Tangled Up in Green: NAFTA…Only If We Absolutely Hafta
I don’t know if you caught it, but the whole Hillary Clinton-Barack Obama flap over NAFTA exposed a dirty little secret: The North American Free Trade Agreement isn’t about American jobs or cheap Mexican labor—it’s about Canadian oil.
Think as far back as two weeks ago. I know you can do it. Remember, Britney’s dad started taking control of her life… everyone you know bugged the hell out of you by constantly saying: “I drink your milkshake…”
Anyway, back then, Hillary and Obama were campaigning among blue-collar crowds in Ohio when news broke out that someone from the Obama camp called the Canadian government and reassured them that the tough talk on NAFTA was all just an act. Later, it was revealed that Hillary probably made a similar call.
All of which begged the question: Why would they care so much about Canada if this was about NAFTA? Hasn’t Uncle Lou told us time and time again that NAFTA is all about Mexico: its cheap labor, and its non-existent regulations, which entice American factories to relocate south of the border?
Well, the dirty little secret is that without NAFTA America would no longer have a special deal with Canadian oil, which currently makes up roughly eight percent of annual U.S. oil consumption.
So — as sad as it is — breaking off the deal is itself a deal-breaker for both Democratic candidates, and, of course, for John McCain too. And, once again, our dependence on oil has led us into unsound policy.
Still, at least the Democratic candidates insist they will call for a restructuring of NAFTA—for both labor and environmental reasons.
We need to hold them to that promise.
It might provide a great opportunity to emphasize green practices. That means getting all three nations on board to create stricter—and enforceable—regulations; it means setting up a carbon-credit program between the three countries to help offset emissions of greenhouse gases; it means requiring all three nations to invest a substantial amount toward the development of renewable energy sources.
In other words use NAFTA to help put the three countries on the cutting-edge of the green movement. Make something positive out of a negative.
It looks like we’ll be stuck with NAFTA for the near future and that’s certainly bad news the way the agreement is currently structured. Any treaty that prolongs the short-sighted need to maintain our current levels of oil consumption, while neglecting to use the best alternative resources at the disposal of all three nations, is not just drinking our milkshake — it’s throwing it down the drain!
You get my point.
Flag artwork courtesy of illegalillegals
As a Canadian I think NAFTA should be changed, because then we could charge the USA the prices for commodities they should be paying.
The USA got the overall best deal from NAFTA and people do not seem to remeber the economic problems in the late eighties and earlier nineties that lead to its creation. Factories were closing in places like Ohio long before NAFTA and politicians use it as spin.
I my opinion, do not buy our oil, it is too dirty for you, we will use it domestically saving us from having to import, plus we can turn off the electricity we sell you as well.
In the words of former Prime Minister Jean Cretien - paraphrased - “have them ( The USA ) make a list of what they do not need”
Well, if we’re drawing up a list, add Celine Dion and Nickelback to it.
Seriously, I’m not a Canada-basher. In fact, I like the country a great deal. But any trade policy that perpetuates our dependence on foreign oil is only a short-term measure at best.
–Ranjit
I did not think you are a Canada basher. I just think that you like most Americans are completely owned by the political spin as to what is actually traded between the NAFTA countries. Americians, especially environmentally concerned ones, tend always think oil first in every discussion on free trade.
Canada will benefit greatly from the ability to charge open trade rate pricing again on potash, fertilizer, copper, uranium, tin, natural gas, wheat, beef, coarse grains and the thousands of other things we send south everyday.
Of course an increase in the price of raw materials and commodities will lead to inflation and job loss in the USA but hey, no more dirty oil, so look at the bright side.
We, unlike you, have enough oil and gas to be energy independent. So stop buying it, PLEASE.
Oh, Daryl, Daryl, Daryl…
I think it’s fair to say that you don’t have an inside track on what I–or “most Americans,” for that matter–think. But I do appreciate your effort. Yes, there is a great deal of spin about NAFTA in the media and by politicians, but environmentalists can be concerned about the treaty for any other number of reasons, beyond just oil: unnecessary corn subsidies that have inflated the price of U.S. corn, and thus the overall price of food (all while devastating Mexican farms); the failure to enforce any meaningful environmental standards…but go ahead and stick to your sweeping generalizations; makes life easier, I’m sure.
As for your ability to supply yourselves with your own oil and gas, feel free to take your ball and go play elsewhere…we can’t keep playing this game anyway, so ultimately it may not be the worst thing if suddenly we were forced to resort to alternative means to make up for that eight percent of annual oil consumption.
Finally, I’d also add Alanis Morissette to the list of things you can take back. (I’ve got one hand in my pocket and the other is giving the peace sign…)