C. Pierce : The Trade Deal from Hell Gets Even Worse

[bullwinkle428]

Thanks to our friends at WikiLeaks, we have now learned more about the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the trade deal from hell for which the president and all responsible people in both parties have a conspicuous case of the hots. It seems that in their desire to bless us all with the benefits of "free" trade, the negotiators have managed to outsource not only all the manufacturing jobs that are worth a damn, but also the job of domestic environmental spoilage.

The leak reveals that the TPP would replicate the ISDS language found in past U.S. agreements under which tribunals have ordered more than $3.6 billion in compensation to foreign investors attacking land use rules; water, energy and timber policies; health, safety and environmental protections; financial stability policies and more. And while the Obama administration has sought to quell growing concerns about the ISDS threat with claims that past pacts' problems would be remedied in the TPP, the leaked text does not include new safeguards relative to past U.S. ISDS-enforced pacts. Indeed, this version of the text, which shows very few remaining areas of disagreement, eliminates various safeguard proposals that were included in a 2012 leaked TPP Investment Chapter text.

If you want an example of the hard sell behind this second-story job, you can check out George Effing Will's paean to income inequality. The benefits of "free" trade is subtext in every argument he makes about letting the rich keep all of their money. After all, things like the TPP are the ultimate in trickle-down utopianism.

The best way to (in Barack Obama's 2008 words to Joe the Plumber) "spread the wealth around," is, Tamny argues, "to leave it in the hands of the wealthy." Personal consumption absorbs a small portion of their money and the remainder is not idle. It is invested by them, using the skill that earned it. Will it be more beneficially employed by the political class of a confiscatory government?

This is the argument of the mole people, who know nobody else except themselves, and who win every argument they have with the face in their gilded mirror.

http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/news/a33946/the-tpp-is-even-more-of-a-bad-idea/

[daleanime]

1. The more you know....

the less there is to like.

[RKP5637]

2. +++ 1,000 +++ n/t

[woo me with science]

42. TPP contains a provision for bailing out derivative losses.

TPP contains a provision for bailing out derivative losses. Is this what re-negotiating NAFTA means?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026430716

[haikugal]

3. Damn...

I'm supposed to say "Thanks Obama", I don't think so.

[Demeter]

37. Just say: "No, Thanks!"

Do a Nancy Reagan on it.

[Doctor_J]

4. so when we were told, "it's still being worked on", they meant it's getting worse

It all makes sense now

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

15. It takes time to assemble a 40ft. razor cock to ram up workers

collective asses.

[MannyGoldstein]

25. Careful with that post

There seems to be a pattern of hides recently...

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

26. Won't be the first nor the last. It's all good. nt

[Dragonfli]

28. I've noticed that, I have also noticed what some might call a "pattern"

of posters objections to "free trade" deals appearing to coincide with decisions to hide (or more likely decisions to alert as we all know the new system is pretty randomized with inconsistent results).

I infer a connection, so we may have to "G rate" all comments expressing dislike for our proposed impending shafting, be the implements used razor embedded, or merely sandpaper and salt infused..

It will be a challenge to discuss a topic that involves the rape of environments, workers, people needing affordable meds, entire governments and the 99% in general while forced to use language appropriate to discussing ice cream with a five year old child, hell I bet I'll screw it up.

But then again there is a little green man in my head and I am prone to paranoia so perhaps there is no threat from any alert minded posters that might just happen to hang around in groups.

[pa28]

21. I keep hearing anything detrimental will be removed before the final draft.

All we have to do is have faith, trust and wait until it's absolutely too late to stop the agreement.

[Demeter]

38. That would take a 4 alarm fire

It would be a glorious blaze, though.

[Enthusiast]

34. +1

[colsohlibgal]

5. Hoodwinked Once More

Obama railed against trade deals while running for president. He was either flat out lying to get elected or he's done a 180 once in DC - and not just on this matter.

I cannot wait to hear how the apologists try to rationalize this, and they surely will try.

