Canada braces for US attack

[Dinner]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
Oerdin, do you know anything at all about NAFTA?
Do you know what the letters stand for?

Do a Google search. JEEZUS!

I know exactly what NAFTA is in reality. I prefer to taunt Canadians though.

BTW did you know that the EU started out as a free trade zone just like NAFTA? Or rather it started as free trade in steel and coal among France, West Germany, and the low countries but it quickly expanded to free trade in general. From there the bonds just kept growing.

NAFTA, CAFTA, Mercosur, or even ASEAN could all develop along similar lines given time. There is strength in numbers after all so given the right conditions it could happen.

[SlowwHand]

I don't like NAFTA. Neither the USA, Mexico nor Canada has benefited from it. USA lost out jobs. Mexico wasn't ready and would never be ready; and Canda got things stuffed down their throat, one of which would be putting corporate headquarters there with no other activity, unless I'm misinformed.

[Wezil]

There is strength in numbers after all so given the right conditions it could happen.

Not until you return our falls.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Wezil

Start a french theme park (kind of like Louisianna) and make them earn their keep.

I have to agree that Louisiana is a French theme park. It seemed like lots of people took French in school and knew a few phrases but only the old people in remote areas continue to speak French as a native. Even the Cajun youngsters supposedly learn English first these days. Soon all that will be left will be a theme park in the French Quarter.

[Imran Siddiqui]

NAFTA

[SlowwHand]

I would have bet big money that you'd say that, Imran.

[Mrs. Tuberski]

a theme park?? hell in a few years it will be a water park. I thought the other language there was cajun

[Dinner]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
I don't like NAFTA. Neither the USA, Mexico nor Canada has benefited from it. USA lost out jobs. Mexico wasn't ready and would never be ready; and Canada got things stuffed down their throat, one of which would be putting corporate headquarters there with no other activity, unless I'm misinformed.

What are you talking about? All three have benefited greatly from free trade. Just look at how much cross border trade and investment has increased since NAFTA came into effect. Trade and investment equal jobs.

Sure, the US lost some low wage labor intensive jobs but those jobs would have been lost to China or some where else anyway even without NAFTA. Free trade means Mexicans got those jobs instead of Chinese; that's something an anti-illegal alien person like yourself should support. Study after study have shown that all three nations have gained fair more then they have lost due to free trade so the jury is in and free trade wins.

As for Mexico not being ready... Nothing has helped modernize Mexico and help implement international standards more then NAFTA. Mexico used to be a boom and bust economy based on raw materials prices but now it has diversified, made numerous pro market reforms, and generally become a much more stable and productive place. NAFTA was the best thing to develop in North America since the bi-lateral Canada US Free Trade Agreement in the 80's.

[SlowwHand]

All I can say is to hit it or pass it, Oerdin.

[Mrs. Tuberski]

only one problem with ur theroies oredin the mexicans that can afford to leave the country during the severe air pollution time come to the us and spend thier money here. They arent puting back into their own economy during this time. The US benefits greatly from the rich mexicans that come here. Nafta has been in place for a long time and it is just now that the canadian currency matches the us im not sure that nafta has anything to do with it

[Dinner]

How have all three countries lost due to NAFTA as you stated?

[Imran Siddiqui]

They haven't Oerdin. Sloww just has no clue what he's talking about, as usual.

[SlowwHand]

Do you have anything to say besides slander?
I already made my points.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Mrs. Tuberski
only one problem with ur theroies oredin the mexicans that can afford to leave the country during the severe air pollution time come to the us and spend thier money here. They arent puting back into their own economy during this time. The US benefits greatly from the rich mexicans that come here. Nafta has been in place for a long time and it is just now that the canadian currency matches the us im not sure that nafta has anything to do with it

The rise of Canada's dollar and the fall of the US dollar is because the Canadian government has been making good economic choices (especial budget and tax wise) while the US government has behavied very badly with its economic policies. It doesn't hurt that Canada is a huge exporter of raw materials whose prices have shot through the roof due to Asian demand.

As for Mexicans not investing at home; what do you base this on? International invest into Mexico has certainly gone up dramatically post NAFTA and that has certainly meant lots of new jobs. Living on the border it is very easy for me to see the massive numbers of factories international firms have set up in Tijuana and to see how many more middle and upper class Mexicans I see shopping, visiting, and clubbing here in San Diego. Job creation in Mexico has been very strong for over a decade now (except during the Peso crisis) so someone has been creating jobs and investing.

[Dinner]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
They haven't Oerdin. Sloww just has no clue what he's talking about, as usual.

I know. I just wanted to give Slowwy a chance to state his case so I could rip it apart.