You cannot separate the church and community; here are a few thoughts about Crestview’s alcohol ordinance and the comments being made:

The church is not a building. I understand that this word — church — is often used in reference to a building that a church utilizes for worship services and ministries; however, this is divorced from the word’s original intent.

The word church referred to people who would gather and then go back out into their community. If you were to read the Bible, you would never see the word church used to refer to a building but always in reference to Jesus Christ’s followers.

Community and church cannot be separate if freedom of speech and religion exists. If we understand that the church is not a building or institution, but rather people who are a part of a community and assemble regularly for corporate worship, then we must understand that there is no way to silence these people if we value freedom of speech and religion.

Those who are not of the faith can disagree with the opinion of the church and, if it is the minority opinion, it will likely not win. But saying that their opinion is to be dismissed is dangerous, just as dismissing the opinion of an agnostic is dangerous.  

The church should be with the community. As pastor of a church just outside Crestview’s city limits, I am concerned that many are portraying churches as being against the community; and I think there is some validity to that opinion.

At the risk of isolating myself from many fellow pastors, I find it unfortunate that there is an us-versus-them mentality from some of our local churches and, while I don’t represent those pastors, I just want to make it clear that they do not speak on behalf of all churches either.

I am encouraged by the work Paul Lowery and others are putting into evaluating what is best for our city’s welfare. I was encouraged by the following statement about him in Samantha Lambert’s article: “He said he’s visited other Main Streets in Florida cities where similar alcohol ordinances have been introduced and responsible business owners have been allowed to succeed.” 

Mr. Lowery — and council members — serve the interest of all of our community and, while some pastors like Joel McGraw think, “The drinking of alcohol can be limited and stopped. Stopped is best,” not all churches agree with that statement and certainly not all residents of North Okaloosa County agree with Pastor McGraw.

The church is valuable to our community. To those who are not a part of the church: Based on some of the things being said by church leaders, I understand why Johnny Alexander made the statement, “If you want a say in what goes into our downtown area, I suggest you start paying taxes like those among us who are trying to establish a livelihood in downtown Crestview.” 

However, I assure you that the effects of changing tax exemption status for churches in our area would be far more damaging than beneficial and, as was pointed out in one comment, church members pay taxes. Church members paying taxes is indeed the church paying taxes, as the church is not a building; it is the people who gather in that building.

To the church: Our culture is changing on the state level and on the national level but God doesn’t change and His plan for the church doesn’t change. Pray for our leaders (1 Timothy 2), respect our leaders (Romans 13) and build bridges in our community to help people see that we love them regardless of what they believe about — you fill in the blank. This is what will give you a voice in our culture (2 Corinthians 5). 

If we are confident in our faith, then we don’t need to defend it — we need to live it! This is what has and what always will bring about the church’s growth.

When the church grows, their influence in culture grows. 

The Rev. James Ross is the lead pastor of Mosaic Church in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Division on alcohol issue unfortunate

Pertaining to Monday’s Crestview City Council meeting — the issue of revising the current alcohol ordinance in the downtown area — I have some concerns, none of which involve responsible, lawful alcohol consumption.

My concern is with the convenient ignorance of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, which states in the beginning, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”

While the city of Crestview is by no means a federal entity, its ordinances adhere to the Constitution of the State of Florida; which in turn adheres to the Constitution of the United States and its respective amendments.

So why is it that section 6-7 of the city’s ordinance chapter pertaining to alcoholic beverages begin with part “a,” which is headed, “Distance from church,” as if to imply that it takes priority over part “b,” which is headed, “Distance from school?”

The last time I checked, the Florida state laws that Chief Taylor said he would enforce include prohibiting minors under age 21 from purchasing or consuming alcohol. In addition, the last time I checked, many churches serve wine for communion.

Why is the distance of an establishment that allows the sale or consumption of alcohol from a religious establishment such a high concern for a city government; especially considering that such establishments are tax-exempt and therefore are not obligated to contribute anything monetarily to said city’s welfare?

