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TPP so bad even the US congress is shocked
By Unconventional Economist in Global Macroat 11:52 am on March 27, 2015
By Leith van Onselen
More worrying details have emerged about the the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) the US-led regional trade pact between 12 nations (including Australia) with the New York Times revealing that members of the US Congress have been viewing the secretive document and are disgusted by its contents:
Members of Congress have been reviewing the secret document in secure reading rooms, but this is the first disclosure to the public since an early version leaked in 2012.
This is really troubling, said Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York, the Senates No. 3 Democrat. It seems to indicate that savvy, deep-pocketed foreign conglomerates could challenge a broad range of laws we pass at every level of government, such as made-in-America laws or anti-tobacco laws. I think people on both sides of the aisle will have trouble with this
U.S.T.R. will say the U.S. has never lost a case, but youre going to see a lot more challenges in the future, said Senator Sherrod Brown, Democrat of Ohio. Theres a huge pot of gold at the end of the rainbow for these companies
Senator Brown contended that the overall accord, not just the investment provisions, was troubling. This continues the great American tradition of corporations writing trade agreements, sharing them with almost nobody, so often at the expense of consumers, public health and workers, he said
Critics say the texts definition of an investment is so broad that it could open enormous avenues of legal challenge.
The article is, of course, referring to the TPPs Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) clause, which according to an earlier leaked draft from Wikileaks, would give authority to major corporations to challenge laws made by governments in the national interest in international courts of arbitration, effectively limiting Governments ability to form public policy. ............(more)
http://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2015/03/tpp-bad-even-us-congress-shocked/
djean111
(14,255 posts)Don't lose sight of that, when someone is telling you that you are too stupid to understand the goodness of this thing.
Only five or six chapters about trade; the rest are all corporate goodies, as far as I can tell. Because it is super sekrit, and even those who can read it are not allowed to talk about it.
NoJusticeNoPeace
(5,018 posts)of his that surely have this as their payback, which ALL politicians have to deal with.
But if he would denounce this and walk away from it, it would make him near perfect as a president.
magical thyme
(14,881 posts)debate, or anything other than just voting for it.
RiverLover
(7,830 posts)because Democrats had a majority in the Senate & they'd let him know they'd never pass TPA fast track for the TPP. But now Rethugs got the majority & he's going for it. He has a chance now, because its a RW corporate policy for the US.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)and she couldn't get confirmed in his first term but she's now installed as Sec. of Commerce. ACA & Wall St. meltdown put TPP on hold until second term. But, Pritzger wanted it.
Greg Palast did many articles about it on in including one titled "Pennies from Heaven" and others also pointed outt how much he owes Pritzger in reporting. I don't know whether he favors it himself as strongly but he talks it up as if he does. And, Wall Street/Corporations definitely want it...and in this Administration they get what they want.
appalachiablue
(41,168 posts)Last edited Mon Mar 30, 2015, 01:33 PM - Edit history (1)
subprime lending problems. Main donor to the Pres. Campaign.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Pritzker
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)and the people to make sure it never passes, slow or fast track.
lark
(23,147 posts)He hand picked every one of the delegates, this is his product. Yes, it's shamefull and totally a give away to the 1%, but it is what he personally wanted or he would have chosen different delegates. Like instead of corporate lobbyist, he could have gotten environmentalists, populists, etc.
Our trojan horse president is showing his alter ego with this treaty.
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)He must be criticized when he is on the wrong track.
raindaddy
(1,370 posts)This isn't simply a President heading down a country road, veering off in the wrong direction and needing a little nudge to get back on track. This is purposely building a super highway in the opposite direction of "for the people and by the people".
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)Some find it difficult to entertain the idea that the President would do anything that might be harmful to the people.
raindaddy
(1,370 posts)I also think it's way past to be honest with ourselves as well. "Obviously" you know what I'm talking about... This third way BS
Jack Rabbit
(45,984 posts)!!
Omaha Steve
(99,693 posts)Ya right.
I got Sen. Warren's editorial from a solid R in e-mail last week. There is hope we citizens will wake up.
OS
Maedhros
(10,007 posts)ND-Dem
(4,571 posts)christx30
(6,241 posts)Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]
arcane1
(38,613 posts)ybbor
(1,555 posts)Well now we are starting to see, and who was closer to being correct? Looks like the skeptical ones.
They seem to be conveniently absent on these threads.
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)marym625
(17,997 posts)Though I don't believe in God.
