Obama: NAFTA, Iraq killed our economy

[Coexist]

In my opinion, this move is brilliant.

Ohio, and other middle-class Americans, will feel this in their gut.

http://thepage.time.com/obamas-economic-policy-speech-excerpts/

It’s a Washington where George Bush hands out billions in tax cuts year after year to the biggest corporations and the wealthiest few who don’t need them and don’t ask for them – tax breaks that are mortgaging our children’s future on a mountain of debt; tax breaks that could’ve gone into the pockets of the working families who needed them most.

It’s a Washington where decades of trade deals like NAFTA and China have been signed with plenty of protections for corporations and their profits, but none for our environment or our workers who’ve seen factories shut their doors and millions of jobs disappear; workers whose right to organize and unionize has been under assault for the last eight years.

It’s a Washington where politicians like John McCain and Hillary Clinton voted for a war in Iraq that should’ve never been authorized and never been waged – a war that is costing us thousands of precious lives and billions of dollars a week that could’ve been used to rebuild crumbling schools and bridges; roads and buildings; that could’ve been invested in job training and child care; in making health care affordable or putting college within reach.

<snip>
For our economy, our safety, and our workers, we have to rebuild America. I’m proposing a National Infrastructure Reinvestment Bank that will invest $60 billion over ten years. This investment will multiply into almost half a trillion dollars of additional infrastructure spending and generate nearly two million new jobs – many of them in the construction industry that’s been hard hit by this housing crisis. The repairs will be determined not by politics, but by what will maximize our safety and homeland security; what will keep our environment clean and our economy strong. And we’ll fund this bank by ending this war in Iraq. It’s time to stop spending billions of dollars a week trying to put Iraq back together and start spending the money on putting America back together instead.”

[David Zephyr]

1. I agree. Brilliant indeed. And truth is always so powerful.

Kudos to Barack.

[Akoto]

2. I agree wholeheartedly with this.

If our economy is going to recover, NAFTA's gotta go and we have to stop bleeding money in the war. It was only worsened by the fact that they cut taxes during wartime.

[Coexist]

11. there are some details in the speech

"I don’t know about a time-out, but I do know this – when I am President, I will not sign another trade agreement unless it has protections for our environment and protections for American workers. And I’ll pass the Patriot Employer Act that I’ve been fighting for ever since I ran for the Senate – we will end the tax breaks for companies who ship our jobs overseas, and we will give those breaks to companies who create good jobs with decent wages right here in America.

I know that General Motors received some bad news yesterday, and I know how hard your Governor has fought to keep jobs in this plant. But I also know how much progress you’ve made – how many hybrids and fuel-efficient vehicles you’re churning out. And I believe that if our government is there to support you, and give you the assistance you need to re-tool and make this transition, that this plant will be here for another hundred years. The question is not whether a clean energy economy is in our future, it’s where it will thrive. I want it to thrive right here in the United States of America; right here in Wisconsin; and that’s the future I’ll fight for as your President.

My energy plan will invest $150 billion over ten years to establish a green energy sector that will create up to 5 million new jobs over the next two decades – jobs that pay well and can’t be outsourced. We’ll also provide funding to help manufacturers convert to green technology and help workers learn the skills they need for these jobs.”

He wants to take the $$ from Iraq and create a new green job sector, like the .com industry created so many jobs in the 80s (or that is what I am reading - correct me if I am wrong.)

[Straight Shooter]

18. The "Patriot" Employer Act

Sounds like george bush. Is it no longer possible to propose legislation without the injection of jingoistic terms? Surely there must be a better way to phrase things than to imply that people either are or are not patriots.

If a company doesn't go along, then they're not patriots. Nor are their stockholders. Nor are the people who buy their products. That's the subtle implication.

Anyone who is paying attention wants to create a green economy. That's a matter of survival as much as it is anything else.

[AndyA]

3. I agree with Barack on this. But what is he going to do to fix it?

Anyone can state the obvious. But what is his plan to fix the problem, put an end to NAFTA, bring the jobs back, etc.? :shrug:

[oviedodem]

7. Dude RTFA! I don't know what else he needs to say. He has said repeatedly

that he wants to repeal NAFTA in other debates.

He just laid out exactly what he wants to do to spur job growth.

I DONT KNOW HOW CLEARER HE NEEDS TO BE.

[AndyA]

17. I read the article. It falls short on explanations, as does Barack's site.

You can't just walk away from NAFTA - POOF! - it's gone, all better now, folks...jobs returning any day now... :eyes:

A word of advice: You really should be a bit less rude with such a low post count, you'll end up on lots of ignored lists. I didn't deserve your remark.

[oviedodem]

19. Stop with the post count crap. Expalin this to me -

Has Hillary said what she is going to do or did I miss it?

1. I’m proposing a National Infrastructure Reinvestment Bank that will invest $60 billion over ten years. This investment will multiply into almost half a trillion dollars of additional infrastructure spending and generate nearly two million new jobs – many of them in the construction industry that’s been hard hit by this housing crisis.

Obiviously this is a type of reserved fund.