If anything, churches and bars should be great neighbors, considering how many people call out God’s name after having a few too many drinks. Their proximity can offer people a choice to either drown their problems in alcohol or find inner peace in prayer.

I don’t understand why Pastor McGraw has such an issue with modifying an ordinance pertaining to downtown, considering his church is three quarters of a mile away from downtown, nearly eight times the lawful distance stated in the ordinance. I’m sure his church is far enough away from stumbling distance from what he calls “social ills.”

The good pastor said, “The drinking of alcohol can be limited and stopped. Stopped is best.” The 21st Amendment disagrees with you, and so do I.

I do agree with Dr. Strickland’s statement that churches instill integrity in the community. I’m not disparaging the need for religious establishments in our town. I do however, believe that the influence of religious establishments needs to stay within their own congregations, and out of our governments and their laws, as the founding fathers of our country intended.

What doesn’t instill integrity in the community is a downtown area full of abandoned buildings with the potential to house much worse social ills than what Pastor McGraw references.

If you want a say in what goes into our downtown area, I suggest you start paying taxes like those among us who are trying to establish a livelihood in downtown Crestview.

Or, at the very least, show some compassion for those who prefer our “social ills.”

Johnny C. Alexander is a Crestview resident and freelance writer, photographer and videographer. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Guest column: Churches shouldn't influence Crestview's alcohol laws

This race has deteriorated into a Howard Stern show. Trump is caught talking vulgarly about what he would like to do to women, and we are reminded what Bill and Hillary Clinton actually did to women.

Once he heard the hot mic comments, Trump's first instinct was to say he thought he was talking to “Jake from State Farm.” When that didn’t work, he had to do something he has never done before: apologize.

Trump excused his latest gaffe as "locker room" talk. But it was not just "locker room" talk, as he said in the debate unless he was referring to the Penn State football locker room. While his cringe-worthy comments were inexcusable, they were, sadly, just a sideshow in this clown parade election.

To call this presidential race a three-ring circus is to insult clowns, jugglers and sword swallowers.

Democrats stopped comparing Trump to Hitler and now have to compare him to Bill Clinton. Hillary did not worry too much about Trump bringing up her husband’s affairs as the second presidential debate was only 90 minutes long; with the help of her friends the “moderators,” she could run out the clock on him.

To summarize: Hillary won the first debate against an unprepared Trump.

Mike Pence beat Tim Kaine in the painfully white V.P. debate, the “Thrilla in Vanilla.” Both men were more reasoned, articulate, kind, respectful and talked more about issues than Clinton vs. Trump. So Americans didn’t watch.

Even defending Donald Trump, Mike Pence won that debate because Tim Kaine was afflicted by an awkward talking points version of Tourette’s syndrome. He seemed to be racing to get in all the attacks Hillary told him to say so she wouldn't throw a lamp at him.

Tim Kaine is your typical, oddball, liberal, condescending, life-long politician. He reminds you he went to Harvard — but so did the Unabomber. Kaine also likes to play the harmonica on the campaign trail as his wife clog dances, just to show Virginians that he’s one of them. Kaine gleefully proclaims that he carries six harmonicas on the campaign trail, probably because he has to assume that, on any given trip, at least five of them will get smacked out of his hand.

Pence, on the other hand, is likable, smart and thoughtful. I don’t agree with his social views on government’s role in policing personal choices, but I wish he were the one on top of the ticket.

Trump surprisingly won the second presidential debate Sunday night. He quickly apologized for his "locker room" talk, kept Hillary on the defensive on real issues, and tamped down his D-bag factor. The sad thing is that one of them has to win. It’s not the lesser of two evils here, it’s truly the evil of two lessers. At times like this, I’m glad I broke out of the two-party prison system long ago and became a Libertarian.

Knowing she’s totally thought of as a dishonest and life-long politician by millennials, Hillary enlisted teen heartthrob, Bernie Sanders, to help her. He appeals to 19- to 30-year-olds because most of his suits and all of his underwear are that old.

