Max Powers

What Happens To El Paso If NAFTA Ends?

Folks smarter than me said that Brexit would destroy England.

Folks smarter than me also said Trump would destroy the economy.

I am not going to say those folks were wrong, but perhaps they were a tad bit off.

Those same folks are saying more or less the same thing about NAFTA's potential demise.

Now let me be clear.

In principle I support anything that makes our ties stronger with our all of neighbors to the south of us.  Except maybe for Belize.  Because Belize does not make any sense.  That and Suriname and Guyana. 

That being said, I do not see anything wrong with revisiting trade agreements that have not changed in over twenty years.  The world was a much different place when NAFTA was signed.  Apartheid in South Africa ended, Green Day released “Dookie", among other things.  

The smarter folks will tell you, "Trump!"

Okay fine.

Trump screws the pooch and NAFTA dies.

What happens?

Probably not much.

Other than freight forwarders charge more for extra paperwork I guess.

And then what?

Yes, Mexico can look elsewhere, but ultimately, the US is too damn big and too damn convenient to pass up. 

What is Mexico going to do with all those cars it is producing? Send them to Guatemala?  Te fascina.  Guatemala barely can afford the used cars the US sends down there. 

 

 

 

 

Identity Politics - When It Bites Back

When Mary Gonzalez first ran for State Representative, her claim to fame was the fact she was a lesbian. 

And because she was a lesbian, she managed to get money out of LBGT PACs. 

But it turned out she was not exactly lesbian, she was bisexual.

Then it turned out she was not exactly bisexual, she was "pansexual".

What does that mean?  It means she likes to phuck.  Not that there is anything wrong with that.  But there is no HOR PAC unfortunately.  If there is, let me know, and I'll contribute. 

So Mary was probably the first "gay-for-pay" candidate in history.  

And kudos to her for hustling those LGBT PACs. 

By pretending to be gay, she inoculated herself from attacks about her an being unemployed carpet-bagger.  Because if we were to point that out, well, you just do not know how hard it is be gay, or even pretend to be a gay, and be brown.

But now she was a problem. 

If it is tough to being a "lesbian" Latina, well, it is probably harder being a Native American.  Or at least it is for those who view their victim status based on some sexual, ethnic, religious,  and/or racial identity. 

And what is Mary's opponent? 

A Native American...a Tigua to be precise. 

Her opponent could very well be the first Native American to ever serve in the Texas Legislature.

And for her tribe, and perhaps many others across the country, that is a big deal.  

 

  

 

Veronica Escobar - Unforced Error(s)

Because Veronica Escobar did not resign earlier, she gave Dori Fenenbock some ammunition.

That damn ego of hers gets in her own way.

Yes, to be an elected official you have to have an ego, but it is on a spectrum.

Escobar's is on the bad end of the spectrum.

Had Escobar resigned earlier she would not have given her "State of the County" speech.

In her mind, she thought doing that speech was a good idea.

She had a captive audience, and she can feel good about herself rattling off her alleged accomplishments.

And boy did she rattle off.

And in doing so, Fenenbock got a story and an online ad campaign out of it.

Again, could have been avoided, but no.

Escobar wanted to do her speech.

And then there is Escobar returning a contribution back to County Judge Ruben Vogt.

Again, her ego.

She wanted to show how honest she was by returning the money back to Vogt.

But in doing so, again another story.

Returning the money looks worse than keeping it.

You return the cash if Harvey Weinstein gave it to you.  But Vogt is not Weinstein, at least I do not think he is, but I do not know now because Escobar has me wondering. 

It really is amateur hour over there in Escobar's campaign.

She should win this race, but she might end-up getting in her own way.