Ten Years of NAFTA - What it's Done for You?

Ten Years of NAFTA:
What it's Done for You?

Dennis Kucinich says:
"For a decade, we have been subjected to a grand experiment called
NAFTA. When that agreement was signed in 1993, it was enthusiastically
supported by big business, Republicans, and all too many Democrats -- 
including then-Governor Howard Dean, who even attended a NAFTA signing
ceremony. Now it is clear that this experiment has failed. We've lost
close to 3 million manufacturing jobs since July 2000. Over one half a
million of these are directly attributable to NAFTA. Our trade deficit
grew to $418 billion last year and continues to climb. And, because of
the WTO, corporations have been granted unprecedented powers to sue
the government in closed trade courts anytime laws designed to protect
workers or the environment are deemed to infringe on corporate
'rights.'

"The legislative founding father of the WTO in the House of
Representatives was Richard Gephardt. The bill bears his name, and he
led the effort to achieve its passage. This surprises many people,
since Mr. Gephardt is thought to be a strong supporter of the very
workers' rights which the WTO does not permit recognition of.... The
Bush administration wants to extend NAFTA throughout the Western
Hemisphere through the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas (FTAA).
This proposal is being pushed by the administration and its Republican
allies in Congress and the corporate world. Opposed by genuine
progressive leaders throughout Latin America, including Brazilian
president Lula DaSilva, the FTAA ministerial will bring thousands of
dedicated activists onto the streets of Miami this month to
protest....The only way to undo the damage these trade deals have
caused is to end them. The NAFTA and WTO treaties include legal
clauses permitting the signatory countries to withdraw from them at
any time, following a routine notification period. As president, I
will invoke these withdrawal clauses and once and for all take America
out of an unfair system of corporate trade. We will return to
bilateral trade conditioned on workers' rights, human rights, and
environmental quality principles. This will provide security for
American workers and for workers worldwide."

What do YOU say?
You've read Dennis' position on NAFTA, now tell us where you stand.
Dennis wants to know how NAFTA is affecting your life, your family,
and your community. Please invite others to voice their opinion, too.

Go to  www.kucinich.us/nafta/  to tell your story and read what others
have to say.