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First Congressman Allowed to Read Secret Treaty Says “This ... Hands The Sovereignty of Our Country Over to Corporate Interests”

George Washington's picture




 

We reported last year:

Democratic Senator Wyden – the head of the committee which is supposed to oversee it – is so furious about the lack of access that he has introduced legislation to force disclosure.

 

Republican House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa is so upset by it that he has leaked a document on his website to show what’s going on.

 

What is everyone so furious about?

 

An international treaty being negotiated in secret which would not only crack down on Internet privacy much more than SOPA or ACTA, but would actually destroy the sovereignty of the U.S. and all other signatories.

 

It is called the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

 

Wyden is the chairman of the trade committee in the Senate … the committee which is supposed to have jurisdiction over the TPP.

Wyden is also on the Senate Intelligence Committee, and so he and his staff have high security clearances and are normally able to look at classified documents.

 

And yet Wyden and his staff have been denied access to the TPP’s text.

Indeed, the decision to keep the text of TPP secret was itself classified as secret:

(I have also received a tip from a credible inside source that TPP contains provisions which would severely harm America’s national security. Specifically, like some previous, ill-conceived treaties, TPP would allow foreign companies to buy sensitive American assets which could subject us to terror attacks or economic blackmail.)

Yesterday, Congressman Alan Grayson (who knows how to read legislation … he was a successful lawyer before he was elected to Congress, and has written and co-sponsored numerous bills himself including the bill to audit the Federal Reserve and – most recently – the “Mind Your Own Business Act” to stop NSA spying) announced that he had been allowed to read the text of TPP – and that it is  an anti-American power grab by big corporations:

Last month, 10,000 of us submitted comments to the United States Trade Representative (USTR), in which we objected to new so-called free trade agreements. We asked that the government not sell out our democracy to corporate interests.

 

Because of this pressure, the USTR  finally let a member of Congress – little ole me, Alan Grayson [anyone who's seen Grayson in action knows that he is formidable] – actually see the text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The TPP is a large, secret trade agreement that is being negotiated with many countries in East Asia and South America.

 

The TPP is nicknamed “NAFTA on steroids.”  Now that I’ve read it, I can see why. I can’t tell you what’s in the agreement, because the U.S. Trade Representative calls it classified. But I can tell you two things about it.

 

1)    There is no national security purpose in keeping this text secret.

 

2)    This agreement hands the sovereignty of our country over to corporate interests.

 

3)    What they can’t afford to tell the American public is that [the rest of this sentence is classified].

 

***

 

I will be fighting this agreement with everything I’ve got. And I know you’ll be there every step of the way.

 

***

 

Courage,

Congressman Alan Grayson

Grayson also noted:

It is ironic in a way that the government thinks it's alright to have a record of every single call that an American makes, but not alright for an American citizen to know what sovereign powers the government is negotiating away.

***

Having seen what I’ve seen, I would characterize this as a gross abrogation of American sovereignty. And I would further characterize it as a punch in the face to the middle class of America. I think that’s fair to say from what I’ve seen so far. But I’m not allowed to tell you why!

Remember that one of the best definitions of fascism – the one used by Mussolini – is the “merger of state and corporate power”. Our nation has been moving in that direction for a number of years, where government and giant corporations are becoming more and more intertwined in a malignant, symbiotic relationship.   TPP would be the nail in the coffin for free market economics and democracy.

Note to progressives who support public banking: This is a key battle.

Note to those who oppose to what they call “one world government” or a “new world order”: This is the big fight.

 

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Wed, 06/19/2013 - 17:30 | 3673209 sosoome
sosoome's picture

Oh please. I bet I'll still be able to get my six pack and watch the game on Sunday afternoon.

Wed, 06/19/2013 - 17:22 | 3673159 WTFUD
WTFUD's picture

USSA THE TALKING IS DONE. GET YOUR ASS ON THE STREETS NOW AND REMOVE OBAMA AND CONGRESS.

PLEASE!

Wed, 06/19/2013 - 20:22 | 3673688 BernankeHasHemo...
BernankeHasHemorrhoids's picture

Sorry, dude, but they're watching television. Our only hope is for a military coup in which Obama, Biden and his cabinet are all killed along with every member of Congress. We need a military dictatorship to save us from ourselves. 