Bernie Sanders sold the pipedream of forgiving student loan debt to young college kids who have been conditioned to believe they should not have to pay for anything — and they bought it.

Bernie has been dispatched to get millennials out to vote by finding their parents' addresses and going basement to basement urging the kids to vote for Hillary. If they put down their video games and pause from posting a pic on Snapchat of the burrito they had for lunch, they just might.

Hillary must capture the millennial vote to win, but she does not excite young kids like Obama did. This has been her second biggest challenge on the campaign trail — right behind climbing three or more stairs.

Ron Hart, a libertarian op-ed humorist and award-winning author, is a frequent guest on CNN. Contact him at Ron@RonaldHart.com or @RonaldHart  on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Our presidential candidates: a creep and a crook

Isn't it wonderful that the same God we worship here in Crestview, Florida is the One worshipped in Noirmoutier, France? We share our faith in Jesus Christ in a different language and with different music, but He is the same Lord.

There will be three worship services for our French guests and residents during an upcoming Sister Cities International visit.

The first worship service will be held 11 a.m. Oct. 16 at Mt. Zion AME Church, 502 McDonald St. This will feature inspiring Gospel music. The church will share the Gospel in song and Pastor Darryl Hooks will bring a timely message.

The second service will be an Ecumenical one led by the Crestview Area Ministerial Association and Father Pére Grégoire Cieutat from Noirmoutier, France. This service, 6 p.m. Oct. 19 at First United Methodist Church, 599 – 8th Ave., will feature music by the Wesley Boys and songs led by Macedonia Missionary Baptist church choir. Several local pastors will offer prayers and Scripture readings. Monsignor Michael Tugwell will give the message. 

The third service will be held 11 a.m. Oct. 23 at First Presbyterian Church, 1063 Circle Drive, DeFuniak Springs. This historic church was founded in 1888 and has a beautiful building complete with pipe organ and stained glass windows. Pastor Joanne Kublik is pleased to welcome all visitors. Since the church is across from Lake DeFuniak, she suggested this would be a beautiful place for a picnic after the service.

We share a rich history of Christian fellowship with our French friends. In 2013, a service was held in the church of La Guérinière, at which time the Crestview Area Ministerial Association sent several messages with the delegation. At this service, Crestview was presented with a French language Bible. In 2015, we received votive candles bearing an image of St. Philbert, the island's founder and patron saint. 

Plan to attend one or more of these worship services. You will be blessed.

Janice Lynn Crose, a former accountant, lives in Crestview with her husband, Jim; her two rescue collies, Shane and Jasmine; and two cats, Kathryn and Prince Valiant.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 3 worship services for our French guests

News flash: Donald Trump does not try to pay more federal taxes than he owes.

The extension of the Clinton campaign, The New York Times, giddily — and maybe illegally but certainly without authorization — revealed a portion of Trump’s personal tax return from 1995, which showed him taking a $912 million loss.

If you do not understand taxes, you do not understand that this is a non-event. And Democrats count on voters not understanding these things.

Real estate was in a big downturn in the early ’90s and the FDIC was auctioning buildings. Trump lost money that year, which is not a news story. The story is that he came back and is now worth $3 to $7 billion.

In 2014, The New York Times itself had $1.5 billion in revenue, $92 million in income, and paid no taxes. In fact, the IRS cut the NY Times a check for $3.5 million that year. Liberal billionaires like George Soros and Warren Buffet have both taken roughly $1 billion losses in business and written them off over time.

In the hypocrisy category, guess who else has done this on their taxes? The Clintons.

Trump has been audited for the past 15 years. The real story is that the audits began about when he announced he was a Republican. Thanks to these audits, we know he has paid every dime in taxes that he owes.

Democrats try to conflate a tax loss carry forward, a standard and legal tax accounting practice, with Trump not paying his taxes. It’s the same lie the Democrats told about Mitt Romney not paying taxes. Yes, it’s underhanded and misleading, but this is how Democrats win. You can’t really expect them to win on their own ideas or results.

