Below is the letter to the Editor I wrote about CAFTA. It can be found at www.the-dispatch.com



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Article published Aug 1, 2005
CAFTA will harm us


Editor: Well, folks, hold onto your hats. CAFTA just passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a 217-215 vote and I fear that we once again have been sold down the river by the people we've elected to represent us.
We all know what has happened to our county and state from the passage of WTO and NAFTA , so if past experience is any indication we can watch yet more of our jobs sucked out of our county and state.
The representatives who voted for CAFTA argued that, if they didn't pass it, it would just create an even worse illegal immigrant problem. Of course, that argument doesn't hold water because we all know what has happened with the passage of NAFTA.
The illegal immigration situation has become much worse so it did not have the desired effect of making things better in Mexico, thereby eliminating the desire of illegals to come to our country for jobs. Why the people who are supposed to be representing us didn't see that CAFTA will just do the same thing with illegals coming in from Central America, I do not know.
I do feel that the residents of Davidson County owe a huge debt of gratitude to Reps. Howard Coble and Mel Watt. They were among the 215 House members who actually had the courage to stand up to the pressure from special interest groups and, more importantly, the White House and they voted their convictions. Sens. Elizabeth Dole and Richard Burr buckled to the pressure from the White House and voted for CAFTA. Senator Burr had even said he was going to vote against it until the White House did its arm-twisting routine and he caved.
I keep remembering what Ross Perot said years ago about NAFTA and WTO. He described the "sucking sounds" of jobs being sent out of the country and he was right on the money. None of these so-called "free" trade agreements have had the promised effects and neither will CAFTA.
If you have the time, please contact Congressmen Coble and Watt and let them know how much you appreciate that they listen to their constituents and that they vote their conscience.