Wed, 06/19/2013 - 22:43 | 3673988 kchrisc
kchrisc's picture

Oh yeah, that's the ticket! Replace the pieces of shit in suits with the pieces of shit in a uniform.

I pick General Alxexander as "head-honcho" with Hayden as VP, Col. North as State, Petraeus at Tresury, McChrystal at Ed, Specialist Lynndie England at DHS, General or Colernel Karpinski at Defense, and various others to fillout the rest.

Remember, in the last century murder by those in uniform was, and still is, a rival to "narural" as to cause of death.

Or like I like to say, "Guns don't kill people, mostly people in uniform do."

Wed, 06/19/2013 - 22:47 | 3673998 cynicalskeptic
cynicalskeptic's picture

Prescott Bush and friends tried this with FDR in 1932.  Smedley Butler went to COngress and reported the attempt to overthrow the US government.  Congress 'investigated' and one minor go-between got nailed.  TPTB behind the effordd all scurried back under rocks.

Thu, 06/20/2013 - 00:10 | 3674178 kchrisc
kchrisc's picture

If anyone went to CONcress this time they would be told "so what and don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out."

Wed, 06/19/2013 - 17:17 | 3673128 Gringo Viejo
Gringo Viejo's picture

Figured it out, did he?

Wed, 06/19/2013 - 17:02 | 3673095 roadhazard
roadhazard's picture

The first time I heard the words New World Order was out of the mouth of George Bush Sr. A chill went down my spine and I knew then that America was fucked. seriously

Wed, 06/19/2013 - 22:17 | 3673930 kchrisc
kchrisc's picture

Yeah, I remember that well too.

Pre-Internet, I had heard the term "New World Order" a few times from a few people more independently minded than myself. My attitude was "whatever." Then Bush Sr., who I have since learned is connected to a lot of bad shit, uttered it and I have been paying attention ever since.

He could have said "new time," "new world," "new era," "new relations," but he said "new world order." Order? What and who's order?

Later I read the book "Compromised" by Barry Seal and learned that the CIA, KGB, Mossad, etc. and their bankster and corporate masters were just playing the sheeple on both sides for massive profits. This book is a must read for anyone that thinks they are well informed, because, until you read this book, you aren't. And if you think you know about the Clintons but haven't read this book, you don't know shit about them, especially him.

Thu, 06/20/2013 - 08:45 | 3674792 Spanky
Spanky's picture

+1

For Barry... 

Thu, 06/20/2013 - 00:21 | 3674205 Scro
Scro's picture

Couldn't find Compromised by Barry seal on amazon or the pirate bay but I did find Compromised by terry reed on amazon, it that the book your talking about.

Thu, 06/20/2013 - 14:14 | 3675954 kchrisc
kchrisc's picture

Oops, my bad! Barry Seal is an important part of the book but not the author, Terry Reed is.

Putting that aside, it really is an important book to read. You will have a whole new appreciation on how things really work and how nothing is at it seems.

 

Thu, 06/20/2013 - 07:45 | 3674597 Disenchanted
Disenchanted's picture

yes, that's the one.

Barry and the Boys is good too...although I didn't pay that much for mine many years ago(2002).

 

Barry and the Boys pic

Wed, 06/19/2013 - 16:57 | 3673076 Winston Smith 2009
Winston Smith 2009's picture

Unbelievable. 

Wed, 06/19/2013 - 16:49 | 3673057 Born2Bwired
Born2Bwired's picture

How about a nice game of Rollerball?

Wed, 06/19/2013 - 16:52 | 3673068 cynicalskeptic
cynicalskeptic's picture

'Running Man' for all those that dare question our leaders......

Thu, 06/20/2013 - 00:13 | 3674187 Scro
Scro's picture

Wouldn't Detroit make a great place to have a running man game. Win/win

Wed, 06/19/2013 - 16:47 | 3673050 Conax
Conax's picture

A pox on congress and their corporate pals.

