This page has been archived and commenting is disabled.
What’s Wrong With The Administration’s Trade-Deal Arguments
Submitted by investigative historian Eric Zuesse
What’s Wrong with the Administration’s Trade-Deal Arguments
Here is from the June 3rd article at the pro-trade-deals Americas Society & Council of the Americas, "Summary: The Trans-Pacific Partnership - What's at Stake for the Western Hemisphere?” in which the Democratic congressman, Gregory Meeks, a Co-Chair of the Friends of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Caucus, states the core of the Administration’s case on its proposed trade-deals. The article reports:
According to Congressman Meeks, 'TPP is a force for positive change across the board for all countries, whether or not they belong to TPP,' although this transformation will require rigorous action. Countries in Central and South America understand that economic reforms and harmonized trade rules are only one side of the coin. On the reverse side, they are committed to addressing socio-political demands, inequality issues, violence, and the informal sector in the economy.
He’s referring there to the uniform standardization that these deals would impose upon all participating countries regarding regulations of food-safety, product-safety, drug-safety, environmental standards, workers’ rights, protections against the defrauding of investors, etc. He is saying that this international uniformity will bring "positive change across the board for all countries.”
What it will actually do is to raise the standards in some countries and lower the standards in others, in order to achieve uniformity across international borders.
So: let us assume, for the purpose of argument, that, for the most part, the net average result will indeed be to raise standards. This is what he is implying (even though it’s false). But there is a deeper problem than whether environmental and other standards within various nations are set higher; and it is that they are, in effect, to be set in stone by these agreements.
Just as it is vastly more difficult to update a provision in the U.S. Constitution by means of of its Amendment-process than it is to enact a new mere law that updates an old mere law; so, too, it is vastly more difficult to change an international treaty-provision than it is to change a mere single nation’s regulatory standards and laws.
Whereas to change a law or regulation requires only intra-national, or inside-the-nation, process, changing a treaty-provision requires a vastly more difficult international process, which demands the unanimous consent of all member-nations of the given treaty or international agreement.
These ’trade’ deals are set up, far more fundamentally, to transfer the power over the decisions concerning such matters, away from democratically accountable national governments, to, instead, panels of ‘arbitrators’ consisting of three lawyers, each one of whom is appointed by international corporations — i.e, by the very same parties whose interest is to lower workers’ wages and rights, to lower environmental standards, to lower protections against defrauding stockholders, to lower protections against global warming, to lower protections against toxics in foods, etc.
The system in these ’trade’ deals does not allow nations to sue international corporations, but it does allow international corporations to sue any signatory nation that, a given suing international corporation alleges, has violated the treaty’s international standard — in other words, that has applied or instituted a standard higher than the international treaty allows.
If subsequent scientific research indicates that a given global-warming matter requires a higher standard than was formerly thought, or that a given product-safety or food-safety standard was actually dangerously low and must be raised, then, that’s just too bad, because there won’t be any realistic way in which the given standard, in any participating country, will be able to be raised. The international corporations that have lobbied so successfully for Obama’s ‘trade’ deals to get them as far as they already have, will easily be able to block at least one of the participating countries from going along with a treaty-change to enable increasing the then-established set-in-stone international standard.
So: what’s really at issue here is a transfer from national democratic sovereignty to, instead, international-corporate sovereignty, in which international coporations will have locked-in an international dictatorial control over a large portion of what it is that national governments do, and necessarily must do, in order to serve the public good.
The whole thing is a corrupt con-job.
What is at stake here is nothing less than whether the future of the world will be national democratic governments, or instead an international fascist government. Regardless of whether the old ideal of an international democratic world-federalist government (the old idea of a world government) was a good one, the bringing-about of an international corporate dictatorship is a monstrosity: the very opposite of an international democracy.
Barack Obama wants to bring the world into international fascist control more than has ever yet existed on this planet. If he succeeds, he will thus be the most harmful political leader in world history. His deals must be stopped. They are horrendous.