2. will not sign another trade agreement unless it has protections for our environment and protections for American workers. And I’ll pass the Patriot Employer Act that I’ve been fighting for ever since I ran for the Senate – we will end the tax breaks for companies who ship our jobs overseas, and we will give those breaks to companies who create good jobs with decent wages right here in America.

This bill was introduced yesterday by Obama and Dodd. Obviously "don't put a trade bill in front of him that does not protect the American worker"

3. My energy plan will invest $150 billion over ten years to establish a green energy sector that will create up to 5 million new jobs over the next two decades – jobs that pay well and can’t be outsourced. We’ll also provide funding to help manufacturers convert to green technology and help workers learn the skills they need for these jobs.”


I am going to stop now because I guess Obama must give you all the blow by blow description of who he intends to talk to, how he is going to write the bill, etc.

No ONE does this not even your beloved Hillary!!!

[AndyA]

29. For your information, I am NOT a Hillary supporter.

Just trying to decide between the two. And NOT really enjoying the thought of being a part of the Obama CULT.

[oviedodem]

31. First it is not a cult. If you are going to go there, then all supporters

on both sides are part of a cult.

Second, all I ask is that people really seek out the information they desire. No candidate is going to go in depth/nuts and bolts on what they want to do; there is not enough time. How one could read that article and not see any "meat" is beyond me.

[AndyA]

34. It fits the definition of a cult. And the Obama side is much worse than the Hillary side.

(Coming from someone who isn't currently supporting either.)

And the article was just an excerpt of the speech, not the entire thing, so no it really doesn't go into much depth. There is no meat there. And trying to find real answers on his site is useless.

So we're supposed to just "hope" and "believe" that "change" is coming. Right. We should do that because we've never been lied to before. :eyes:

After the last 7 years, only a fool would have so much blind faith, and only an opportunist would expect them to.

[Zodiak]

23. The poster didn't curse, call you a name

imply that you are stupid, or call you a Republican.

I see no reason for you taking offense other than a few caps.

[Coexist]

28. lots of sensitive posters around this month

its tough to say much without offending, unless you agree with the poster.

[AndyA]

30. And I see no reason for you to interject your opinion here.

Butt out.

And telling someone to "read the f*cking article" is rude.

You people think you're going to attract people to Obama's camp by acting like this? Hardly.

[Zodiak]

35. This is a discussion board

I will interject my opinion where I feel appropriate, thank you very much. Got a problem with it? Take it up with the mods. Of course, in the absence of any rudeness on my part, they will tell you the same.

And yes, you are right, the abbreviation is rude. Glad you cleared up exactly what you found offensive, because I didn't see it within an abbreviation. Abbreviations are like that.

And watch who you are calling "you people"....I only interjected my opinion about getting offended, not about the beatification of Obama.

[ProgressIn2008]

20. On his website, he says he won't repeal NAFTA, actually - he'll amend it, he says

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/economy/#trade

Trade

Amend the North American Free Trade Agreement: Obama believes that NAFTA and its potential were oversold to the American people. Obama will work with the leaders of Canada and Mexico to fix NAFTA so that it works for American workers.

It's good to acknowledge that NAFTA is a bum deal. I don't know if it can be fixed, but we'll see, I guess. Regardless, if he said in debates that he'd repeal NAFTA, he needs to revise his website to reflect his new position.

[Oskie]

26. Yeah right! He campaigned for Lieberman in '06! When he had

the chance to stand up for his anti-war beliefs, he campaigned for pro-war Joe! Turncoat Joe! That means Obama says one thing, does the other. Repealing NAFTA will get lip service...and lofty excuses.

[BridgeTheGap]

9. National Infrastructure Reinvestment Bank is what he is proposing

Not sure on the specifics of this.

[oviedodem]

4. There is all the substance you need for all those who think he has none;There it is!

[RethugAssKicker]

5. With statements like these.... How can Obama lose ?

[Vinca]

6. He's exactly right. nt

[toadzilla]

8. great!

[woodsprite]

I have 2 words to say to that: D@mn Straight! n/t

[Captain Hilts]

10. How many products in your house are made in Mexico? How many in China? Compare. nt

[jasmine621]

14. People will not hear this. No matter what the facts. nt

[oviedodem]

12. *** PLEASE FOR ALL: READ THE WHOLE THING ** He laid out a real plan

[Coexist]

13. he did. It was hard to choose which 4 paragraphs to paste.

good stuff, there.

[oviedodem]

15. I know, but I am so annoyed when I keep hearing and reading

that he has not plans! His website is almost too detailed. The plan in Wisconsin today is very CLEAR to me.

[AtomicKitten]

16. Obama's got it exactly right and will create a real paradigm shift.

[caseycoon]

21. K&R Very informative. Thanks n/t

[davidwparker]

22. ...

:kick:

[KittyWampus]

24. And Banking DeRegulation

[lurky]

25. This will be welcome news in Ohio.

They have been devastated by plant closings and offshoring.

[Hart2008]

27. He is finally talkilng like a real Democrat!

:woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo:

[H2O Man]

32. Nominated.

It is a powerful message, because it is true. And those are two issues related to his opponent.

[jackson_dem]

33. Obama: I hope no one looks at my actual free trade policy which is more RW than Hillary