What influences them

At first I appreciated seeing a story about the Trans-Pacific Partnership on the front page earlier this month, but I was disappointed by what I saw as the story’s marginalization of the effect that NAFTA has had on our country.

The story seems to paint the picture that only labor unions and liberal groups blame NAFTA for the staggering decline in manufacturing jobs in the U.S. The main arguments in support of these agreements, like NAFTA and TPP, emphasize increases in trade. These “increases” in trade include Whirlpool refrigerators now made in Mexico that were formerly made in Fort Smith where over 4,000 jobs were lost.

There is an escalating battle between stockholders and communities across the world, and it seems our Congress and president are quickly becoming more and more influenced by these multinational corporations than by what is best for their constituents. SETH GATELY

Little Rock