Can you believe it's been 20 years since NAFTA went into effect? I took the opportunity to recap the fight over NAFTA, the famous TV debate between Al Gore and Ross Perot and the results according to experts. The consensus among liberals and conservatives alike: The loss of jobs to Mexico and overseas would have happened anyway. In fact, NAFTA has been the model for all the trade agreements that have been made since. Wednesday, Jan. 1.