The Daily

How NAFTA Broke American Politics

110 snips
Oct 8, 2024
Dan Kaufman, a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine and author, reveals how NAFTA reshaped American politics and its workforce. Former Master Lock employee Chancey Adams shares personal stories illustrating the human toll of industrial job losses. They discuss the political realignment between parties and the working class, alongside the initial economic growth versus the long-term effects of job displacement and rising inequality. Together, they highlight the emotional and societal shifts that continue to influence U.S. political dynamics today.
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INSIGHT

NAFTA's Political Impact

  • NAFTA's passage marked a pivotal political shift.
  • Democrats moved away from the working class and toward the professional class, while Republicans embraced working-class rhetoric.
INSIGHT

1992 Election and NAFTA

  • During the 1992 election, Bush supported NAFTA, Perot opposed it, and Clinton took a middle ground.
  • Clinton won but Perot's strong showing highlighted public opposition to free trade.
INSIGHT

Clinton's NAFTA Push

  • Clinton needed Democratic support to pass NAFTA.
  • He dispatched Al Gore to debate Perot, emphasizing expert support and the inevitability of globalization.
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