That's putting it lightly. Killing the middleclass wasn't a mistake, they all knew what would happen with NAFTA. Now most of our vibrant rust belt cites and the Midwest cities are slums with no opportunity. You can work your way out of poverty with some opportunity, but you're dead in the water with poverty/no opportunity.
#27 | Posted by lfthndthrds
Of course repubs blame clinton for NAFTA.
In reality Here's the timeline:
Ronald Reagan is often credited with promoting the idea of a North American free trade area. During his 1980 presidential campaign, he advocated closer economic integration with Canada and Mexico.
Brian Mulroney and Reagan negotiated the Canada"United States Free Trade Agreement, which took effect in 1989 and became the foundation for a broader North American agreement.
Carlos Salinas de Gortari was a major driving force behind expanding free trade to include Mexico. In 1990, he formally proposed a free trade agreement with the United States.
George H. W. Bush agreed to negotiate. His administration, led by U.S. Trade Representative Carla Hills, conducted the negotiations with Canadian and Mexican counterparts.
The three countries completed the negotiations in 1992, and Bush, Mulroney, and Salinas signed the agreement in December 1992.
When Clinton entered office in January 1993:
He supported NAFTA but sought additional agreements on labor and environmental standards to address criticism.
After negotiating those side agreements, his administration worked to secure congressional approval.
Congress passed the implementing legislation, and Clinton signed it into law on December 8, 1993. NAFTA took effect on January 1, 1994.
the vote on NAFTA did not follow party lines.
House vote (November 17, 1993)
Passed 234"200
Republicans:
132 Yes
43 No
Democrats:
102 Yes
156 No
A majority of Democrats voted against the agreement, while a majority of Republicans voted for it.
Senate vote (November 20, 1993)
Passed 61"38
Republicans:
34 Yes
10 No
Democrats:
27 Yes
28 No
Again, Republican support was stronger than Democratic support.
