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Obamatrade Passes, The Corporations Win Again... And Now They Gloat
Moments ago, the passage of "Obamatrade" was assured when in 60-38 vote, the Senate cleared the "fast track" passage of the TPP also known as the Trans Promotion Authority with no votes to spare, ending the president's long struggle to lift the measure out of the political quicksand that repeatedly came close to trapping it in both chambers.
There was much drama, even more theater, but in the end the lobbying corporations which we laid out previously in the chart below, won. We are still shocked at how cheap it costs them to buy both the senate and the house.
The details are well known to most but for anyone unfamiliar here is the WSJ with a simple recap: the legislation will give Obama “fast track” authority that allows him to submit trade deals to Congress for an up-or-down vote without amendments. Negotiators have said that process is crucial to completing the 12-nation trade deal with countries around the Pacific Ocean, known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
“My standard for any trade agreement is that it must create good-paying 21st century jobs, increase the paychecks of American workers, and it must do so recognizing the relationship between commerce and climate,” Mrs. Pelosi wrote.
Already approved by the House, the bill now heads to the White House for Mr. Obama’s signature. Its passage delivers a rare legislative victory for the second-term president whose agenda has largely stalled in a Congress now fully controlled by Republicans.
Wednesday’s vote capped a fitful campaign that joined the White House, top GOP leaders and centrist Democrats to push through Congress legislation that both ends of the political spectrum opposed. Liberals viewed expanded trade as detrimental to U.S. jobs, while conservative members didn’t want to expand Mr. Obama’s authority.
“We had plenty of bumps along the road. Frankly, a few big potholes too,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) said on the Senate floor Wednesday. “But we worked across the aisle to get through all of them.”
Critics of the Pacific trade deal said Wednesday’s vote would diminish lawmakers’ ability to shape a better trade deal when it comes before Congress.
“This body should not give up its authority to make better trade agreements,” Sen. Sherrod Brown (D., Ohio) said on the Senate floor Wednesday. “We’ve seen big promises and bad results on trade issue after trade issue after trade issue after trade issue.”
Supporters said the bill would boost the U.S. economy by clearing a path for a trade deal with 11 other countries, representing about 40% of global gross domestic product.
It won't, in fact it will eliminate even more lower-paying jobs and eviscerate what little is left of America's lower middle class. However, as it leads to job losses it will provide the US big pharma, who were revealed as some of the largest backers behind the TPP, with several more years of record profits even as the cost of medicines around the globe skyrockets.
What is perhaps most surprising is who the decisive vote came from for yesterday's cloture vote on TPP. As George Rasley reports, it was none other than GOP presidential candidate Marco Rubio's vote during Tuesday's Senate vote that was decisive:
Yesterday’s procedural vote in the Republican-controlled Senate to give Obama Trade Promotion Authority, or “fast track” as it used to be called, passed by just one vote – that of Florida’s Republican Senator and presidential aspirant Marco Rubio.
Why did Rubio vote to give Obama more power? No one knows for certain, but Senator Jeff Sessions, in a statement released after the vote shared some insight into the dynamics of what went on on Capitol Hill prior to the vote.
“Americans increasingly believe that their country isn’t serving its own citizens. They need look no further than a bipartisan vote of Congress that will transfer congressional power to the Executive Branch and, in turn, to a transnational Pacific Union and the global interests who will help write its rules.
"The same routine plays out over and again. We are told a massive bill must be passed, all the business lobbyists and leaders tell how grand it will be, but that it must be rushed through before the voters spoil the plan. As with Obamacare and the Gang of Eight, the politicians meet with the consultants to craft the talking points—not based on what the bill actually does, but what they hope people will believe it does. And when ordinary Americans who never asked for the plan, who don’t want the plan, who want no part of the plan, resist, they are scorned, mocked, and heaped with condescension.
"Washington broke arms and heads to get that 60th vote—not one to spare—to impose on the American people a plan which imperils their jobs, wages, and control over their own affairs. It is remarkable that so much energy has been expended on advancing the things Americans oppose, and preventing the things Americans want.
"For instance: thousands of loyal Americans have been laid off and forced to train the foreign workers brought in to fill their jobs—at Disney, at Southern California Edison, across the country. Does Washington rush to their defense? No, the politicians and the lobbyists rush to move legislation that would double or triple the very program responsible for replacing them"
Where were those Disney workers located you might ask? Why in Marco Rubio’s home state of Florida, where some 250 Orlando-based workers were not only let go and replaced by cheaper (and younger) foreign workers – they were also required to train their foreign worker replacements.
