It is incredibly disturbing that a trade negotiation would be kept secret

[MannyGoldstein]

Last edited Thu Nov 14, 2013, 08:30 AM - Edit history (1)

because the 99% would not like it. Simply pathological. What kind of people do things like this?

In fact, they even kept it secret from Congress until Congress took 'em to court, IIRC.

People say "Hey Manny, you suck! Give 'em a break!" Why? We've become nothing more than prey for them.

I'm glad the TPP will be opened up for debate and will see the light of day before being voted on. It's bad stuff, and it needs to be disinfected by sunlight - although I suspect that the mere threat of sunlight will keep it from ever rearing its head. Like a vampire, it can only live in dark places. And dark hearts.

[BlueStreak]

1. Everything has ALWAYS been done in secrecy

The fact that we have means of exposing some of that before it becomes fait accompli is a huge change in how our society works. The 0.1% still have vast advantages over us, but this is at least one area where we have gained a little bit over the years.

And that is exactly why the authoritarians are so relentless in their efforts to shut down Wikileaks, Manning, Snowden and the like. They don't want any of their affairs to see any sunlight.

[snot]

2. Thanks for this post; but

. . . I'm afraid you're too optimistic.

They knew from the start they'd have to bring it out sooner or later . . . but they hoped, with good reason, that most of Congress wouldn't object to it, and that they could keep its provisions out of the corporate media. And they haven't given up those hopes; and why should they?

It's up to people like us to publicize it.

[DeSwiss]

3. It's only disturbing......

...to the non-Fascists. You're not a Fascist, are you?

Didn't think so. Most of them are politicians, ceos or bankers.

Which is, no doubt, the reason you're finding all this disturbing.

- Look, just go watch some teevee (a Fox station for the strongest numbing effect) or go shopping at the mall, that'll get your mind off of it and everything will seem normal again.

K&R

[Luminous Animal]

4. Or hang out on DU.

[DeSwiss]

6. ....

[a2liberal]

5. Is there some news on this front that you refer to?

Or just the recent leak? Because that's just 1 chapter, not the whole thing...

[jazzimov]

7. No, because everything is still under negotiation

so there are no "details" to be shared.

What has everyone in such a tizzy is that the negotiations seem to be touching on subjects that do not actually deal with trade.

If you actually read what WikiLeaks "leaked", there are a lot of proposals by different countries that other potential signatories oppose. The TPP is pretty much dead - not because of what any nation does, but because the potential signatories can't agree.

[n2doc]

8. It is the Corporate Mindset

Do you think CEO's and upper management discuss mergers and acquisitions with the workers they are going to fire/move/etc.? Hell no! They "know" what's best and telling anyone outside the inner circle only leads to bad things.

We all know why they are doing it. They are well aware that people won't like it at all, and that it is indefensible to the majority of workers. So they hide it until it can be passed without debate and everyone told "It's done, nothing to do about it but bend over and take it"


(BTW I do recognize that there are reasons to not discuss possible mergers in public, mostly having to do with avoidance of speculators messing things up. That doesn't apply to Government)

[jsr]

9. Manny, it's called statecraft (n. the art of government for corporate interests)

[xchrom]

10. du rec.