The real financial question is how the Clintons, life-long “public servants,” have become worth about $100 million — or more. They have not started a business that employs people. The only jobs they’ve created are for prosecutors, subpoena deliverymen and their defense attorneys.

Getting rich off the taxpayer is OK with Democrats as long as they act as if they feel bad about it. The Clinton Foundation is America’s largest personal 401K, a perpetual tax advantage for the Clinton family. There is no estate tax on it and no scrutiny. It collected “pay to play” money for a past president and a then-current Secretary of State who was also an all-but-assured future presidential candidate. The money was all tax deductible to donors, funneled through a non-U.S. bundler who didn’t fully disclose sources.

Democrats, who generally toe the party line without much thought or debate, are nervous.  Moreover, they are about as comfortable with Hillary as their nominee as they would be with Anthony Weiner borrowing their smartphones.

Quick: Think of the biggest issue being debated in this campaign. The national debt? Crime? Our role in wars worldwide? The disaster that is ObamaCare?

No, we are talking about a "he said, she said," angry beauty pageant contestant who might have been called portly more than 20 years ago.

The Trump campaign wrestles with how much to remind folks about the Clintons going after the women who accused Bill of rape, aggressiveness and lying in the 1990s. Maybe they should counter with the line that "Few people understand our complex tax code, but everybody understands sex."

Both candidates are unlikable and tarnished. Neither will make our country proud. Therefore, the biggest issue facing Americans in this election is that one of these two will win.

Trump may be direct, crass and brag about his money like a rap star, but Hillary is just unlikable. Bill Clinton carried on for 30 years with “rodeo queens,” as Hillary called them. He has been impeached and disbarred; he has been accused of rape, lying and philandering.

Yet America still likes him much more than Hillary.

Ron Hart, a libertarian op-ed humorist and award-winning author, is a frequent guest on CNN. Contact him at Ron@RonaldHart.com or @RonaldHart  on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Democrats twist truth about Trump's taxes

The Nov. 8 presidential election is coming soon. Votes will be cast and either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump will be our next president.

Regardless who is elected, many people in our country will be unhappy.

Many people were unhappy four years ago and have always been at every election.

When this is over, will the Clinton people and the Trump people even be able to speak a civil word to each other?

If you are going to have a peaceful gathering with your family or a large number of friends, you are probably wise to not mention Trump or Clinton. The mere mention of either name brings a rise of rhetoric, debate and unfortunate anger.

Most Americans who have given our issues and candidates much thought have a lot of passion about this election and each candidate.

Social media has created a somewhat safe haven for people to share with candor how they feel about things related to this election. However, open support for either candidate means you can figure approximately 50 percent of your social media friends are ticked off at you and probably do not like you.

When this election is over, we better try working together in this nation. I don't see how we can survive another four years if we continue to fight and bite each other.

Our military needs a united America. Can you imagine fighting on the battlefield representing America while most of whom you represent are fighting each other?

Our inner cities need for all of us to come together. Our children and grandchildren need for us to pull together.

There will not be an America to enjoy if we don't get our act together in this country.

Glenn Mollette is an American syndicated columnist and author.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Let's get our act together, America

The first of the high-stakes debates between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump ended with the big loser being a fair media.

Hillary Clinton was robotic and scripted. She obfuscated when she had to, knowing NBC’s Lester Holt had her back. The “moderator” interrupted Trump 41 times and Clinton only seven. Each was a baiting, leftist agenda-driven interruption.

Moderator Holt wrongly tried to fact-check Trump several times during his 41 interruptions — and he was mistaken, most notably on the legality of “stop and frisk” and Donald Trump’s opposition to the Iraq War. Hillary voted for the Iraq War, yet no mention was made of her position. Holt spent his time trying to pin down Trump's flippant “Yea, I guess,” comment made on the Howard Stern Show in 2002.

