How have advocating NAFTA and free trade helped politically?

[fujiyama]

I can't think of any way in which they helped politically. The extent to which they have hurt is debatable, but I don't see how it has helped.

The DLC is clueless. The majority are not in favor of unrestricted free trade and at the minimum want changes in NAFTA. It seems like Clinton kind of made a deal with the devil when he signed it into law and went after corporate donations. In a way the party lost a part of its soul by backing it.

We don't have to advocate strict protectionism. FAIR Trade is good and is needed, but the priority of the government should be to protect its workers' interests, the environment, and human rights. It should not be to protect the profits of corporations and a few very wealthy people at the top.

If we would adjust our stance on trade and gun control, I think we'd make some inroads. I'm not naive in believing our problems will be solved, but it sure wouldn't hurt.