Dave Johnson writes
Multinationals Are Plotting to Steamroll What's Left of Our Democracy to Make Huge Profits:
The giant multinationals are pushing a trade deal that will literally let them bypass our laws. This deal is called the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and it is coming at us in the next few months. The corporations are trying to switch this gravy-train onto the “Fast Track.” For them this deal is the light at the end of the tunnel of democracy and self-government that has been trying to reign them in. We need to get this runaway train back on the rails or We the People will be begging for scraps thrown from the caboose. Call your Senators and Representative today and let them know that people are paying attention and oppose “Fast Track trade authority.”
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If TPP passes it will override American law. Again: we will not be able to pass laws that reign in the corporations. We will not be able to protect our jobs and wages because, as we have seen, companies can just close a factory and move your job to a country that pays very little, doesn’t protect the environment, and doesn’t let working people do anything about it. Of course the giant companies want these agreements — they let them tell us that if we ask for decent wages or benefits they will fire us and move our job out of the country.
Anti-TPP protest in Singapore
Right now because of trade agreements already in effect we are not allowed to make laws even putting information like “dolphin safe” on tuna can labels. El Salvador is being sued by a Canadian mining company for trying to require environmental permits, because of a similar trade agreement. This is what these trade agreements mean to our ability to reign in the giant corporations.
The giant, multinational corporations and their business groups are hopeful that they can push this through. The Financial Times explains, in Obama’s ‘fast-track’ trade push faces congressional delays:
Corporate lobbyists, who have been pushing for a quick and uncontroversial approval of TPA [Fast Track], say they are still confident the talks will be successful.
“We are seeing signs of good support and momentum for TPA legislation in Congress and from the administration,” said David Thomas, vice-president for trade policy at the Business Roundtable, representing big blue-chip companies.
So here is what is coming— soon. Lobbyists for the giant multinationals have been working behind the scenes to slip Fast Track through their friends in Congress. They will argue that the usual process Congress holding hearings, getting everyone’s viewpoint and hearing everyone’s concerns, then amending as needed and carefully considering the bill before a vote (also known as “representative democracy”) will just get in the way of getting this done. They will want as much of this done behind the scenes because regular people will naturally be upset about our Congress handing over their authority like this.
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Blast from the Past. At Daily Kos on this date in 2003—Chemical Ali captured:
One of the worst bad guys in Iraq has been captured. "Chemical Ali," one of the most wanted fugitives, is now in US hands. Good.
But didn't the Brits kill him in Basra? In fact, the Brits claimed they had recovered his body.
Meanwhile, The War We Already Won® has claimed another US soldier's life.
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Tweet of the Day:
There is a conservative sitting behind me at lunch and he is talking about ACORN. Curious how accurate my projectile vomiting skills are.
— @KathTX
On today's
Kagro in the Morning show, we start the day by ribbing Ted Cruz & his base with birtherism & conspiracy theory! Because liberty!
Joan McCarter joins in the fun, reminding us that Cruz is still going full steam ahead on his government shutdown scheme. Also: Rick Perry negotiating for federal health care funds; filibuster nonsense;
WSJsays the government's capturing 75% of web traffic; a heads-up on the return of zombie SOPA/PIPA.
BuzzFeed on the NRA's massive gun owner database and No Labels as a whitewash operation. Finally, a clever WalMart protest hits the CEO for his taxpayer-funded hobby.
High Impact Posts. Top Comments.