Reply #1: If Peru tries to fix their Social Securty system...this deal could lock them in.

[madfloridian]

I found a little more about it. If they attempt to fix the problems in the privatization they did in the 90s, this could hurt them.

http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayFullDocument&orgId=574&topicId=27009&docId=l:689405066&start=2

"Currently the country has both a government pension system and private pension fund accounts. Peru took the path of many Latin American countries in the 1990s in privatizing its Social Security system.

Now the privatized system has run into problems, including complaints about large fees paid to the private providers of pension fund accounts.

Citibank Overseas Investment is the largest single investor in ProFuturo, which is one of the leading pension fund providers in Peru.
The letter warned that ambiguous wording in the financial services and investment chapters in the trade agreement could potentially open the way for Citibank to "claim a large monetary award" in international tribunals.

And Charlie Rangel says it will pass, he is confident of it...even though 30 US activist groups have urged it not pass.

The scary part is that Rangel is the one who said this of trade deals.

Rangel..."bam, seal it and catch hell"

Just pass it and worry about the activists later.

Sounds like what was advocated by a Democratic strategist last year.

Take their money, use their energy, but then distance yourselves from them.

"The bloggers and online donors represent an important resource for the party, but they are not representative of the majority you need to win elections," said Steve Elmendorf, a Democratic lobbyist who advised Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign.

"The trick will be to harness their energy and their money without looking like you are a captive of the activist left."

Why are we even surprised anymore at how hawkish our Democrats sound on TV. They are not even talking to us, they are talking to those "other" folks...that ephemeral "sensible center".