Stop the TPP!
By Thom Hartmann A...
A coalition of public interest groups wants Congress to stop the Trans Pacific Partnership. The groups sent a letter to several ranking members of Congress, asking them to deny President Obama's request to fast-track the T.P.P., and hold on to their Constitutional authority to oversee trade deals. The letter is signed by 14 organizations, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Amnesty International, and the Free Press Action Fund. They argue that the massive trade deal has been negotiated in “near-total secrecy,” and say that public concerns about the agreement have been marginalized.
In addition to a massive increase in free trade, which poses a serious threat to American jobs, the TPP includes several speech-restricting provision that the public has already rejected. And, a leaked version of the trade deal indicated that corporate interests are being put ahead of public concerns. In their letter, the coalition wrote, “Corporations cannot be the only interests represented in this agreement, since they do not advocate for policies that safeguard or even represent the interests of the public at large.”
Many public interest advocates have demanded that the Trans Pacific Partnership be completely blocked. This latest coalition is simply asking that Congress keep negotiations transparent, and ensure Americans have access to the details of the plan. They wrote, “The American public has a right to know the contents of the international agreements its government is crafting.” This trade deal could have a dramatic impact on the American people, yet we're being kept in the dark about what it contains. Thankfully, some groups are standing up for our right to know the details of the TPP.
Comments
#2
Finally, we are talking about the TPP. Thanks Thom!! Haleluja!
#3
Great job Thomm lets hope that congress listen to the people
#4
From what I've heard about this Corporate blank check is that it would allow multinational Corporations to dictate and veto domestic political policy. In effect, it would place Corporate authority over the authority of the Federal government--not only in issues of trade and tariffs; but, in issues of all regulation and environmental laws as well. It is NAFTA on steroids!
Check out this Breaking the Set story on the TPP:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UaEzMo0uYc
The TPP is a windfall for multinational business and a catastrophe for Democracy. We must oppose this legislation with everything we've got. Write your representative today and raise hell!
#5
The TPP should be stopped immediately without the american public consent, this is borderline on being illegal. Our congress should demand from the president intimate details on this arrangement. This will screw up our future economy which is not in good shape as it is. I hope the congress has the guts to do this.
Bill A.
#6
Yet again I ave to ask, What is the difference between Obama and a Republican on TPP? This is why I'm voting green..
And for healthcare, I have a strong suspicion Republicans would've implemented something similar to Obamacare if they were in charge (Republicans are only complaining because Obama done it)..
#7
Of course the TTP needs to be stopped in its tracks because it is an escalition towards checkmate. The goal is to make our present near defacto neofeudal corporate dictatorship actual, legal, and facto. Thie TTP has little to do with trade fair, free, or otherwise. It is a stealthy means of overiding democracy, which is something business and finance HAVE to do in order to keep amassing wealth and power. If they don't neuter the people's power at the ballot box, if they fail to crush the power of labor action, and do nut defeat the power of mass action, they are doomed. Mindcontrol is failing them. The democratic fig leaf is being increasingly viewed as a democratic farce. And before times become so bad that the critical point of popular revolt is reached, the money crazed meglomaniacs in charge need legal scaffolding to start terrorizing the population into compliance. For they are hyper aware that every day their numbers decrease even as their wealth increases. They recognize a window of opportunity to cement their global takeover, to ensure their continuing ability to hyper-exploit human capital and the resources and ecology of an entire planet. So they make their move now. It has to be now because the socipaths in charge sense that the growing consciousness of the 99% means that the window of opportunity may slam shut on the 1% at any time. They secretly know that this moment of strength is actually a moment of weakness. They are, in fact, desperate and vulnerable. So lets slam that window shut right now, shall we?
#8
I've written frequently about this very subject. My first article, The Enemy Beaneath, appeared in April and my second article, You Have Been Granted A Rare Privilege, appeared in May. There is a video in that article of Congressman Alan Grayson discussing the terms under which he was going to be allowed to see the documents, which is actually frightening. I've been active getting labor union support and small business support in opposition to the fast track. During my weekend with Jill Stein she vowed to oppose it as well. Earlier this week I and others were successful in forcing the local Orange County Florida Democratic Executive Committee to unanimously vote in favor of opposition to both the fast track and the TPP itself. This is an ongoing project and more people need to be aware of it.
