced bread, or is a disaster, or a mixed bag is not the point here.

But your broad brush comment was totally misleading and inappropriate about Sanders position on trade.

But don't misrepresent his positions. Sander is not claiming US should keep Mexicans from getting decent jobs, and he is not against trade.

He is trying to connect himself to the Pope to make himself look good. He got called on it. It did not work. He still hasn't donated to any down-tickets. Party of One.

I think you should look into what Catholics are saying about this. It will be a factor having him fresh from the Vatican just before the NY primary.

will change the complexion of the campaign overall.
There are so many Catholics in this country, that if he comes out of the Vatican looking good, the tables will turn, and the avalanche will start for Bernie.

Ever since I can remember. My aunt had a pictures of Martin, Malcolm and the Pope always on display. The biggest reason she wasn't a Bernie supporter was sure of his faith. Bernie going to the Vatican is a huge cosign.

Which he will do again after he has finished running for the primary. Many of us are supporting down ballot directly, like we do Bernie. He doesn't have superpacs and 353k plates white noise dinners like Hillary, with special interest groups. So the DNC and down ballot will need to work with Bernie, if they want help fundraising. They've had no problem helping her.

But again, helping the poor and working with leaders to try and get that done = all about Bernie in self centered SuperPac Hillary land.

what do you mean by that

Hilary Clinton was probably shocked when she found out Wall Street couldn't pay for her to go on a vacay-cay too.

You obviously know nothing about Bernie Sanders.
Bernie is doing what he is doing to help other human beings..

He's not getting the big money that Hillary is.

If you were honest (which you are not), you'd admit this is just a ruse to keep your party of hate going...like a number of other debunked arguments you guys keep throwing out there.

Enjoy it while you can. I really don't know what you will do with yourself when the primaries are over and you can't use Bernie like a punching bag any more.

How much has Hillary raised?

probably not

This is Bernie.

Glutton for punishment?

Good to see you again, as always.

to shut up liars like yourself.

Care to respond in the other thread where proof was given to your lie?

I'll be here every time that bullshit is spread around.

Just to piss you off.

Frank is a huge meanie

That Frank, what a kidder!

the Pope (Pius, not secretly) endorsed me..

when i was five, he blessed downward (since I was the shortest person there)

Okay, now I'll shut up.

I'm an atheist so he won't ever endorse me but I'm okay with that.

Bernie's the choice of secularists everywhere!

Just before NY.

and can't seem to answer for her sniper fire lie, or her lie about fighting the Colombia Free Trade Agreement. How's that work mentally? Must be stressful to juggle which lies are ok and which aren't.

Is because it's the only way they can try to blend out the Hillary Lies. Her lies won't be quite as bad if they can stick some lies on Bernie.

ONE, yes, only one time on the View did he not correct the host as she rambled on quickly about the event. That's what you want to latch onto instead of all of the facts surrounding the event itself.

Well, you are very weird that way. So whatever gets you through the night.

It's all over the news..everywhere..cnn. msnbc. Npr.huffpo. yahoo.nbc. cbs

It was right after he said he was thrilled Bernie accepted his invitation to the conference.

But the South Africa Times had a video of them roller skating together.

You can tell they've really bonded over this.

The Puupe won't be going .

He hates water moccasins.

They are having a sleep over and the Pope winked because he knew Bernie was coming for that.

Sleep overs are a lot more exciting than a stuffy old conference.

I heard they were the ones who stuffed bubble gum into the pipes at Notre Dame.

I'm looking for it.

or generally thought of as good - most people are happy for them. Except....the malignant narcissist. The malignant narcissist will be the FIRST person to loudly launch a snarky remark, smear campaign, or scathing criticism.

With respect to this situation envy seems to be Hillary's peeps' problem, although anger and pride are putting in an appearance, and greed is always there. But I sure wish they'd drop that shit and do more gluttony, sloth and lust. They'd have more fun themselves and wouldn't be so damn irritating.

to act like normal reasonable human beings--it's a gouting fountain of slime from the Clinton campaign and its underlings that would make a stone sick

No wonder she didn't get an invite from the Vatican.

He didn't lie. Can't you accept that maybe he was genuinely excited? Not everyone is jaded and cynical, believe it or not.

But if you want to keep projecting that be my guest.

