HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - August 18, 1993 (71)CITY COUNCIL MEETING
August 18, 1993
OPPOSITION TO NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT
Harry Thomas, 17 North Central Avenue, Lodi, presented a
letter to the City Council (which is on file in the City
Clerk's office) expressing his apposition to the North
American Free Trade Agreement and informed the public that
he is circulating petitions to send to Congress to stop
this effort.
FILE NO. �'1='.NV CC -16
August 18,1993
Lodi City Council;
Gentlemen;
I am a retired ceramic tile contractor, and my adress is 17 N
Central Ave. Lodi Ca. I am a founding member of the United We Stand
America organization. I ask your indulgence tonight to adress the
issue of The North American Free Trade Agreement, and it's effect on
the citizens of Lodi. I have no personal axe to grind because of my
opposition to this agreement, only that of a veteran of two wars who
loves his country and fellow citizens. I truly believe this agreement
is bad for the nation as a whole.
I have a list of over 1100 of the largest businesses and corpera-
tions and banks in this country that are members of an organization
named U S A (NAFTA) This organization was formed for the primary pur-
pose of promoting NAFTA. General Mills is a member of USA (NAFTAj~ I
wish to stress the fact that I know of no plan for General Mills to
close their Lodi plant, but here are some of the advantages they wou-
ld have in closing the plant here, and moving to Mexico.
I have absolutly no idea of the size of General Mills payroll,
but using common sense, it has- an enormous effect on the economy
of Lodi.
The minimun wage in Mexico is 58* an hour. Any enviormental
standards they have are not inforced. Safety standards are non-
existent. They are prohibited from organizing any type of union.
There is no such things as social security, pensions, unemployment
insurance or any type of health care. In order to attract business,
Mexico will grant huge tax breaks to companies locating there. Our
goverment has placed so many mandatory restrictions on business in
the United States, that relocating in Mexico is very attractive, to
say the least. Companies will move there and enjoy huge profits for
their stock holders, and the Mexican economy will boom. The U S
economy will suffer and our standard of living will errode even more.
All of this to satisfy special interests who do not care one bit about
the average American. Mexico has spent millions lobbying this one sided
agreement. For those who do not realize it, lobbying is nothing more
than legalized bribery. What other reason does a Congress person have
to listen to lobbyists but money? It is that simple.
Mexico's gross national product is 4% of the United States GNP.
Does it make any common sense to have equal trade under those circum-
stances? Of course not! Canada has a whole country between the Mexican
border and theirs. Mexican trucks will use our hiways to transport
their exports to their country. That is great for Canada, but how
about our gas taxes paying for those hiways?
There is one simple fact staring the American public in the face!
We are being sold out to the special interests again. Lodi in partic-
ular should be greatly Every citizen in our city will be
effected if this stupid agreement is ratified by Congress! Every one
of us should notify our Congress persons of their opposition to this
abortion of such a onesided trade agreement! I am personally circula-
ting petitions to send to Congress. Please join me in my efforts!
5Enk You.„.0
ry' Thomas