----------
Investigative historian Eric Zuesse is the author, most recently, of They’re Not Even Close: The Democratic vs. Republican Economic Records, 1910-2010, and of CHRIST’S VENTRILOQUISTS: The Event that Created Christianity, and of Feudalism, Fascism, Libertarianism and Economics.
»
- 12277 reads
- Printer-friendly version
- Send to friend
- advertisements -
so what's the latest on Katelyn Jenner ?
A Bag of Giblets
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twRDQmmxLkw
TPP = East India Company gone wild.
How about this. They publish the damn thing and THEN we can determine what is wrong with it?
You know, how things should work in reality.
pods
Only a diabolical terrorist who hates America would suggest such a thing.
If they want to keep it a secret there should be one stipulation.
When it turns out terrible and nobody likes it as is anticipated, TPP architects and proponents get their assets seized, homes burned down and heads lopped off.
Should be true for all legislation.
All trade deals should come with op-out provisions. The reason they don't is self-evident once the true intent of the deals are understood.
I almost can hear the weasels: 'Oh no, not the assets!'
wikileaks will publish the papers;)
https://wikileaks.org/pledge/#rd-6
huh, and mind you, they will need a big distracting dirty trick to get TTP passed, without too much noticing...
Yes 'two hoots' and we all know how that Gig ended. Unfortunately not before the expiration of around 7 million Indians.
Ralph Nader seconds you . . .
http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/06/09/10-reasons-the-tpp-is-not-a-progressive-trade-agreement/
Better yet, will Caitlyn Jenner marry Michele Obama down the line, when she divorces Obummer and reattaches her balls.
Not going to look for the pic now, but from a few photos of her in tight pants, Michelle's packing quite the thumb-like clit, eh?
I like that.
You should to.
Just remember, though, if after sex they go and pee standing up, you've been bamboozled!
As long as Jenner keeps his "twig and berries" his name is Bruce, don't give a fuck what he wants to be called.
So the Wookie is still obviously Michael.
Would you jackholes kindly stop making fun of transJenner people.
serve the public good???
lolololololololololol
To Serve Man, it's a cookbook!
I've had it with this bullshit. So has just about everyone else I've talked to. Millions don't want this, or at least want to see it first. Nope. We elected these people, somehow a 15% approval rating gives the morons a mandate. I say mandate their asses to a large ship full of holes and set them to sea.
We're on the highway to hell as the Constitutional framework is systematically, incrementally distorted, perverted, or ignored.
even us few who want to be informed - cannot be by our elected making sure we do not know what they do..
get used to it, it is rule by oligarchs, criminals like jon corzine and the clinton's, crime families like the Bush clan using power to enrich them while the standard of living drops and freedoms are lost..
pass a bill in secret, why not..just make decrees like monarchs of old. voting is to give lipstick to the pig in DC.
hey, get ready for next weeks bilderberger meeting in austria alps..oh not invited, well to bad, it's all secret and security is provided by the AUSTRIAN government. the security is already in place with restrictions on travel and security check points..of course they do nothing there but eat and talk about helping the average citizen of the world ...don't break out your tin foil hats they are doing good. in secret.
dp
I've heard that's how Obama likes it.
This is called the end game in Fabian Socialist circles
"The whole thing is a corrupt con-job." N S S....
Fascism / Nazism is not curable. It can only be exterminated.
We know how ACA, Barack Obama's Health Care Plan worked out... many problems, many lost cheaper even better care, many could not sign up or get Redress to problems, and the number Enlisted appears to be problematic and may see people leave the program, meme is that ACA is more expensive for most and no one can explain why.
What if TPP or TTIP face problems, how would we get Redress, how could it be changed or fix. We can't trust this government. We would have to replace, reorganize and retire hundreds of thousands of Federal Appointees and Employees to ever trust the Federal Government.