Wed, 06/19/2013 - 23:50 | 3674143 Boxed Merlot
Boxed Merlot's picture

A pox on congress and their corporate pals...

 

And he says his credentials as an attorney first are what qualify him to be a good congressman. 

I can understand the need for being able to parse the English language, but the fact that most elected officials in DC and in various statehouses around this nation are attorneys first is the Reason this kind of stuff is happening to the detriment of the people.

imo.

By the way, doesn't the FBI give extra credit to its hires if they're trained in "Law"? 

'nuff said. 

 

Thu, 06/20/2013 - 08:42 | 3674774 Spanky
Spanky's picture

I know some dedicated, brilliant and principled attorneys. Not many, but a handful.

Then there's the pond scum. Your misery is my money -- that's their motto.

Bended knee to wealthy clients, easily becomes same to generous contributors.

Wed, 06/19/2013 - 16:40 | 3673028 Duc888
Duc888's picture

Hey, if it's a secret it must be for our benefit, right?

 

Move along folks, nothing to see here.

 

Keep voting too.

 

Wed, 06/19/2013 - 16:41 | 3673016 Agent 440
Agent 440's picture

.

Wed, 06/19/2013 - 16:36 | 3673013 cossack55
cossack55's picture

Thanks for the news, GW. 

Wed, 06/19/2013 - 16:34 | 3673006 piceridu
piceridu's picture

GW, keep it coming. There's no denying where we are and where we're going. Thanks for all your efforts to expose, lying, cheating, corruption and pure evil against human beings.

Wed, 06/19/2013 - 16:32 | 3673000 SAT 800
SAT 800's picture

Goddamit. Those assholes.

Wed, 06/19/2013 - 16:29 | 3672986 A. Magnus
A. Magnus's picture

"if we could seat 300 hedglians in congress we could start hanging bankers tomorrow morning.... but i digress."

The REAL problem in this country is that people think they need permission from congress to do what is right for the country. Hang the bankers NOW, then when their corpses are suitable pecked by carrion birds we can ask for 'permission'...

Thu, 06/20/2013 - 08:26 | 3674724 Spanky
Spanky's picture

Problem is, the bankers will call their buds the pols, and then the cops show up and ruin a perfectly good lynching. Better to fuck-off the pols at the ballot box first. Claim Constitutional high ground, then have the cops hang both...

Wed, 06/19/2013 - 21:49 | 3673870 kchrisc
kchrisc's picture

I'm pro-choice:

Rope, guillotine, or masonry wall?

 

Thu, 06/20/2013 - 08:28 | 3674733 Spanky
Spanky's picture

+1

Oh fuck that's good. Wish I'd said it.

Wed, 06/19/2013 - 16:58 | 3673085 cynicalskeptic
cynicalskeptic's picture

Follow the precedent already set by banks -

 

HANG the bankers first -  and confiscate their personal assets (EVERYTHING - houses, cars, fortunes in domestic and offshore accounts, ANYTHING of value).

'Then those guilty of these crimes can get prosecuted, possibly be convicted (though not likely if 'by a jury of their peers') and if convicted pay a small token fine and maybe (though the odds are against it) serve a minimum amount of time in a minimum security prison.

Thu, 06/20/2013 - 08:22 | 3674709 Spanky
Spanky's picture

+1

I like your style.

Wed, 06/19/2013 - 16:26 | 3672975 Westcoastliberal
Westcoastliberal's picture

Biden has been saying we need a "New World Order" in recent speeches.  IMHO this "Trans-Pacific Partnership" is it.  Good work George!

Wed, 06/19/2013 - 22:13 | 3673921 DaveyJones
DaveyJones's picture

now that they ruled corporations are citizens when will they rule we arent

Wed, 06/19/2013 - 14:16 | 3672265 williambanzai7
williambanzai7's picture

In the future there will be no sovereigns, only corporations.

Did I just say that?

The future is today.

Thu, 06/20/2013 - 07:44 | 3674602 Treason Season
Treason Season's picture

Icke has said countries are nothing but franchises for the cabal.

Wed, 06/19/2013 - 22:44 | 3673995 Dr. No
Dr. No's picture

The I.B.M. Stellarsphere,

the Microsoft Galaxy,

Planet Starbucks.