"I just couldn't believe they could fly people in to sit at our desks and take over our jobs exactly," one former worker, who wasn't named and is now unemployed, told The New York Times. "It was so humiliating to train somebody else to take over your job. I still can't grasp it."
Cost efficiency in a globalized economy some may say, and they could well be right; however in an economy as depressed as the US is, fabricated stock market gains aside, the last thing the fraying fabric of social stability needs is millions more laid off even with the BLS's best double, triple, and quadruple seasonally-adjusted intentions to mask the underlying reality.
* * *
And while Sessions understandably laments the failure of US democracy once again, and the encroaching fascism of the deep (police) state, corporations promptly came out to gloat.
Here are some examples:
Cargill:
Cargill applauds the passage of the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) bill in the U.S. Congress. This bipartisan bill gives the executive branch the ability to negotiate trade agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which are important for the future of the U.S. economy and for global food security. The U.S. economy and the world's food supplies rely on international trade. Trade supports one in five U.S. jobs, including nearly 1 million farmers and agricultural workers who produce exports that supply the world with high-quality and affordable food
Metlife
MetLife, Inc. applauds action by both the House and the Senate to renew Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation. The final congressional approval of TPA provides a path forward for the pending Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), which is critical to U.S. companies doing business in the Asia-Pacific region. The trade agreements facilitated by TPA will encourage access to the financial protection and other life insurance products that are in growing demand globally.
The Association of Global Automakers:
On behalf of the more than 97,000 Americans our member companies employ, Global Automakers thanks all of the U.S. Senators and Representatives who supported Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation.
Trade Promotion Authority is an important tool that will facilitate the negotiation of future trade agreements and help set the United States on a course toward sustained economic growth. Open trade and investment policies have encouraged international automakers to put down deep roots in the United States. These companies are driving the growth of the U.S. auto industry through job creation, manufacturing revitalization, and local research, design, sales and finance operations. Today, our members are creating products here for sale locally and around the globe, exporting 480,000 vehicles annually from the United States. Global Automakers appreciates President Obama's leadership on this critical issue and looks forward to seeing TPA legislation signed into law as soon as possible.
The Association of Global Automakers represents international motor vehicle manufacturers, original equipment suppliers, and other automotive-related trade associations. Our members include American Honda Motor Co., Aston Martin Lagonda of North America, Inc., Ferrari North America, Inc., Hyundai Motor America, Isuzu Motors America, Inc., Kia Motors America, Inc., Maserati North America, Inc., McLaren Automotive Ltd., Nissan North America, Inc., Subaru of America, Inc., Suzuki Motor of America, Inc., and Toyota Motor North America
The National Retail Federation
The National Retail Federation issued the following statement from President and CEO Matthew Shay on today’s Senate passage of Trade Promotion Authority:
“This is a landmark step toward tearing down trade barriers that stand in the way of a truly free and open global economy. TPA will help complete trade agreements that will open new markets for U.S. companies and help retailers provide American families with the products they need at prices they can afford. This will ultimately mean more jobs for American workers and lower prices for American consumers. After weeks of partisanship, it’s refreshing to see Congress finally put good policy ahead of politics.”
The Retail Industry Leaders Association
The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) issued the following statement in response to the passage of Trade Promotion Authority in the United States Senate.
Retailers applaud the Senate for approving Trade Promotion Authority and paving the way to economic growth by providing American consumers and businesses with access to new markets,” said Hun Quach, Vice President for International Trade. “With its final approval from Congress, TPA will now ensure the Administration brings home trade agreements that create new opportunities for American businesses and bolsters U.S. competitiveness around the world.”
And so on: press releases are cheap - each one costs at most 2-3 newly redundant workers.
Finally, for those curious what today's Senate roll call was, it is shown below. The most amusing thing: after voting Yes on the yesterday's just as critical cloture vote, Rubio decided not to vote today. So how did the GOP get the required 60 votes? They had Corker, who did not vote yesterday, step in for Rubio who can now tell the public one of two stories: that he [voted|did not vote] for the TPA... depending on who the audience is.