I was speaking to someone the other day, a Republican who is liberal on social values. (I know, a strange beast) and she said that she now believes that the Republicans care about nothing but money. Took years but I think their shady dealings are starting to be known.
As far as the TPP, these people that tell us not to jump to conclusions are doing exactly that. And considering what happened with the budget in December, it's not a jump to think President Obama doesn't have our back when it comes to money and corporations
FiveGoodMen
(20,018 posts)It so bad is shocks congress, but our exalted leader is for it.
jwirr
(39,215 posts)gregcrawford
(2,382 posts)... and it will be one of the first things on their agenda if this malignant abortion ever passes. Sharpen your pitchforks, ladies and gentlemen...
lark
(23,147 posts)Corporations and their expected profits would take precedence over our national or state laws.
appalachiablue
(41,168 posts)commenting on it according to one poster. Because then it would be public. It's always something and this has been so secretive. OTOH if it walks like a duck,
lark
(23,147 posts)but ignored by the "true believers".
arcane1
(38,613 posts)It's a betrayal of the American people, plain and simple.
jwirr
(39,215 posts)agreement. So far no answer. IF I even get one I expect it to be one of those generic answers.
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)The environmental protections will be the first to go
woo me with science
(32,139 posts)colsohlibgal
(5,275 posts)But I'm not. Also - this isn't a shock for anyone that pays attention and is not in the tank for Obama. He tipped his hand right off the bat with Emmanuel and the financial team he brought in. It was also apparent to all but the Bots that his stump speeches in 2007/8 were mainly to get elected. Once in he headed straight Third Way. Just like Bubba in 1992.
LiberalElite
(14,691 posts)"Bamboozled By Bubba" I voted for HIM twice too.
appalachiablue
(41,168 posts)Defense & Justice, the EU, instead of leading economists like Stiglitz & Krugman. The disillusionment of these two Dem. administrations is a gnat compared to the ugly reality. Our 2-Party, buy-partisan political system is totally run by and for banks and corporate donors, 'they own the place', 'the system is rigged'. The wealthy investor class of both parties is very well off; this is global neoliberal economics.
LiberalArkie
(15,727 posts)next week pay him to say it is the worst thing for you.
appalachiablue
(41,168 posts)WillyT
(72,631 posts)rusty fender
(3,428 posts)BeanMusical
(4,389 posts)First thing that came to mind.
bbgrunt
(5,281 posts)riqster
(13,986 posts)We need more transparency.
appalachiablue
(41,168 posts)riqster
(13,986 posts)Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)corporate coup' d'états.
Whitehouse Comments: 202-456-1111
United States Capitol switchboard: 202-224-3121
Enrique
(27,461 posts)so Congress won't have any say in it.
PADemD
(4,482 posts)or any other legislative body. The corporations would make the rules.
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)Horrible......
appalachiablue
(41,168 posts)replaced by corps, next automation. Hm.
Overseas
(12,121 posts)Here's an excellent documentary w Bill Moyers and William Greider about that. Under the guise of protecting investors, companies have been able to sue governments over environmental regulations and other laws to protect their citizens, and it is still going on.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017255136#post2 Thanks to BainsBane for posting this.
http://www.novanewsnow.com/News/Regional/2015-03-21/article-4085504/Bilcon-wins-NAFTA-dispute-over-Digby-Neck-quarry/1
Blue_In_AK
(46,436 posts)Why is President Obama in favor?
Vincardog
(20,234 posts)Why didn't he push for Single Payer?
Why did he appoint Wall Street lobbyists and insiders to his administration?
FOLLOW THE MONEY
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)appalachiablue
(41,168 posts)the need to cut Social Security drank the koolaide. Those 2 were everywhere in the M$M media for a couple years, receiving speaker money to fund Their retirements, golden years-
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)appalachiablue
(41,168 posts)political system will enjoy fine, comfortable retirement years-
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)or he's a sell-out, or some kind of combination of the two.
I don't know how else to explain his actions re: TPP
AzDar
(14,023 posts)Cryptoad
(8,254 posts)cali
(114,904 posts)bvar22
(39,909 posts)Thanks!
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)It's not like our Congress Critters didn't know what was in the TPP, it's
that the public and the press could only guess or go from here-say,
prior to it being fully exposed by WikiLeaks.
arcane1
(38,613 posts)Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)bvar22
(39,909 posts)*
QC
(26,371 posts)They never really loved him!!!
LongTomH
(8,636 posts)......heavily impacted by the TPP.