He knows he is not meeting the Pope. He knows it was a conference. What person would say they are meeting the Pope when they know they are going to a scholarly conference of 30?

Who does that?

or the Chancellor, or anyone in Rome. You don't know if his advisor (who is one of the speakers at the conference) suggested to him he might get to meet the Pope.

So, just curious. How are all of you accusers going to feel if he does get to meet with the Pope.

I bet there won't be an apology out of any one of you.

Maybe the Popes spokesman didn't want to reveal with might happen, but only if he knows for sure. Maybe Sachs is the one who told Bernie he "might" get to meet him, and he is still trying to make that happen.

You really don't know. I don't know. only Bernie, Sachs, and the people iin Rome know what is going on.

I'm done wasting time on the negativity. It's a soul drain just dealing with someone like you.

Besides, I have to get some things ready for Bernie to take for his pajama Party with the Pope. I have a special pair of pajamas for him and I want to put a bird on it.

Yup.

I think you are just making stuff up.

You don't know.

You are just smearing anything you can.

conference. He lied, letting the nation think the Pope called a meeting with him.

if he lied about it, and then didn't meet the Pope, it would not be noticed.

Gimme a break....Or give yourself a break and turn off your determination to ascribe bad motivations for everything.

for the deaths in Iraq.

I do not get it. I do get that he did not address it immediately and made people have to figure it all out over the last 24 hours.

He could have stopped this immediately. IMMEDIATELY with speaking up. And you cannot blame the nation looking to figure out what the truth of it is when Sanders doesn't help us out.

I love how Camp Weathervane's panties are in wad over this.

It's very possible that his advisor who is a speaker at the conference and got him an invitation too, suggested to him there was a chance he would get to meet the Pope.

You can't see past your need to hate this man and accuse him of lying, that it may be something that was said that we know nothing about. But when the articles came out saying there was no meeting arranged with the Pope, he started clarifying it and saying he may not get to meet the Pope. But if his friend told him he might, he might be trying to arrange it.

So let's wait and see if it happens. Or you can go on calling him a liar because you just can't let this slide, even though you really don't know what is going on behind the scenes, and then you can discreetly slink away when the news comes back that he met the Pope. Because I know you won't apologize.

I doubt he will get to meet the Pope, but I will be really tickled for him if he does.

if that is even possible.

is already proved out. So, he wrangles a meeting now. Good for him. It has nothing to do with his lie from the start.

You seem to be a bit obsessed with the whole thing. I don't care if he goes or not...but if he does, I want lots of pics.

That should help Hillary.

and distract from an absolutely disastrous week.

Sorry, but not sorry.

I enjoyed that part of the OP, you?

Distraction, I suppose, from Bill's assholery, other screwups.

Had to be on purpose, or they're playing dumb.

doesn't make one cynical or jaded, though that certainly is a characterization scam artists love to use to appeal to the "innocence" of suckers.

ooops, I guess that was cynical of me to say.

But I prefer to hope that if Clinton were honestly given a non-political honor like that that truly excited her on a human level, I'd not try and muddy the waters.

A key ring or a mug, maybe? Or a t-shirt?

Haven't counted, but looks like 'lots' to me. This place is really

Because they may have ruined them.

I see very little difference. Bernie Sanders can't have nice things.

though our media is not covering it that much.

And to try to distract from a few other things, like Bill going down right racist.

By the way... for those who want to really understand... two names to drop that have emerged in the Panama Papers. John Podesta and Denise Rich, you might be far more familiar with her husband Marc...

Ah now I am in the section of the story dealing with our local real estate... and the rent is too damn high.

to turn people againsttheir own mothers if they must.

And rtight now, with Bernie, THEY MUST!

but I believe this Vatican trip nonsense was the most scurrilous attack I've seen yet. Sanders has spent his entire career working for poor and working people and he certainly deserved the invitation. The Vatican would not have invited him if he didn't have something to offer for the other attendees.

Bernie is no liar. He has a career replete with proof that he's a straight shooter. Given the number of hit pieces, it's difficult to know exactly how the invitation came to him. The bottom line for Sandernistas, though, is the fact that he's on the program for Friday afternoon, Vatican time:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1280171333

Here's to wishing Bernie and Jane all the best on their trip to the Vatican. Rock on, Bernie!