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The TPP is the most destructive legislation in American history: a few examples
H-1b –with “unlimited” H-1b for White Collar high tech software jobs once the workers allowed in without being rationalized by domestic supply with equal skills being addressed – there will be millions coming in - will cut wages over time to 60% of prevailing wages the same with engineers for auto and many other industries – this will have a huge effect for example on California residential real estate pricing and push more people into rental
The end of Sovereignty will eliminate rules, regulations and laws locally and nationally by merely showing lost profits as the trump card each time an issue is presented. Jobs of Americans for compliance for building regulations, worker safety, environment, food compliance and labeling will be eliminated over time – example: meat two weeks ago was approved separately by congress to eliminate country of origin labeling
Pharma Pricing - will eliminate many generics and raise pricing on proprietary drugs simultaneously – currently a certain cancer drug pricing is $10,000 for treatment vs. generic at $1,000 which is currently being protested by Oncologists since their patients can’t pay the 20% co-pay – this will happen across the board for many drugs
The countries that are proposed parties to TPP - all have VAT taxes which essentially work like sales taxes collected at each level of distribution all the way to retail for goods and services. The US has no VAT
The experience with sales tax removal on the internet in the mid – 90’s resulted in disintermediation from main street / malls / strip center sales to internet merchants – Amazon was given free - the ability consolidate those local sales to its platform due to this differential. The TPP will do the same for imports to US without a US VAT but the reciprocal exports to those foreign markets need to overcome the VAT imposed and therefore the exports won’t be competitive at the 7-20% VATs already in place.
I'm thinking a good gang rape is needed for all members of Congress & the Senate. See how they like being on the receiving end of things, like their constituents.
Grellp. Awful idea, partaking in that would make you visit your doctor for a whole lot of shots.
Who wants to take my bet at even odds that Marco "Polo" Rubio is the next President in repayment for this maneuver".
What a phony. He'll be perfect.
apparently Israel's lobby was involved, even with this.
My gods, the more you look for them, th emore you see them
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/06/11/1392434/-Another-reason-FastTra...
http://www.globalresearch.ca/aipac-sponsored-fast-track-measures-on-beha...
Not sure what's in final legislation yet... point isnt to pile on Israel per se, but you have that lobby interfering in an absolutely massive, and massively awful trade bill.
Boycotts, of course, are perfectly legit forms of free speech, and even if you don't agree with boycotts of Israel, you ought to disagree with using a trade agreement to essentially criminalize boycotts - only of Israel.
Especially given the UN report, which seems to say a lot that the Goldstone Report did...
oh, how the Zios must have terrorized that poor man...
Hey how did AIPAC know enough about TPP to recommend passing it? Serious question.
These communist oligarchs will not stop until they are dead. Best we help them achieve that state of being.
My email to Toomey, "my" U.S. Senator:
"Thanks for selling out America. TPP. Asshole."
Can't take it out on Peace Prize. He is laughing all the way to the bank.
Take it out on Hillary. Make the Dem's pay for their capitulation in 2016
May that party go the way of the Whigs. Notice all the Obot sites awfully quiet on this. Moo-ve on, Progressive Change. Funny how I haven't heard from them.
They love to try and shake me down for cash when it's polishing Obama's turds. Now the silence is deafening.
We are the nerve center .... in the post industrial world .... we are all banker class now .... the nigger work (exercising my Obama speech license) is going to get shipped overseas .... the Ponzi can't be stopped .... we must aggressively stay engaged and invaluable .... the Chinese are doing it .... the Russians are hopeless Castro mercantilists .... it's a brave new world .... no retreat .... learn to fit into USA central nerve center to the world .... the world is our oyster .... keep the faith .... no retreat .... and Russia still can't make a car !
WikiLeaks is offering $100,000 dollars reward for the 26 part fascist “secret” trade deal after they released the 3 parts that they had captured. No one has stepped forward yet with the rest of the fascist (merger of government with corporate monopoly) “secret” trade deal; someone will eventually.
Not only is the Washington Empire of Debt, Fraud and Chaos trade deal secret but even after it is passed into law, no one can divulge what is in the secret deal until 5 years after its passage!
The fascist secret trade deal will morph the Washington Empire of Debt, Fraud and Chaos into the New World Order Empire of Debt, Fraud and Chaos that will have laws that supersedes American sovereignty as a nation, Congress and American Laws; it’s a total fascist takeover by bankster criminals.
Hail! Caesar Augustus Obama our new fascist Emperor for life! There will not be another presidential election, we will all be in the fascist grasp of war in 2016.
Democracy: government of, for and by the People.