Together with his NBC (home of Brian Williams and MSNBC) handlers, Holt attacked Trump on his taxes, the birther issue, Iraq, his wealth, businesses, racism, temperament, etc.

Only 20 seconds were spent on Hillary’s email scandal and none at all on Benghazi, the Clinton Family Crime Foundation, Hillary attacking Bill Clinton’s many sexual accusers, her lying about coming under sniper fire, her lies about her health and her sudden massive wealth.

The debate was well orchestrated to keep Trump on the defensive; Holt, NBC and Clinton tag-teamed Trump well.

The topics for the first debate were to be “Securing America, Achieving Prosperity, and America’s Direction.” It would have been more accurate to bill the debate as "Cornering Donald Trump."

How does Obama’s birth certificate, Donald’s comments about Rosie O’Donnell, his personal taxes and a 2002 Howard Stern show have anything to do with the supposed “topics?”

Given both candidates’ lack of support and historic unfavorables, the good news is that whoever is elected will have little currency to cut or raise taxes or spend more money than any president since Harry Truman. That made Truman so mad he used the nuclear bomb.

Thirty-four percent of those polled think the debates will be “extremely or quite important.”

I watched some of the debate at a bar, where the sound was off. Trump appeared high energy and looked like he was acting out a “Seinfeld” episode as Kramer. Hillary appeared angry, in her perpetual state of looking thin-lipped, smug and miffed.

Hillary has stuck with the Democrat playbook. Instead of talking about her failed record and discussing ideas, she set about calling her opponent racist, misogynist and any “ist” or “phobic” she can sling. She has called America racist, where “everyone is implicitly biased.”

Hillary went on black radio airwaves to say that she’s the one to reach out to whites to calm the racial divide. If she follows through with her promise, like Democrats have kept their promises to blacks over the years, I expect she will appoint David Duke to head her Department of Justice.

This all plays out as the country realizes the logical result of eight years of President Obama’s one-sided obsession with race. Charlotte is the latest U.S. city stoked to riots and looting.

The latest trend is for kids in big cities like Baltimore, where homicide is up 60 percent (murders in big cities are up 31 percent in the past two years), to defiantly kneel during our National Anthem. It’s a win-win for inner-city kids: they show disrespect for our country, and by kneeling they are less likely to get hit by a gang member’s stray bullet.

If lifelong politician Hillary loses, she has no backup career plan. The Clinton Crime Family Foundation scam has about run its course, her health is questionable, and all the angry ex-wife movie roles have been taken by Jane Fonda. Hillary might have to enroll in Trump University on the quick to become an EMT.

If ratings are not good, when Fox hosts the last debate the topics will be:  Bill Clinton’s bimbos, Melania Trump‘s "early modeling photos," and if Hillary can pass a polygraph.

Ron Hart, a libertarian op-ed humorist and award-winning author, is a frequent guest on CNN. Contact him at Ron@RonaldHart.com or @RonaldHart  on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: NBC assists Clinton during presidential debate

The French are coming, the French are coming! On Wednesday, Oct. 12, our visitors from Noirmoutier, France will arrive for their 12-day visit to Crestview to help us celebrate our centennial. 

Crestview Area Sister City Program President Brian Hughes has done a fabulous job of putting together fun, historical and cultural events for our visitors that will showcase our area. 

The spectacular Fall Wine Gala, sponsored by Bob Sikes Airport, will be held from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. Oct. 22 at Northwest Florida State College’s Crestview campus. The gala will feature different wines and a large, delicious array of many types of foods catered by A Grand Elegance. Tickets will be $45 per person in advance and $60 at the door, if available.

Some of the planned activities include luncheons provided by various groups in our city, a visit to the Baker Block Museum, a homemade ice cream demonstration, and even a visit to a local farm. There will also be a 6 p.m. Ecumenical Church Service on Wednesday, Oct. 19 at First United Methodist Church, 599 – 8th Ave. This service will be officiated by the Crestview Area Ministerial Association as well as clergy from Noirmoutier and feature choirs from both countries; all may participate.

