====== FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ======
America First Party
1630 A 30th Street #111
Boulder, Colorado 80301
http://www.AmericaFirstParty.org
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Flawed Trade Policy Bankrupting America
Boulder, CO -- America First Party National Chairman Dan Charles
issued the following statement regarding the record trade deficit in
2005:
"The American people should be outraged by the record $726 billion
trade deficit in 2005. It again confirms the judgment of the America
First Party that both Democrats and Republicans have incompetently
mismanaged our nation's trade policy. The so-called free-trade
policies pursued by both parties are deeply flawed. They are
bankrupting our nation, transferring America's wealth to others.
"This is the 4th straight year of record trade deficits, and the 12th
new trade deficit record in 14 years. It is long past time for a
change of direction. The American economy should exist for the
benefit of the American people, not those in foreign lands.
"Because of these flawed policies, our economic security is at risk.
Manufacturing jobs are leaving this country at a rapid rate. The loss
of whole industries is leading to the rapid deindustrialization of
this nation. These flawed policies transfer our wealth overseas and
make it harder for our citizens to earn a living, support their
families, and send their kids to college.
"Because of these flawed policies, our national security is at risk.
The wealth leaving our nation is being used to build the armies and
arsenals our children may one day face in a conflict with China. It
is being used to fund terrorists and the worldwide network of
madrassas from which they are spawned. As our capacity to
manufacture is depleted, so is our ability to properly equip our troops.
"In his State of the Union address, President Bush argued that our
trade imbalance could be 'innovated' out of existence. If the
international trade playing field were level, we could.
"But, the field is not level. Our workers, companies and industries
are being put into direct competition with those who have lower
wages, face fewer costly regulations, and are still protected by high
tariffs and other boundaries.
"It is time for a trade policy that puts America and all Americans
First. To start, government at all levels should enact a Buy
American policy. Individual consumers should be encouraged to do the
same. It is unconscionable that such a policy was stupidly stripped
from the most recent defense appropriations.
"The America First Party also advocates letting Congress set trade
policy, rather than unelected bureaucrats at the WTO. We reject the
legitimacy and wisdom of GATT, NAFTA, CAFTA and similar agreements.
We propose implementing a tariff system that takes into account
differences in wages, regulations, environmental protection, tariffs,
and market access.
"A change of direction is needed. No nation can sustain losing 6% of
its wealth each year for very long."
The America First Party was founded in April 2002 and is focused on electing principled citizen statesmen who will preserve and protect our people and our sovereignty, promote economic growth and independence, encourage the traditional values of faith, family, and responsibility, ensure equality before the law in protecting those rights granted by the Creator, and clean up our corrupted political system. In 2004, the AFP elected two-thirds of its candidates to public office.
Contacts:
Dan Charles, National Chairman, 1-866-SOS-USA1, ext. 4
Romelle Winters, Press Secretary, 1-866-SOS-USA1, ext. 2
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