Fascist: government of, for and by the monopoly multinational corporations.
Fascist are totalitarian that rule with their boot on the neck of their subjects.
Probably slipped in an "Enabling Act" to cover anything left out of the document accidently.
I had to stop reading for 30 minutes after I read the above paragraph, so that I could spend an enjoyable half hour puking.
OOH OOH I get it...
We gonna be making air conditioners again!!!!
I had to pause to stop laughing because my stomach hurt so much.
And someone by the name of "Storm Roof" has captivated the attention of the malleable mushed minds of the masses, upstaging any and all significant news. How convenient.
Well, corporations are completely, utterly immune to law now. Zero regulation of Globalist Empire. Neato.
TPP - Treasonous Politicians for Plutocrats
Corporations serve at the pleasure of the state.
STATE, n. A people permanently occupying a fixed territory bound together by common-law habits and custom into one body politic exercising, through the medium of an organized government, independent sovereignty and control over all persons and things within its boundaries, capable of making war and peace and of entering into international relations with other communities of the globe.
Black's 4th
No corporation's charter will EVER state that they operate to the degradation to the rights of the people.
Corporations lose in law, every time, against the people. The people need to know the law. And they don't. Or at least most don't. So they hire a lawyer. At least most do.
And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.
King James Luke 11:46
After the elites put into law the secretly negotiated trade pact the follow on negative effects will be far worse than what followed from passage of NAFTA.
We the people are again stabbed in the back while the elites get richer.
Loathing. Disgust. If the American people had a clue their response would be a rope and a lamp post.
I've asked all my friends and family about this - they all say the same thing "What's the TPP I've never heard of that" .. and these are all people who consider themselves very contientious citizens, (i live in CA so they're all dems) .. people who are very active in meme politics and facebook discussions and similar important (sarc) political fora.. people who consider themselves very active in politics because they've picked a team and vote for that team and most importantly HATE THE OTHER TEAM.
When I try to fill them in about it, explain the corporate tribunals and exclusion of china and russia and such they all say the same thing "Well, if Obama wants it I'm sure it's a good thing" .. or "I'm not an expert in international trade treaties so I'm not qualified to comment, that's what my representative is for" ..
THIS IS WHY WE HAVE ALREADY LOST THE WAR.
Almost the same in other parts of the US. One has to be awake in order to see. The Matrix movie analogy is correct.
Take heart, it that they do not matter. They will not be the decision makers when the reset comes. Pick out the most loyal family members and try to educate them as best you can.
Forget the rest, as they will drag your down and take your energy uselessly.
Same outside US. Human Race in collision with Corporate Force is doomed in self destruction.
This makes Henry Kissinger wet. Obomba just gave up your country's sovereignty to an EU style North American Union.
Alex Jones has a good analysis -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILGL7zjig_I
We have to pass it to know what's in it!
That's exactly what the doctor said about my kidney stone.
Too bad the Bricker Amendment never passed in the 1950s.
We must stop the next election. We should never endorse the criminal syndicates that are known as the Democrats and Republicans by participating in the charade of the bought and paid for, so called elections. Both parties and the all the presidents in my living memory have committed treason against us. We can not give them any legitimacy, we must boycott the vote and advocate to everyone that we all boycott the vote with purpose! If we can get the majority to not vote with purpose than WE can claim that the current political elite and the system is illegitimate. We can take the best of the past, our bill of rights, and build a great new future. I advocate Direct Democracy as an alternative to representative democracy. We don't have many options and dictatorships or the rebuilding a new representative system (which are patently flawed) that we already know is a failure is out of the question. We must defend ourselves from both the tyranny of the current federal government and any demagogues who present themselves as 'our' problem solver. It is we the people vs. tyranny and we must defend ourselves or submit. I will fight and I strongly believe that direct democracy offers the possibility to recover our rights and freedoms from those who stole them.
You’re so cute.
Didn’t the Bush/Gore election teach you anything?
Thanks, but you are not my type. The elections were/are a sham... what do you suggest? At the very least I suggest something vs. nothing. I expect you will tell me it's all futile and put forward your best defeatist sermon. If that is the case don't waste my time.
The financial reset will bring a political reset as well. Find like minded people in your are and to hell with the rest.
I feel surrounded by nay sayers and defeatists... I just can't and won't. I am not willing to accept 80 acres and gun, then say to hell with the rest. Sorry, but I still believe we deserve better and just won't be corralled.
