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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsObama Heads to Asia to Fast Track for the TPP
Well, that didn't take long.
Now that Republicans control the House & Senate the Trans Pacific Partnership is pretty much a done deal. Never mind that 151 House Democrats wrote to the president in November of 2013 expressing their opposition to fast tracking the TPP. The TPP is going to get rammed through.....
Friday, 07 November 2014 13:20
By Staff, Teamsters |
Washington, DC — As President Obama prepares to leave for Asia in another attempt to finalize the stalled Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations, a broad coalition of labor, environmental and consumer groups delivered over half a million petition signatures and letters to key Congressional leaders today opposing Fast Track authority for the pact.
"CWA activists are focusing all our efforts on stopping Fast Track authority for the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Millions of labor, environmental, community and human rights activists are fighting back and demanding that the White House and Congress put U.S. citizens ahead of the corporate and financial interests that already define and dominate the global economy," said Communications Workers of America president Larry Cohen.
"Fast Track is as dead in the water post-election as it was before it," said Arthur Stamoulis, executive director of Citizens Trade Campaign. "After all the secrecy and back-room dealmaking surrounding the TPP negotiations, there's no way the public, civil society or responsible policymakers will allow the pact to be rushed through Congress."
President Obama is heading to Asia this weekend for a week of summits and meetings aimed, in part, at bringing the TPP to conclusion. The TPP is a twelve-nation pact that would set rules affecting approximately 40% of the global economy, covering not only tariffs and quotas, but everything from financial regulations and public procurement to medicine patents and environmental policy. While various leaked texts from the TPP negotiations have been published by Citizens Trade Campaign and WikiLeaks, none of the U.S. proposals or composite texts has every been officially released for review by the public...
Read more:
http://www.truth-out.org/speakout/item/27316-obama-heads-to-asia-amid-growing-opposition-to-fast-track-for-the-tpp
And Rand Paul told Obama to prioritize the TTP on his trip:
Monday, 03 November 2014
~Snip~
Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.), a man whose personal popularity and political fortunes have increased in direct proportion to his spreading of his libertarian-leaning ideals, has now publicly embraced the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), an unprecedented sovereignty surrender masquerading as a multi-national trade pact...
~Snip~
The article in The Diplomat noted this incongruity as well, reporting:
Indeed, as The Diplomat has previously noted, opposition to new trade deals has been strongest among Obama’s own party. For example, in March 2013 nearly 20 percent of the Democratic House caucus wrote a letter to President Obama expressing their opposition to Japan joining the TPP talks. Then, in November of last year, 151 House Democrats — about 80 percent of the entire caucus — wrote to the president to express their opposition to giving him fast track authority, which many experts and the president himself see as vital to getting the eventual trade deal through Congress.,,
http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/19439-rand-paul-to-obama-prioritize-passage-of-trans-pacific-partnership
Here's the White House press release letting everyone know Obama is on his way to promote the TPP:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2014/11/07/road-ahead-president-obama-travels-asia-pacific
Elizabeth Warren on the TPP:
by Mike Masnick
Thu, Jun 13th 2013 10:37pm
"I have heard the argument that transparency would undermine the Administration's policy to complete the trade agreement because public opposition would be significant. If transparency would lead to widespread public opposition to a trade agreement, then that trade agreement should not be the policy of the United States. I believe in transparency and democracy and I think the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) should too."
Read more:
https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130613/12035523456/senator-warren-if-tpp-transparency-would-lead-to-public-opposition-then-policy-is-wrong.shtml
And here is Third Way promoting the TPP:
By Ed Girwin / March 27th 2013
...Second, the TPP’s emphasis on eliminating border barriers and meaningless regulatory differences could make North America’s integrated producers more internationally competitive. It’s estimated, for instance, that inefficiencies at the border currently add an additional $700 to the cost of vehicles co-produced in North America.