Additionally, our French visitors will meet with CHS Principal Dexter Day to review plans for bringing students in 2018, enhancing Crestview High host students' cultural experience. If you are interested in hosting one or more French students, plan now for 2018. Your family will be enriched!

The Crestview Area Sister City program has a visit planned to Noirmoutier in September 2017. Anyone in the community is welcome to travel to France next fall. All that is required is membership in the program and travel fare, which consists of airfare and train fare, as well as some spending money. 

For more information, contact Pam Coffield at coffieldpam@gmail.com.

We know that our Crestview community will make our French guests feel welcome. You will enjoy these warm and friendly people — and may make some new friends in the process.

Janice Lynn Crose, a former accountant, lives in Crestview with her husband, Jim; her two rescue collies, Shane and Jasmine; and two cats, Kathryn and Prince Valiant.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Noirmoutrins are coming to Crestview

Hillary Clinton condescendingly called half of Trump supporters “deplorables” and looked at them with contempt.

Trump then proposed allowing working families to deduct the cost of childcare, one of the biggest entitlements proposed in years.

One would think that after seemingly four years of primaries, the Dems and the GOP would by now have at least nominated someone from their own parties.

Hillary’s carefully controlled, personal doctor’s press release said in measured terms that she is OK and should be well enough in a week to return to lying to the American people, deleting emails and smashing her cell phones like Gallagher at his Branson, Missouri show.

Then Trump goes on the “Dr. Oz” show, the Mayo Clinic of daytime TV, to reveal his healthiness. To date, Trump had released a one-page letter from his doctor, who looks like he got his medical degree at a Grateful Dead concert, saying Trump is the most magnificent physical specimen since Fabio.

I’m not sure when it happened, but now politicians just lie to us without consequences.

President Obama sold Obamacare on lies: “If you like your healthcare, you can keep your healthcare. Period. If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor. Period.” Then he said Obamacare would “reduce the average family’s health care costs $2,500 a year.”

All premeditated lies.

Hillary and Obama lied and said the Benghazi attacks were because of a YouTube video. They even had they filmmaker arrested. Scary.

The IRS targets Obama’s political opponents and then its officials take the Fifth; they do not answer subpoenas, and they smirk at justice.

After Hillary lied about her emails, members of her State Department tech crew took the Fifth; one didn’t even show up after being subpoenaed by Congress.

Hillary lied, too. This “birther” thing Hillary is blaming Trump for? It turns out that, in the 2008 presidential race, the Clinton camp (a camp I’d advise not sending your kids to) started the rumor.

Hillary learned from her experience serving on the Watergate committee (from which she was fired) what to do with damaging evidence. If Nixon had destroyed the tapes, he would have gone down in history as a great president.

Nixon’s men engaged in political shenanigans that would be child’s play today. No one died, unlike Benghazi. No national secrets were compromised by using a personal server to send classified documents. What Nixon did would be called “opposition research” today.

Nixon’s famous line was, “I am not a crook.” By Hillary Clinton‘s standards, he was not.

Maybe they get away with such lies and indignities today because the press no longer investigates Democrats. The media are advocacy media; they never turn on one of their own. The mainstream media treated Trump well, urging him on and promoting him in the GOP primary against the other 16 candidates because they thought he’d be easier for Hillary to defeat. Now they run negative story after insulting story about him since there is a chance he could win.

With the death of fair journalism, politicians can now do what they like without consequences. Since they have lost all journalistic respectability, the new leftist media game is so-called “fact checking.” They dubiously check facts that fit their narrative.

Hillary’s longtime staff, either paid for with your tax dollars at the State Department or by the Clinton Crime Family Foundation (or both simultaneously), protect her. Hillary surrounds herself with sharp-elbowed Democrat thugs who look like they could be in a women’s prison gang. They yell “Chauvinism!” when allegations are brought, but never address the facts.