Well, fuck, It's just going to get worse for everyone.
I have taken the only steps I thought rational, being on a small income with little savings: bought 5.7 acres with tillable land, forest and a stream. Been without electricity and cable (I typed "cabal" - huh!) for two months. Don't miss it. Been getting by with gasoline, propane and batteries. Solar, soon.
Fuck these assholes in CONgress. They are traitors, one and all.
Black markets, non-compliance and "get the fuck off my land," are my keys now.
BTW, here in NY it is estimated that 85% of owners of "assault weapons" failed to comply with the registration requirements in the SAFE act. So, good. Pass more laws. The vast majority of the public won't comply. Sounds almost revolutionary.
Too bad there aren't more people with balls. We're gonna need some very, very large ones.
Fuck 'em. I'm done.
Of the 85%, how many will shoot? Empirical evidence to date is zero.
Recall the so-called ‘mastermind’ of the Silk Road. Nobody will do that again ->
‘“a federal judge in Manhattan sentenced Ulbricht to serve the rest of his life in prison”
The punishment is surprisingly harsh, exceeding even what the prosecutors had proposed.’
Silk Road is on it's 3rd incarnation. It only takes a tireless minority of 5-10% to get shit done.
Fuck this Kongress. Fuck them all, fuck their relatives, fuck the businesses they pimp, the laws they flout and their trade agreement. No wonder why no one wants our brand of dumbocracy.
Where is the wildcard, the rogue element out there to throw a monkeywrench into their plans? Is there even one person on USSA soil who can rally the disinterested mass of people to say enough is enough? Are they all budding oligarchs and thieves off the backs of the AmeriKan people?? Who is our last hope, or is there any? Have they all been eliminated or will be soon? Can anyone care more about the fate of the AmeriKan people than AmeriKans themselves?
I applaud any entity foreign or not who will combat this to preserve their own laws and their people in the face of the red tide of globalism.
fuck them
Rubio is a RUBE. He has the looks of a politician, but not the ability or empathy to stand with the US Workers. He can take his Senatorial Pension and go to work for a big Corporation. President he will never be.
don't invest in what you don't understand. know your market.
yt vid on the most powerful corporation ever the dutch east india company. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPIhMJGWiM8
wikipedia on the VOC https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_East_India_Company
FREE book on the rise of corporate power http://www.gangsofamerica.com/
Golem https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golem. the legend of the golem is that it continues and becomes stronger as long as the word truth is writen on its forehead. When one of the Hebrew letters for truth is removed then it spells death and the golem returns to the dust of the earth.
You can order GE parts and have them delivered via UPS or FEDEX and refuse the shipment while educating the drivers about their companies role in a goddamned near worldwide fascist takeover.
60 names to put down in American history next to Benedict Arnold and John Wilkes Booth.
Political Donation = Corruption (thats covered up)
And afterwards Shylocks want their pound of flesh.
For the record, Cruz was for this thing all the way until he realized he was the 61st vote. Then he joined the no camp to save his future campaign rhetoric. The guy's offensive position on the Ukraine outed him as a closet Neocon.
The prick called Snowden a traitor. Wait, that was TEA PARTY rock star Rubio who said that.
Cruz is a Neocon, as he supports action against Russia, for their 'aggression' in Ukraine. I noted Joni Ernst voted for it as well...
Cruz is a Neocon, as he supports action against Russia, for their 'aggression' in Ukraine. I noted Joni Ernst voted for it as well...
Cruz is a Neocon, as he supports action against Russia, for their 'aggression' in Ukraine. I noted Joni Ernst voted for it as well...
I bet more than one TEA PARTY [bowel] movement member voted for this!
6-24-2015 The day American died. While Americans were distracted by confederate flag debate, the nation's leaders quietly won a multi decade battle to place national governments under and make them subservient to corporations. National sovereignty was disgarded on this day and Fascism officially adopted. Growing up in 80's I often wondered what it would have been like to live in a closed society such as Nazi Germany, East Germany or the Soviet Union. I wondered how these people felt and dealt with constant watchful eye of state security forces and even their neighbors. I was glad to live in the U.S. where I would never have to worry about such things. Today I am pretty sure I will live to know exactly how those poor Russians and Germans felt.
quid pro quo. The corporations got what they paid for and wanted. Now it is up to us, the voting public to eat their fecal propaganda and love it. And by the way, you need to get rid of that confederate flag! What a disgrace.