Jerry Waxman
#9
Quote Ikurnarsky:They recognize a window of opportunity to cement their global takeover, to ensure their continuing ability to hyper-exploit human capital and the resources and ecology of an entire planet. So they make their move now. It has to be now because the socipaths in charge sense that the growing consciousness of the 99% means that the window of opportunity may slam shut on the 1% at any time. They secretly know that this moment of strength is actually a moment of weakness. They are, in fact, desperate and vulnerable. So lets slam that window shut right now, shall we?
Ikurnarsky ~ Very well said! I agree! Let's slam that window shut now; and, lock it in place!
#10
Bobbler, I'm with you. I've heard Obama has been TPP-friendly and this horrifies me. Ditto Secretary of State John Kerry (what a sell-out Kerry has turned out to be! Yee gods...) I have had it with the f..kin' Democrats. By the next presidential election, I'll most likely vote for the Green or Justice Party candidate.
As for healthcare, I think the Repli-cons are quite happy with a status quo of pay-or-die healthcare denial. I don't believe they wanted any reform to this twisted, rotten system. - Alice I.W.
#11
Thom,
I remember Bushies proposing this type of trade agreement with china and Paulson/Bush ended up selling us down the river to get China money to support their wars. That ended up costing us 3.5 million jobs sent to China along with plants and tech. Are these trade representatives the same ones or are they Pres Obama appointees? Is this going to be another Bushie legacy or is Pres Obama after a Clinton do-over?
#12
thanks thom ur doing a fine job we the pobboa realiy like ur views what we would like to know what else are sweet ole boys in dc goning to do to us they have ruined the country we cant find workthey goning to make drugs legal perty soon we will be worse thanmex we will be 3rd world country where is our leaders?????????
#13
Quote Aliceinwonderland:As for healthcare, I think the Repli-cons are quite happy with a status quo of pay-or-die healthcare denial. I don't believe they wanted any reform to this twisted, rotten system. - Alice I.W.
Aliceinwonderland ~ I have to agree about that! This new budget committee has me concerned as well. There are some extremely opposed positions being represented. If you ask me they are just putting on another show to consume the time of Senator Bernie Sanders with one hand while they push this TPP with the other hand. After all, if they manage to force the disclosure of the TPP legislation to Congress, Senator Bernie Sanders might be one of the very few Congressmen who might actually read it and share the gist of it in session. I would be very pleasantly surprised if this budget committee could reach any unanimous consensus and produced any meaningful outcome that would prevent the debt ceiling drama from repeating again in three more months. My worse fear is that the budget committee will turn out to be a waste of time; and, the TPP will slide through as law unimpeded. As always, I hope all my suspicions are unfounded.
I think it's going to be largely up to We the People to defeat this TPP agenda. We have to put the pressure on everyone in the Government that we can get the attention of--especially the White House. Personally, like you, I don't see myself voting Democratically again any time soon. However, the way Obama handled this last Health Care face off left me very pleasantly surprised and somewhat optimistic. A repeat performance in three months--together with a steadfast rejection and veto on this TPP legislation--could pave the way for me to change my mind; and, I intend to make sure he has that in writing. In fact, I recommend We the People make sure that all our Representatives have that fact in writing.
#14
Yes, finally! TPP has been creeping around Obama's desk and secret rooms for a long time. Truely, it is another monstrous attempt to put more money in richy rich's pockets. It not only "kills" jobs in America, it harms the poor people in the developing (or, more realistically, trying to develop) countries by keeping their wages lower and lower. TPP is a scam on all people who work to provide goods for consumption. Another of Obama's 2 sided mouth talking, and it does great harm.
#15
Great to be seeing this here from Thom and all of your comments. The TPPA is strongly opposed here in New Zealand .The little we have been able to find out about this secret agreement appears to be yet another way to undermine and take over the governing of our country. It removes our right to protest or oppose against the TPPA, even when our laws allow. More evidence of Governments working for the interests of corporations and not for the people they are elected to represent.
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It seems that Tea Party members would be against the TPP. Meanwhile the funders of the tea party want the TPP more than anything else.