They spin everything to fit their narrative. They want to tax us on carbons, so they blame every rainstorm, heat wave and fire on global warming. The fires in California probably could be more accurately blamed on Hillary fundraising there, with blazes sparked by her pants being on fire.

You never know what to believe from politicians today. Obama finds race issues in everything. You cannot sort laundry without Obama calling you a racist.

But now his liberal minions at Cal State University (LA) are going to provide separate dorm rooms for black students. Obama came into office as if he were the next Martin Luther King. It seems he will go out as Jesse Helms.

Ron Hart, a libertarian op-ed humorist and award-winning author, is a frequent guest on CNN. Contact him at Ron@RonaldHart.com or tweet@RonaldHart.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Watergate lessons now serve Clinton well

Free trade agreements have come under fire in the presidential campaign and it may be the right time to review such agreements and their relative merits.

The first such agreement that made headlines was in 1985 between the U.S. and Israel. There have been three more major ones and several minor ones since then.

In general, the basic theory of free trade agreements is that if governments, (taxes, duties and tariffs) are not a party to international business transactions the companies involved will increase their income. In fact, that theory has proven to be correct. The downside is that certain jobs in the U.S. have been eliminated to the benefit of other countries

Despite the fact that such agreements in today’s politically heated atmosphere appear to be partisan that is not the case. Such agreements have been sponsored by both Democrat and Republican Presidents.

The 1985 free trade agreement was during the Clinton (D) administration. A second, called NAFTA, was signed in 1994 by George H.W. Bush (R). The Trade Act of 2001, was during the George W. Bush (R) Administration. The most recent one being debated today is under the Obama Administration (D) and is called the Trans-Pacific Partnership. It is a free trade agreement that includes the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam and Brunei.

It is true that many jobs have been discontinued in recent years and that is a tragedy for workers who depended on those jobs. The “rust belt” in the Northeast is symbolic of the loss of our steel plants and other “fabrication” industries. The South has felt the economic pressures of losing the textile mills that were so much a part of both the economic and social well-being of the South.

Unfortunately, no amount of political posturing will bring those jobs back. That ship has sailed.

It might be a shock to learn that though manufacturing jobs have declined over the past 20 years, U.S. manufacturing output has increased by almost 40 percent over that time period. Manufacturing now adds a record $2.4 trillion to the U.S. economy each year.

How could it be that we have lost jobs but gained productivity? Improvement in technology caused about 85 percent of the loss of manufacturing jobs from 2000 to 2010. Free trade agreements accounted for less than 13 percent of the losses.

No amount of political posturing is going to bring manufacturing jobs back to those now defunct industries. If all free trade agreements were wiped out, the primary result would be higher prices in many of those commodity areas. Not only would that adversely affect our economy, but the paying public would be very unhappy with the result.

Better education and job training for our people is the answer to lost jobs. Jobs in more technical areas are listed in the want ads every week and continue to go wanting due to not having enough trained personnel in the marketplace.

Like so many of the issues in our society, solving the problems comes back to education and how to better prepare our people for a more technological workplace. Mercifully, community and vocational schools dot the landscape. We currently have more than 1,500 of them spread across the country. Much of their effort is focused directly on training our people for the job market in the local area.

One of the major discussion topics in the current political campaign focused on providing free education for the first two years of study. Some dismissed that proposal as so much socialistic rhetoric.

Considering our economy’s need for better-trained workers and the number of lost jobs due to the development of technology, we may need to give the “free” vocational training idea another look.

Considering the amount of money we currently have invested supporting those currently out of work with little hope of gainful employment, it doesn’t take genius thinking to apply some of that money to job training in technological areas where the jobs are.

Dr. Mark L. Hopkins writes for More Content Now and Scripps Newspapers. He is past president of colleges and universities in four states and currently serves as executive director of a higher-education consulting service. You will find Hopkins’ latest book, “Journey to Gettysburg,” on Amazon.com. Contact him at presnet@presnet.net.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: HOPKINS: Free trade agreements — good or bad for us?