TheKentuckian
(25,029 posts)work for a living trying to polish this turd?
Damn straight, I question motives as party member, citizen, and fellow human being in a lot of ways and the dishonesty is the reason why.
Just say you are a corporate Republican disgusted by the Tea nuts or an unwelcome to the party except as a mockable token minority instead of pretending to be "on the same side", to "share common goals", to be "as left as it gets", or for crying out loud a "Marxist" while fucking Chuck Schumer has easily out flanked you on the left.
If you support this in light of the fruit of 40 plus years of this trade tact then you are a corporate hack, a Kool Aid guzzling cultist, or a moron regardless of party identification.
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)I do not trust these sunzabitches!
TheKentuckian
(25,029 posts)I'm saying we got no shortage of folks staking out territory on his (no matter how disingenuous or heart felt) right and on the attack on any and all opposition.
If you are in a swarm on a economic position to Schumer's right on a policy track that is WELL WORN and consistently terrible outcomes for workers then you're a fucking saboteur not a friend.
The arguments are the same tired ass lies as have been pitched for 40 years or more, it is offensive. How stupid do they think we are? Maybe we are but not me and I'm not cool with any motherfuckers with that level of disrespect.
At least get some new lies! If they are going to serve this warmed over pig vomit they better expect it to be spit back in their face and for to never be forgotten like the wagon circling on chained CPI that they now attempt to play off and pretend it was never proposed in the most dishonest fashion.
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)Great post.
stillwaiting
(3,795 posts)desire to be Senate Majority Leader.
That's it. Nothing else.
Schumer sucks.
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)Pretending this is too corporate friendly for him. He'll be on board soon
L0oniX
(31,493 posts)awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)bigwillq
(72,790 posts)awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)Response to marmar (Original post)
Corruption Inc This message was self-deleted by its author.
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)And they should absolutely reject fast track.
Either way, we do not need another fucking American job killing trade deal.
No trade deal of any kind! Period!
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)mother earth
(6,002 posts)Octafish
(55,745 posts)Why it's now bread-and-butter for the DEMs is a subject worthy of discussion.
99Forever
(14,524 posts)The more I see of it, the more it reeks of corporate corruption and blatant sovereignty sapping power grab. Yet POTUS is trying to ram this piece of shit thru. Are you kidding us Barack?
He needs to explain himself.
BeanMusical
(4,389 posts)and even less the person his worshipers still believe him to be. His legacy won't be a positive thing, to say the least.
bvar22
(39,909 posts)He hasn't unleashed the Old NAFTA Dog to sell it for him yet.
pa28
(6,145 posts)At least that's what the guy who wrote it said.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/03/opinion/obamas-covert-trade-deal.html?_r=1
Response to pa28 (Reply #73)
Name removed Message auto-removed
pa28
(6,145 posts)Nobody yelling into a microphone and no gangs breaking windows.
BTW welcome to DU. I'm guessing they'll ban you now.
Wella
(1,827 posts)while they are in progress.
ND-Dem
(4,571 posts)cheapdate
(3,811 posts)I think the answer is easy. Because he believes in it. He believes, as has every president, Democrat or Republican, in memory, that expanding trade is in the country's interest, and that one job of the government is to facilitate that process.
It's a conventional outlook and Obama is a conventional politician with a very conventional perspective on economics and the relationship between government and business. He's never espoused anything but a conventional view in these matters.
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)This should be no surprise to anyone
cheapdate
(3,811 posts)His presidency has been good for Wall Street and corporate America, but there have been plenty of developments that have not pleased corporations; the reorganization of the Mineral Management Service as the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement, the EPA's classification of carbon dioxide as a pollutant, CAFE standards, the final release of mercury emission standards for coal-fired power plants, FCC net neutrality, etc., etc.
It's an open question what he might could have accomplished with a Democratic congress, but I think it could have been truly amazing. Elizabeth Warren would be in charge of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Van Jones would be in charge of the EPA, etc., etc.
Obama's ethics and mine are considerably different in many ways -- I tend to have "radical" notions of environmental stewardship and social justice. But he's been an incredible president in the face of fierce and unreasonable resistance.
Response to marmar (Original post)
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ND-Dem
(4,571 posts)nikto
(3,284 posts)Who knew?
raindaddy
(1,370 posts)Why is this happening under a Democratic president? This trade agreement undermines every principle the Democratic party stands for. It's obvious the party has been leaning further to the right over the years but this marks a major ideological shift.