Third, global companies are increasingly looking at a wide array of factors in deciding where to locate production. By making North American supply chains more efficient and providing preferred access for North American products in important foreign markets, the TPP could give North American producers additional advantages over competitors in locations like China. This could help reinforce the emerging trend of “re-shoring” manufacturing to America.
Fourth, the TPP talks provide opportunities to modernize NAFTA’s labor and environmental provisions and to re-open NAFTA issues that impede regional trade–including Canada’s restrictive farm programs and Mexico’s intellectual property enforcement.
- See more at: http://perspectives.thirdway.org/?p=2637#sthash.ug1jqnPI.dpuf
And we'll add this:
Have you heard? The TPP is a massive, controversial "free trade" agreement currently being pushed by big corporations and negotiated behind closed doors by officials from the United States and 11 other countries – Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam. In one fell swoop, this secretive deal could:
offshore millions of American jobs,
roll back Wall Street reforms,
sneak in SOPA-like threats to Internet freedom,
ban Buy American policies needed to create green jobs,
jack up the cost of medicines,
expose the U.S. to unsafe food and products,
and empower corporations to attack our environmental and health safeguards.
Although it is called a "free trade" agreement, the TPP is not mainly about trade. Of TPP's 29 draft chapters, only five deal with traditional trade issues. One chapter would provide incentives to offshore jobs to low-wage countries. Many would impose limits on government policies that we rely on in our daily lives for safe food, a clean environment, and more. Our domestic federal, state and local policies would be required to comply with TPP rules.
The TPP would even elevate individual foreign firms to equal status with sovereign nations, empowering them to privately enforce new rights and privileges, provided by the pact, by dragging governments to foreign tribunals to challenge public interest policies that they claim frustrate their expectations. The tribunals would be authorized to order taxpayer compensation to the foreign corporations for the "expected future profits" they surmise would be inhibited by the challenged policies.
http://www.citizen.org/TPP
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B Calm
(28,762 posts)think
(11,641 posts)djean111
(14,255 posts)Plus there is so much opposition to it I am sure it will be rushed through as Fast Tracked and made official so Hillary does not have to address it in her campaigning. Won't be HER fault, of course. Except for having helped write it.
We may see the TPP, Keystone, and Chained CPI all enacted in just a few months time. Wonder what the fuck else is lurching towards us.
socialist_n_TN
(11,481 posts)And these miscarriages of policy are just the first steps.
As to what's next, I would venture to guess that it will be privatizing the Social Security Trust Fund, cutting benefits for, AT THE VERY LEAST, future beneficiaries and maybe even current beneficiaries, block grants for states for what's left of Federal poverty programs with no provisions for them to actually be USED for relieving of poverty. In short, the entire neo-liberal agenda represented by the Paul Ryan budget from a couple of years ago. IOW, if you want to see what's next look at that budget.
Of course they might "compromise" and use the Catfood Commission's recommendations too.
Time for a socialist revolution.
socialist_n_TN
(11,481 posts)The Keystone XL pipeline is pretty much guaranteed now.
daleanime
(17,796 posts)
TBF
(32,062 posts)djean111
(14,255 posts)This reeks. Badly.
I am totally against the very idea of needing to provide a "legacy" at all - but the TPP is not a good feature. And it is not like we all - including Obama - don't see the effects of NAFTA. What fucking hypocrisy.
Oilwellian
(12,647 posts)the nail in the heart of what's left of our democracy. It will also destroy what's left of the Democratic Party. Thanks Third Way. Your mission is almost complete.
think
(11,641 posts)What could go wrong?....
newfie11
(8,159 posts)WTH! I don't see a future that I like.
Eleanors38
(18,318 posts)cali
(114,904 posts)Eleanors38
(18,318 posts)
nationalize the fed
(2,169 posts)Now, like with the Heritage Foundation mandate to buy insurance without a public option, he's "changed his mind"
think
(11,641 posts)I seriously doubt we'll hear any talk of the AFL-CIO being involved in these current talks.
