You might not know it to listen to this president, because to listen to this president is to (1) find yourself mumbling about his childish behavior and language, and (2) be distracted by all the hype that surrounds his every tweet. Why can't the man grow up? Or is it too late for that once a body has made it past 70?
So you might not know it to listen to this president. But if you could put aside his vulgarities, you might notice the stock market.
It's through the roof.
This week, the papers said U.S. jobless claims were the lowest since 1973. They call this a "tight jobs market," which means businesses are fighting over employees. Which means raises for many. They say a 5 percent unemployment rate is actually "full employment" because people moving from one place and job to another can account for that 5 percent. And here the country stands at 4.1 percent. Can the United States have a better jobs market than full employment? Apparently the answer is yes.
Oil prices are slipping. Our 401(k)s are rising. Businesses are handing out bonuses. Wal-Mart has raised its minimum wage.
This administration's policies, including that massive tax cut, have helped create this economic surge. So why put the brakes on it by getting into a trade war?
NAFTA is important to Arkansas, and for evidence, your honor, just ask a lawyer like Asa Hutchinson. The governor met with a roomful of business leaders in Rogers the other day, specifically to talk about the North American Free Trade Agreement. Their message to the president: Mend it, don't end it.
Here are some numbers:
• Since NAFTA was established in 1994, Arkansas' exports to Mexico and Canada have increased more than 400 percent.
• Those in the know say more than 110,000 Arkies owe their livelihoods to the trade agreement.
• And 44 percent of all agricultural products, from soybeans to catfish, are exported north and south of the borders.
In a recent meeting with the president, Gov. Hutchinson tried to explain all that. Maybe he was successful.
Because if the United States puts up tariffs and barriers, it's not likely the other two countries in NAFTA are going to just take it. They could use their trading capabilities to retaliate. Or as the governor told the press: "And the first victim of trade is agriculture. Now, of course what [President Trump] said next was, 'Don't worry about this Asa. I got this under control.' . . . . I left there and I'm still worried about it."
Why wouldn't he be? It's said this president often sides with whomever talks with him last. And if somebody whispers in his ear that NAFTA makes him look weak, he's likely to sour on it. No matter what the numbers say.
If that's the case, we hope Arkansas' governor is the last one to talk with him before his final act on the matter. NAFTA is too important to Arkansas, and any other state that enjoys the benefits of free trade, to throw it out because doing so sounded good on the flighty and distracting campaign trail.
Editorial on 01/20/2018