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Disastrous "Free Trade"
Tariffs were originally set up to help protect American industries by Alexander Hamilton, the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln, then leader of the new Republican Party, similarly implemented a 44 percent tariff to protect American industries and generate funds for the war and the construction of railroads. After World War II and during the Cold war, the U.S. government began lowering trade barriers and instituting what is known as "free trade."
America is now oppressed by the chains of "free trade" through treaties like the North American Free Trade Agreement, undemocratic and secretive trade regimes like the World Trade Organization and border tax inequities allowed by the WTO, such as the Value-Added Tax which is utilized by 152 of America's economic competitors.
Shackled with these disadvantages, America is no longer able to compete economically on the world stage. Our nation is gradually allowing Japan, nations in the European Union and emerging economies in China, India and Brazil to overtake the U.S. as the world's lone economic superpower. Eventually, if all remains the same, NAFTA, the WTO and the VAT will be responsible for America's complete and total economic downfall. The nation is already well on its way, and without wholesale changes to our economic policy, we will certainly find ourselves in the economic gutter, so to speak.
So-Called "Free Trade" is not Fair Trade
It is no wonder then that America is unable to compete in the global marketplace. The nation is consistently hamstrung by these unfair trade practices. If we are to one day reemerge as an economic superpower NAFTA must be renegotiated, the WTO must be disbanded. Otherwise, America will continue to be chained by the detrimental effects of "free trade," descending deeper into economic turmoil. ----------------------- Exports from our Country are out of balance with our Imports because we don't make anything anymore and Imports are shipped to our Country with no Tariffs.Because of MFN,joining the WTO,NAFTA,CAFTA and now Korea,Panama and Clinton's Plan Columbia legislation that are all Free Trade Agreement Legislation we have high unemployment while the Corporations are making profits at the Cost of our Hard Working American jobs.Until we end all Free Trade Legislation our Country is on it's way to Feudalism.There is a Petition at the following link ( http://www.change.org/petitions/view/end_free_trade_now ) that I would ask you all to read and than sign.After signing the Petition it will be sent to your Senators,Member of the House and President Barack Obama."We the People" need to start this "Grassroots Movement" to let our Legislators know that we know that Free Trade is the reason for high unemployment and that "We the People" are not going to allow Free Trade anymore.You will never hear/read about Free Trade Legislation in the Main Stream Media nor will you ever hear a Legislator mention Free Trade because 80% of our Legislators are Corporatist.It's high time that "We the People" take back our Country from the Corporations that are in the pocket of all of the Corporatist in Washington.All of this Free Trade Legislation was passed and than signed knowing that it would be the outsourcing of Hard Working American jobs.Thanks,Greg Timmons,Parlin,NJ 08859-2114