It's now the 2 party trap. Vote against not that good/not good much at all and you get truly awful - I want door number 3.

[Dragonfli]

29. The real tragedy is that under our system, we are disallowed even the option of a door #3 /nt

[QC]

6. Charles Pierce has always hated the president!!!!

[Puglover]

7. He should apologize!

But he is no apologist!

[QC]

8. He probably broke a ballerina's heart!

And let's not even get into the condition of his garage!

[Puglover]

11. Nothing has been released about the TPP yet.

He knows nothing! He should just wait and see!

It will be fine!

[QC]

12. Trust and obey.

Now pardon me for a moment while I crack open this new box o' wine.

[Faryn Balyncd]

14. And maybe they'll release the details to our grandkids!

[QC]

17. They wouldn't be intelligent enough to understand those details anyway.

It's best just to trust Those Who Know Better.

[Oilwellian]

9. I'm so glad this issue has been refreshed

with updated information. It could not come at a better time, as Obama whips Congress for fast track authority.

[QC]

22. He really is pushing hard for this, isn't he?

Interesting to compare that to the relative passivity over things like the public option.

[WillTwain]

19. Charles Pierce has always been ahead of his time.

[Doctor_J]

40. He didn't get a pony

[Fuddnik]

10. I learned on DU today that there is no such thing as the TPP.

It's a conspiracy theory put out by by the Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus, and other Obama haters.

[WillTwain]

20. I read today DUers are dummies that light their hair on fire every other day over nothing.

[FiveGoodMen]

13. We needed a primary in 2012!

[Faryn Balyncd]

16. Is it the Trade Deal from Hell, or the "Trade" Deal from Hell?

(Whatever it is, it clearly is from hell.)



K and R.

[blkmusclmachine]

18. http://www.thecommentator.com/system/articles/inner_pictures/000/005/415/original/obama-laughing.jpg

[FiveGoodMen]

33. YUP!!!

[sadoldgirl]

23. Unbelievably disgusting , but, but ,but

I am sure we will be told this is a tempest in a tea cup,
or we don't understand the good parts of it, or we have to wait until
it is implemented, or...etc, etc

We all have to call our Congressional representatives to TRY
to stop this madness!

[MannyGoldstein]

24. Pierce lives in my town

Our municipal water supply must have some substance in it that causes residents to totally reject utter bull$%@# set our hair on fire over things that don't exist and/or we can't understand.

[WillyT]

27. Huge K & R !!! - Thank You !!!

[woo me with science]

30. K&R. We are ruled by criminals.

[hifiguy]

32. A nation of sheep

Ruled by wolves
Owned by pigs

[Enthusiast]

35. I have very few doubts about that.

[woo me with science]

31. kick.

[Enthusiast]

36. Come on, people! K&R! This post deserves hundreds of recommendations!

[bvar22]

39. Did Obama really say,

"The best way to (in Barack Obama's 2008 words to Joe the Plumber) "spread the wealth around," is to leave it in the hands of the wealthy."


I've heard him take to the podium to defend the obscene Bankster Bonuses with public money,
but haven't heard this one yet.
If it can be documented, I will add it to my collection.

[Silent3]

43. You cut out the "Tamny argues" part of what you just quoted.

All that's being said is that once, address Joe the Plumber, Obama used the phrase "spread the wealth around" -- a phrase conservatives hate.

Then Tamny (presumably John Tamny, a wretched Ayn Randian of the highest order) is the one who said the best way to spread the wealth is "to leave it in the hands of the wealthy."

Are you that eager to find reasons to hate Obama that you missed that important distinction?

[woo me with science]

41. K&R

[anotojefiremnesuka]

44. So this is where the Corporate Democrats are going to side with the PEOPLE and vote AGAINST

the TPP
Right.

This is why the progressives and liberals compromised our values and voted vote corporate democrats well because they really do support the 99% right?????

[woo me with science]

45. kick

[KoKo]

46. K&R!