Thank you for posting this. This needs to be seen....
QC
(26,371 posts)I feel a photo thread coming on!
SammyWinstonJack
(44,130 posts)
X_Digger
(18,585 posts)
Puzzledtraveller
(5,937 posts)
pampango
(24,692 posts)After 2000 jobs and wages went down. You can blame that on NAFTA rather than Bush (though you would have to explain the positive results of 1995 to 2000). I blame it on conservative economic policy on the part of a republican administration.
jamzrockz
(1,333 posts)Until the dot com bubble burst. That always happens when you build an economy on a bubble foundation.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)
FiveGoodMen
(20,018 posts)There's nothing else to say.
City Lights
(25,171 posts)
AverageJoe90
(10,745 posts)But then again, I guess this is just the nature of the world we live in, isn't it. 
antigop
(12,778 posts)Marr
(20,317 posts)geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)for this.
Two really miserable years ahead. Literally nothing good will pass any committee, let alone either chamber, of commerce.
TheKentuckian
(25,026 posts)give something but even that is insane since virtually nothing would be worth the trade.
He'll trade more to get it is what he will do, nobody was making him push this.
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)
Odin2005
(53,521 posts)This will demoralize Millennials even more. Thanks, fuckers!
awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)bend over, here it comes again.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)
Jeff Rosenzweig
(121 posts)You "heard" that, huh? Must have been in one of your many discussions about issues rather than people. Right?
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)You know, those issues like the TPP where it looks like our "Democratic" president agrees with the Conservatives that our manufacturing jobs should all go to Viet Nam. Now I might be wrong but no one will defend the President's stand. Now why is that?
Jeff Rosenzweig
(121 posts)and IMHO indefensible. Nor do I see anyone defending it in this thread. "BOG" or otherwise. So why mention them? Why do you care what they think, about that or anything else?
awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)got to pad the pension somehow.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)they do their best to disparage and derail all discussions that don't provide the proper adulation to their idol. I have put a number of the worst on ignore and should put the rest. I can't help but strike back at those that claim to be "politically liberal" and yet disparage all Democratic values.
Now that Pres Obama has a Conservative controlled Senate he will be in heaven. The TPP will sail thru with the fast track. We may not have to worry about H. Clinton-Sachs letting the middle class die, it may be dead when she is anointed.
We no longer live in a constitutionally controlled democratic republic. Those among us that pretend that we are, are actually helping the enemy.
Cha
(297,240 posts)buttinski.
You take care of your business and we'll take care of ours.
And, This shows you know shite about the President.. "Now that Pres Obama has a Conservative controlled Senate he will be in heaven." Bullshit.
And, to quote the geek because he says it so eloquently..
"Idiotic ODS drivel. No, Obama did not want those whose only goal is to derail his presidency
to control both houses of Congress.
He did not want Mitch McConnell having absolute power over each and every appointment of federal judges.
He does not want more votes on repealing the ACA.
He does not want Senate hearings on Benghazi."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5780337
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)Agreements Ram-Rodded thru the Senate. I bet he and Mitch high-five after the TPP gets signed.
I disagree with the president on Free Trade, fracking, the Keystone Pipeline, indefinite detention, the Patriot Act, Wall Street bailouts, drone killings, the continued war in the Middle East, persecution of medical marijuana, the incarceration of Gov Siegelman while Cheney walks free, an uncontrolled NSA/CIA Security State, Arnie Duncan in charge of education, Conservatives running the economy, persecution of whistle-blowers, etc. and I get called a hater. I disagree with the President's conservative stands on all these issues. Do you agree with the president on all these issues?
wavesofeuphoria
(525 posts)Cha
(297,240 posts)taking a shot at the BOG.. gotta float his boat.
joshcryer
(62,270 posts)It requires the partners to sign off on it before it even goes to Congress, and so far they haven't been liking what they are getting.
