The Kabuki Theatre That Is the White House’s Trans-Pacific Partnership Negotiations

[portlander23]

The Kabuki Theatre That Is the White House’s Trans-Pacific Partnership Negotiations
Jim Hightower
In These Times

Recent polls show broad public opposition to any more of these same old trade schemes, not only among Democrats, but independents and Republicans, too. Ten of the 2016 presidential candidates are against the deal. The counter movement is led by Democratic contender Bernie Sanders, who calls it flat-out "disastrous," and by GOP frontrunner Donnie Trump who dubs it "a horrible deal." Even corporate darling Carly Fiorina is "very uncomfortable with this deal." Congressional opposition is strong, and even Ford Motor Company -- which was one of the corporate giants allowed inside the negotiations -- has blasted it, calling on Congress to vote no.

Inexplicably, Obama views passage of this democracy-strangling corporate boondoggle as his "legacy-making" achievement, even though the only real support he has for it are Republican congressional leaders and the global corporate establishment. That's not just Kabuki; it's kooky. As the old aphorism puts it: "Tell me with whom you walk, and I'll tell you who you are."

First, if OK'd by Congress, this TPP scam would offshore a whole new round of America's middle-class jobs, hold down or even lower U.S. wages, flood our market with unsafe imported food, free Wall Street banksters from oversight and empower global corporations to use private "trade tribunals" of corporate lawyers to usurp our people's sovereignty. In fact, only six of the 30 chapters of this so-called trade agreement even deal with trade. How embarrassing that our own president would claim credit for doing such explosive damage to the American people! I'm guessing that even China would not have done worse.

Secondly, Obama's entire TPP theater is blown to bits by his assertion that "we ... are writing the rules." Who's "we"? Were you consulted? Did you even know that a tiny group of unelected people have been meeting in secret for seven years to write "rules" for you, me and 330 million other Americans? In fact, only about 600 corporate executives and lobbyists were allowed to be at the table, writing rules to benefit themselves at our expense.

[randys1]

1. Do you engage in conversation or do you just hit and run?

[Blue_Tires]

2. If this deal is so obviously THAT bad...

Why aren't any other countries backing out?

And since when is it a crime to negotiate a deal in private?

[Angry Dragon]

3. do the American people get to read it before it is voted on??

[pampango]

4. Obama says "yes". If true, does that change anything? n/t

[Angry Dragon]

5. my next question: When do we get to read it??

I have heard it is done and ready for Congress

[pampango]

6. I read it will be posted online next week but I'm not sure if that is set in stone. n/t

[Angry Dragon]

7. I will read it then ...... thank you

[Blue_Tires]

8. Did anyone bother to read any previous trade agreements?

just asking...

[Angry Dragon]

11. I believed what I was told about NAFTA

not anymore do I believe

[djean111]

10. There have been huge demonstrations against the TPP in New Zealand, Japan, Canada, Peru, and

Mexico - just for starters. Easily found by Googling TPP demonstrations and country of choice. Also, huge demonstrations against the TTIP in Europe.

The corporations don't really care, they own the governments.
You think it is okay to negotiate these deals that affect everybody in private? I don't.

[Blue_Tires]

13. But none of their governments are against it...

So again I ask what makes this trade deal so much worse from all the previous ones?

[daleo]

15. People are changing their minds about free trade deals

They now have more experience with their actual goals and have lost their willingness to believe the claims of economists and politicians.

[Blue_Tires]

16. So what is the alternative to free trade, then?

(seriously, I'm not that well versed on economics)

[pampango]

17. Probably something like the tariffs we had before FDR took office.

Republicans raised them 3 times between 1921 and 1933. FDR went in the other direction.

[daleo]

18. These trade deals have little to do with lowering tarrifs

They are now primarily about creating transnational laws, so that governments, especially democracies, can't enact laws that transnational corporations don't like. That usually means laws to protect labor, the environment, or consumers. They also facilitate the concentration of wealth and political power in the hands of a small transnational capitalist class, which feels little in the way of commonality with the rest of the globe's population. In the long run, that's bad for everyone, even them.

[portlander23]

12. I think everyone beat me to all the good responses

There are protests in other countries. This is a big deal that has more to do than just trade, and it's not being negotiated simply in the interest of a particular nation. Provisions in the deal that have been leaked greatly expand corporate power in the face of national governments.

Also, our experience with just free trade has not been great. Of course there are people who are supportive of free trade and that's a valid opinion that I don't share.

As far as negotiating in private, I'm sure a reasonable case can be made that doing so in the abstract is not inherently bad. Where we are now is that congress has a limited window of time to either approve or deny this deal and no amendments will be allowed. I understand the concern put forth that amending the deal could very well scuttle it given how long talks have been going on, but my feeling is to side with a democratic process on this.

[Blue_Tires]

14. I'm just suspicious that the biggest outspoken critic of the deal

Last edited Tue Oct 27, 2015, 04:28 PM - Edit history (1)

1. Isn't affected by the TPP in any way
2. Is already a multimillionaire

And every time I've asked what his personal stake was (aside from his hatred of the U.S.), I've never gotten an answer.

(I'm referring to that piece of shit Assange, in case you haven't guessed)

[strategery blunder]

19. Canada might well back out

Stephen Harper lost his governing majority, badly, against someone who opposes TPP.

Justin Trudeau campaigned heavily against it.

[hifiguy]

9. Obama to the American people re TTP-TTIP

"Sit the fuck down and shut the fuck up. I have a country to finish selling to Big Bu$ine$$."

And