Wed, 06/19/2013 - 17:29 | 3673207 astroloungers
astroloungers's picture

A verse from the 1983 The Call song.....

 

"Well they blew their horns
And the walls came down
They'd all been warned
But the walls came down
I don't think there are any Russians
There aint no Yanks
Just corporate criminals
Playing with tanks"

 

30 years early..vision or dumb luck?

Thu, 06/20/2013 - 01:08 | 3674267 Boxed Merlot
Boxed Merlot's picture

30 years early..vision or dumb luck?

 

 

 

Do you suppose Elijah had a "vision" or was it "dumb luck" fire came down and consumed the entire alter, contents and water on Mt. Carmel? (1Kings 18:17-46 NASB)

I don't think he cared an iota if any credit was assigned to him at that point in time, he was there to show the Almighty was making a regime change.

 

 

 

BTW, I enjoyed listening to The Call's "I Still Believe" after chasing down your post and scrounging links. 

 

 

Wed, 06/19/2013 - 16:58 | 3673088 Winston of Oceania
Winston of Oceania's picture

Makes me hungry for Taco-Bell...

Wed, 06/19/2013 - 22:51 | 3674010 the grateful un...
the grateful unemployed's picture

where the ground beef failed the 40% standard

Wed, 06/19/2013 - 17:24 | 3673172 Seahorse
Seahorse's picture

'All resaurants are Taco-Bell'

Wed, 06/19/2013 - 16:53 | 3673070 Sudden Debt
Sudden Debt's picture

Reminds me of that old game TEKKEN

Wed, 06/19/2013 - 14:41 | 3672418 newworldorder
newworldorder's picture

+1000  Always so insightful and to the point. You have captured the essense of the issue with few words.

Wed, 06/19/2013 - 16:31 | 3672998 Citxmech
Citxmech's picture

We're on the road where (the orignial) Rollerball meets Soylent Green.

Wed, 06/19/2013 - 16:42 | 3673030 johnQpublic
johnQpublic's picture

it reminds me of so many movies about the future where it is corporations and not governments

'screamers' comes to mind, now that darpa wants computers that teach themselves

great idea with skynet in place and all

Wed, 06/19/2013 - 17:28 | 3673203 Paveway IV
Paveway IV's picture

There's always that 'history' thing for the nostalgic

Il Duce would lose control of his bowels if he were alive to see the facist masterpiece that congress has produced in the US. 

Wed, 06/19/2013 - 13:50 | 3672153 diogeneslaertius
diogeneslaertius's picture

im shocked!

(that there was any sovereignty left to be handed over)

i was under the impression that the merger was complete and i was living behind enemy lines in NWO-occupied north ameristan ;D

 

youd think at times like these the slaves would attempt to organize politically, secure in the knowledge that several thousand years of internecine conflict gave us magna carta, the right to arms, and a ballot box. but weve been bought off by ineffectual means of redressing our owners who have ceased to even listen to our cries - or perhaps only as the soundtrack to their incessant control masturbation.

 

TPP is the latest legislative data point that should tell us everything we need to know.

 

The legislative framework exists, the NAU exists (remember how they mocked Ross Perot and went after his family? youre gonna hear a giant sucking sound larry. http://youtu.be/5XEziSYRqhU) - but it doesnt exist, and youre bad for reporting on it.

 

if we could seat 300 hedglians in congress we could start hanging bankers tomorrow morning.... but i digress.

 

great reportage as always gdubs

Wed, 06/19/2013 - 23:32 | 3674106 anonnn
anonnn's picture

Former Sen. Mike Gravel used his Congressional immunity to force secret Pentagon Papers into public release over the objection of Atty General Renquist and the Pentagon and the President.

Any member of Congress retains that right.

All else is whimper and babble and DOUBLETHINK.

Thu, 06/20/2013 - 00:10 | 3674177 anonnn
anonnn's picture

Okay! Now listen to the same Sen Gravel 36 years later, lay it all out for me and thee!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5ks8hz5Ulg

You will be amazed how simple the truth is. And rewarded for paying attention.

Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site!