General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHeard Amy Goodman's interview with Lori Wallach, director of Public Citizen’s Global Trade Watch...
...on Democracy Now! this morning.
Here's the gist--
LORI WALLACH: Well, fast-tracking the TPP would make it easier to offshore our jobs and would put downward pressure, enormous downward pressure, on Americans wages, because it would throw American workers into competition with workers in Vietnam who are paid less than 60 cents an hour and have no labor rights to organize, to better their situation. Plus, the TPP would empower another 25,000 foreign corporations to use the investor state tribunals, the corporate tribunals, to attack our laws. And then there would be another 25,000 U.S. corporations in the other TPP countries who could use investor state to attack their environmental and health and labor and safety laws. And if all that werent enough, Big Pharma would get new monopoly patent rights that would jack up medicine prices, cutting off affordable access. And theres rollback of financial regulations put in place after the global financial crisis. And theres a ban on "Buy Local," "buy domestic" policies. And it would undermine the policy space that we have to deal with the climate crisisenergy policies are covered. Basically, almost any progressive policy or goal would be undermined, rolled back. Plus, we would see more offshoring of jobs and more downward pressure on wages. So the big battle is over fast track, the process. And right now, thanks to a lot of pushback by activists across the country, actually, they dont have a majority to pass it. But theres an enormous push to change that, and thats basically where we all come in.
--more--
Democracy Now!
Here's the breakdown--
It would throw American workers into competition with workers in Vietnam who are paid less than 60 cents an hour and have no labor rights to organize to better their situation.
The TPP would empower another 25,000 foreign corporations to use the investor state tribunals, the corporate tribunals, to attack our laws.
There would be another 25,000 U.S. corporations in the other TPP countries who could use investor state to attack their environmental and health and labor and safety laws.
Big Pharma would get new monopoly patent rights that would jack up medicine prices, cutting off affordable access.
Theres rollback of financial regulations put in place after the global financial crisis.
Theres a ban on "Buy Local," "buy domestic" policies.
It would undermine the policy space that we have to deal with the climate crisisenergy policies are covered.
No wonder it was all conceived in secret...
Cleita
(75,480 posts)Thanks for the synopsis ahead of time.
misterhighwasted
(9,148 posts)This creates a slave labor culture for all other American Citizens. Millions of us.
A third world America.
misterhighwasted
(9,148 posts)I am baffled as to why Pres Obama is so supportive of something so damaging.
Anyone know what he is doing???
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)some theories.
Octafish
(55,745 posts)"If you want to get along--go along."
misterhighwasted
(9,148 posts)A strong armed tactic perhaps.
"Mr Obama, sign TPP and we will give you xyz."
Dirty deals, you know what I mean DUer rhett o rick?
This just seems quite out of character for the Pres.
Maybe they traded TPP for some post-Presidential position.
I do not get it.
appalachiablue
(41,118 posts)So transnational corporations have rights not humans, clearly. Isn't the threat of boogie man Chinese competition and geopolitical dominance in the Asia Pacific region another tactic to approve?
misterhighwasted
(9,148 posts)Frightening to think what a world like that would be.
The end of sovereignty.
Wow..
liberal_at_heart
(12,081 posts)Wake up people!
jalan48
(13,856 posts)misterhighwasted
(9,148 posts)Pink Floyd.
We were warned.
Oilwellian
(12,647 posts)Because it's important.