L0oniX
(31,493 posts)scarystuffyo
(733 posts)
woo me with science
(32,139 posts)The administration is also doubling troops in Iraq.
What's the lesson? We have united oligarchy, not gridlocked democracy. "Republicans" are a sham enemy. Neither party is running traditional Republicans or Democrats anymore. They are all corporatists. Our form of government in this country has changed.
I would say the Third Way is a group of CORPORATISTS. Yes, it is a creation of Wall Street. We tend to equate Republicans and corporatists because the Republican Party was infiltrated by Wall Street first and has been working for corporate interests for a long time.
But the truth is that traditional Republicanism was corrupted by the corporate monsters just as much as the Democratic Party is being corrupted now. The corporatists lie to Republicans as much as they lie to us. Just as our corporate politicians lie to us about wanting to protect public education, social justice and the social safety nets, unions, and the environment, their politicians lie to them about wanting to stand for small government, limited government interference in private lives, and the defense of civil liberties. Yet no matter which party is elected, we get the same corporate monster agenda of larger, more oppressive and authoritarian government, assaults on and privatization of public services, and more warmongering.
Every poll shows that Republicans are just as angry about what is being done to this country as we are. We drown in corporate propaganda to make us hate and blame each other so we won't realize that that we are ALL victims and so we won't unite to demand our representation back. They want it to be more viscerally repulsive to us to ever think about uniting with a Republican on ANYTHING, even than to defend our Bill of Rights and our democratic representation. Even though we keep getting the same suicidal, predatory agenda under both parties, we are to circle the wagons when it's our guy in office.
I think being clear that corporatists are the enemy is important because we have got to break the con game of hyperpartisanship they use to keep us divided, and teach ALL Americans that we have a stake in getting corporate money out of government. The truth is that we can beat traditional Republicans at the ballot box. But right now, we don't even get the chance to do that. The system has been purchased by Wall street, and they aren't running traditional Republicans *or* traditional Democrats for office anymore. They are running corporatists on both sides.
We need to become the 99 percent to take our representation back. We don't have to agree on everything. Just that our representation has been stolen from ALL of us by corporate corruption of our government and elections. And that we demand corporate money and power out of government and the political system so we can have our representation back.
K&R
djean111
(14,255 posts)I am already reading how Keystone will save the environment and pay mortgages.
All the bullshit we laughed at when the GOP spouted it.
pa28
(6,145 posts)Did you catch that? Environmental, food safety and drug regulation liberals have earned through decades of hard fought legislative victories are labelled "meaningless".
Effective and popular regulation set up for the public good is now going to be pressured to match the lowest common denominator among signatories.
Brunei is one such signatory. Brunei BTW allows for the stoning to death of gays and amputations for women who have had abortions. They also happen to be one of the world's largest natural gas producers.
How would you like to share their clean water and fracking rules for U.S. gas production? It's eventually going to happen with the TPP.
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)too. 
tritsofme
(17,378 posts)He kept it off the Senate floor for the past several years, it could be a possibility.
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)Marr
(20,317 posts)the US working class in the name of "compromise".
CanonRay
(14,103 posts)No Democrat should ever consider approving or endorsing this pile of crape.
BrotherIvan
(9,126 posts)woo me with science
(32,139 posts)GeorgeGist
(25,321 posts) woo me with science
(32,139 posts)
DCBob
(24,689 posts)so it makes me think there might something good in it.
hatrack
(59,587 posts).
L0oniX
(31,493 posts)
Autumn
(45,091 posts)about upsetting the GOP or the electorate. 
Nice to see he doesn't have to worry about the Democrats or what happens to the Democratic party.
Vinca
(50,273 posts)JEB
(4,748 posts)woo me with science
(32,139 posts)
RiverLover
(7,830 posts)From OP, EW:
"If transparency would lead to widespread public opposition to a trade agreement, then that trade agreement should not be the policy of the United States. I believe in transparency and democracy and I think the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) should too."