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The main point: Get involved in partisan politics and attend
candidate forums to push a new trade agenda, and demonstrate support
for it during 2008.
The Peru FTA passed by 77-18 in the Senate, and by 285-132 in the House.
A bad vote. It was not close.
The worst statistics: Republican House members voted "yes" on Peru
by 176 to 16. Only one Republican Senator voted no, Jon Kyl of
Arizona.
The silver lining: Seven out of nine freshman Senators voted "no",
while the majority of House Democrats voted no (109-116). That
House Democratic majority included many freshman members from the 2006
election. Lesson - the new blood has been good on trade.
We are unlikely to convince enough existing Members of
Congress to make a major change in direction. Without more change
in the makeup of Congress (better R's and better D's), we are more
likely
to only slow down the new agreements and new policy damage, but that is
not good enough. Fast Track expiration in June 2007 was very
good, but only slows the acceleration. It does not slow the
absolute level of harm.
The majority of the country wants a new direction in
trade. This Old Trade vs. New Trade is a partisan divide in
Washington, but not in America. Republicans and Democrats are
both on the same page on the farms and in the cities. Unilateral
disarmament in trade is killing American prosperity.
SOLUTION:
We need new blood in DC, both R's and D's. Get involved in partisan politics... any
party. But fight for America rather than your party. Find out candidate positions, something I will help do on
this blog. Attend candidate forums. Ask them what they will
do about the trade deficit, currency manipulation, VAT tariffs,
outsourcing, trade agreements. This is the time the candidates are
nervous about getting, or retaining, a job. Votes matter more
than money when the voters are organized.
We have to hold candidates accountable. 2008 is a major
election year. Presidential candidates are asking for your
vote. Each of the 435 House members is asking for your
vote. Thirty five senate seats are contested... 23 held by
Republicans and 12 by Democrats.
Let them know the conditions for getting your vote.
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