Let's look at an Example:
Total—Department of Veterans Affairs Outlays 2014 = $154.05 Billion
Total—Department of Veterans Affairs Outlays 2013 = $143.6 Billion
Total—Department of Veterans Affairs Outlays 2000 = $50.1 Billion
Total—Department of Veterans Affairs Outlays 1998 = $45.6 Billion
------------------------------------------------------------------
2014 VA Information Technology Systems outlays = $3.432 Billion
2013 VA Information Technology Systems outlays = $3.218 Billion
2012 VA Information Technology Systems outlays = $3.266 Billion
2011 VA Information Technology Systems outlays = $3.355 Billion
Total VA Information Technology Systems outlays = $13.27. Billion in 4 Years
2014 VA Medical Care = $46.04 Billion
2013 VA Medical Care = $44.7 Billion
2010 VA Medical Care = $36.9 Billion
2008 VA Medical Care = $30.0 Billion
2004 VA Medical Care = $24.4 Billion
2002 VA Medical Care = $22.6 Billion
1999 VA Medical Care = $17.8 Billion
1998 VA Medical Care = $17.3 Billion
2014 VA Compensation and Pensions = $69.82 Billion
2013 VA Compensation and Pensions = $64.76 Billion
2010 VA Compensation and Pensions = $47.90 Billion
2008 VA Compensation and Pensions = $40.24 Billion
2004 VA Compensation and Pensions = $29.78 Billion
2002 VA Compensation and Pensions = $25.68 Billion
2000 VA Compensation and Pensions = $23.82 Billion
1999 VA Compensation and Pensions = $21.15 Billion
1998 VA Compensation and Pensions = $20.29 Billion
-
The VA Spent Plenty on Computer Systems and even today they have testimony that they failed to set up the system. And look at the little portion on Medical. What a wasteful budget increase they had from 2000.
VA Needs to be Audited. Will we be able to fix TPP or TTIP?? Never.
TPP
Taking Power over People.
Toilet Paper Promise?
The Perfect Plutocracy?
So far as I know, a treaty can not actually amend or over-rule the Constitution.
http://tenthamendmentcenter.com/2013/11/13/can-treaties-override-the-constitution/
but a} it's complicated and b} in the modern era, any justice can make up any horseshit he or she wants to cobble together a justification for the result they want, or are being bribed or extorted to reach.
Of course, it has been post Progressive-Era torture of the language that will allow judges to 'interpret' things like "shall not abridge" to mean "shall not abridge {except when A, B ...}"
Which is why, Constitutionally speaking, we can't have nice things.
" . . . a treaty can not actually amend or over-rule the Constitution."
Except, that they have:
http://www.citizen.org/documents/investor-state-chart.pdf
TPP - Treason Posing as Progress
Any agreement with "fast track" in the deal is a bad deal for the American worker. I guarantee you this will be passed.
Not just American workers....workers in every member nation.
It is fine that some people are against this because of the harm it will do to America (lord knows opponents need all the help they can get), however, corporate control of local governments is not good for any nation. As bad as the current governments are around the world, the current situation is correctable. Once these trade deals are set in stone, that's the end for generations.
Several thinngs change.
1. We as SOVERIGNS of this nation (we the people) have had no input into the decision making process. End of the republic.
2. Marbury v Madison: "any law contrary to the U.S. Constitution is VOID. This court and all other departments are BOUND BY THAT INSTRUMENT." Incidently this is conformity with notion of the Supremency clause as being the supreme law of the land.
3.This alows the corporation of the WORLD to dictate to us people as slaves==WORLDWIDE.
Obviously there are many more drawbacks to this piece of SHIT. All politicians who vote for this POS should be hunted down and told what naught persons they are and be soundly spanked. Ditto for our banking fags.
There will hopefully be blood in the streets if this is implemented. Miletones
What we need is a Rumor that the US Marines will Arrest members of the US Supreme Court if the TPP or TTIP are signed by the President of the USA.
There needs to be a Rumor of a Military Coup and Arrests to get people to remember the US Constitution.
All that and more, except let good fags one and all rally to the cause. Good to see you Milestones.
If Democratic CONgressman Beeks, er Meeks , says it's Pukka then i'm taking his words at face value. s/c
This should dispel ANY confusion regarding DemRep LOYALTIES. Yes Peeps it's to their Bankers.
The Trans-Pacific Partnership would establish a one-world government, giving the ultra-rich control over everything and everyone. There would be no countries anymore.
This is being disguised as a trade deal when it is, in fact, a global coup d'etat. It completes the process that was originally started through the Kennedy assassination.
The TPP is being used to ensure that the U.S. Dollar remains the world's reserve currency.
I do not know whether China and Russia understand that this is the purpose. For if they did, they might immediately complete the de-dollarization process.
It's would certainly be a mistake for China to wait until September to launch its international payment system, which could conceivably connect all the yuan swap facilities around the world for super-fast trade settlement.
You have to pass the TPP before you learn about how you're going to get fucked by it.
-Obama and team Piglousey
How's that Obamacare working out for you everybody?
Let's not pretend the Bohner and his crew are not pushing this with all they've got. This is a complete team effort.
And we're not on that team.
Well how do you like the EU? Seems all the countries are subject to having a Technocrat or Ivy League type put in charge of their country. Right now Germany has powerful Unions, Great Wage Rates & Vacations, over 3,000 Tons of Gold, Good High Tech Manufacturing & Engineering, Lots of Exports, borrows low skilled labor from other countries, and is a world leader. Other countries are relegated to less powerful positions, they are unequal, and are subject to dictates on Austerity measures in the midst of an EU wide Recession.
So TPP & TTIP are
- loss of Sovereignty
- Loss of control over debtors, being told austerity is the new program despite recessions
- Loss of Anti Trust Laws, no Monopoly will be termed Anti-Trust as broad agreement and normalization of laws will justify even larger Corporations
- Self-Regulatory Organizations (SROs) of Professionals will Arbitrate for TPP & TTIP, but basically TPP & TTIP will probably become an Institution with Federal Funding only privately managed and no Authority over it
- Trend toward Globalism is toward Transnational Corporatism, more power for Private Executives who become a Ruling Class, Countries & Democracy are subverted by corporate power
- Corporate Power is 50% of Fascism, there is no voting on policies or going to war, or funding both sides of a war, you don't vote, War Spending increases Profits
- Normalization of Laws will require Censorship
- Normalization of Laws will condone Money & Gifts in Politics, and will condone Corporation as People & Money as Free Speech
- Globalism is a Program, it is why you have open borders, have illegals working in your country and using your public hospital funding, it is why Wages are Suppressed in Part, it is why you compete with people who have no Worker Rights for companies who can't be audited, it is a slanted field, and often in the USA you can't learn your trade without getting the info from your employer through work, where to the foreign workers get their education? Free Education? Cheap University Training? Foreign Workers may show up with no debts to replace you in your Job
Here's a simple and effective test to gauge whether you should support something -
If large US corporations want "it," you should be against "it." Whatever "it" is.
"Barack Obama wants to bring the world into international fascist control more than has ever yet existed on this planet. If he succeeds, he will thus be the most harmful political leader in world history. His deals must be stopped. They are horrendous."
This is true. And Fascists will gut dissenters and tie them to telephone poles. Dissenters are anyone that happens to be in their way. So you either fight now or fight later. The choice is yours.
TPP to be headquartered in Diago Garcia.
I'm now of the mindset that they can pass and do what they like. I will just keep stack, loading, and maintaining my guillotine for when the time comes.
See you all on the battlefield, or I'll be the one tapping out "YYZ" on my basement cell wall.
Liberty is a demand. Tyranny is submission..
And keep my Crimes Against the American People List (CAAPL), treason list, in good order.
First THEY/GOLDMAN foisted THEIR CENTRAL BANKERS on US, then PURCHASED our ELECTED OFFICIALS corrupting our LAW MAKERS & LEGAL SYSTEM and ALL for the purpose of PLUNDERING each counties RESOURCES.
. . . . . investing part of the WINDFALL into militarising the police and intrusive Spy Agencies in order to protect their illegal gotten WEALTH.
Got guillotines?
Liberty is a demand. Tyranny is submission.
who settles DISPUTES........ war
A politician can always borrow the trust of the people, as long as he knows one day he has to pay it back.
A generation after he forgets that part of the bargain, he is destroyed.
(one can hope)