We Are in the Midst of Defeating the Largest Corporate Trade Agreement in History

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/activism/awakening-mass-political-consciousness-happening-and-corporate-elites-arent-able-put-stop

These are times of great secrecy and misinformation. Government and corporations hide their actions to avoid public disapproval and accountability. Courageous truth-tellers are persecuted for exposing the deep corruption. We depend on whistleblowers to expose the lies and shine light on information that is hidden from the public so we can understand what is happening around us. We need to know the truth in order to participate in the great debates that shape our futures.

This week, we learned that a brave whistleblower gave the text of the full intellectual property chapter of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) to Wikileaks. This text was released to the public on Wednesday and has spurred quite a stir as we discover that our concerns about the TPP are justified. We learned that the United States stands out in bullying other countries on behalf of multinational corporations and that the TPP will provide extraordinary patent protections and internet restrictions designed to further enrich the wealthy while the race to the bottom accelerates.

A confluence of events this week has weakened the chances of the TPP’s survival. On Tuesday night, there were light brigade actions in 13 cities from coast to coast. And three letters signed by 180 members of the House of Representatives were submitted in opposition to the President’s request for Fast Track, an authority that would allow him to negotiate and sign the TPP before it would go to Congress for limited debate and only an up-or-down vote. Two letters were signed by Democrats, another by Republicans. Three-quarters of Democrats oppose Fast Track and one-third of Democrats on the committee responsible for Fast Track oppose it as currently constituted. The former US Trade Representative said in 2012 that to complete the TPP “ We’ve go to have it.” Now, Congress will not consider Fast Track until the do-nothing election year of 2014, if even then.

Opposition to the TPP continues to build. Next week, negotiators will be in Salt Lake City, UT and actions are being planned to protest those meetings. Communities are starting to pass resolutions saying that they will not obey if the TPP changes laws in a way that harms them. You can learn more about this on an open training call on November 20. A global day of protest against toxic trade agreements is being organized for December 3. And that same day, two members of the Australian Parliament will submit a request that the text of the TPP be made public.

[B Calm]

1. I love to see it defeated!

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. REc and kicked.

[fasttense]

3. The TPP is the Enabling Act of Corporate Rule. n/t

[KG]

4. there's way too much money at stake, and too much work alrerady done, for

TPTB to give up on this without a real fight....

[WinkyDink]

18. Then a real fight is what we must give.

[Laelth]

5. k&r for exposure. n/t

-Laelth

[OneGrassRoot]

6. Huge K&R! n/t

[mattclearing]

7. I appreciate the good news, but can't celebrate until it's dead.

And even then, they'll keep pushing this stuff. Eternal vigilance.

[djean111]

8. That is my thought as well.

Almost all of Washington does not feel that it needs to answer to or represent citizens any more.

[WinkyDink]

19. "Citizens" do not matter. Only those who can bribe and bribe hugely matter.

[zeemike]

13. And my thought too.

They will just seek another back door to achieve their goal...the ruthless and greedy never sleep.
The ultimate victory is in making corporations irreverent, and that is a tall task.

[WinkyDink]

20. "the ruthless and greedy never sleep." Ought to become a modern adage.

[Enthusiast]

9. K&R. I hope the TPP can be defeated.

It will be a grave injustice if it is not defeated. Just like NAFTA and the others. Why is the President on the wrong side?

[Android3.14]

12. He's on the wrong side because he has never been on our side

Both parties represent different factions of the the same elitist interests. By controlling the intellectual property, the MIC is able to determine which archetypes the masses see, thus controlling and limiting how people view and respond to the story of their lives to those views and responses which benefit the elites.

[rhett o rick]

15. "Why is the President on the wrong side"? I recognize a rhetorical question when I see one.

While the President may sympathize with the 99% on social issues, like ending DOMA and supporting same sex marriages, he has never shown an interest in supporting the 99% economically.

A one word answer for, "Why is the President on the wrong side"? Penny friggin Pritzker (the female Mit Romney).

[WinkyDink]

21. Let's think this through...for about 2 seconds. Because he is BEHOLDEN.

[Enthusiast]

24. I do not understand that kind of beholden.

What kind of person would behave like this for personal gain? Well, obviously I cannot express my true feelings on this. Remember the Lost in Space robot, "This does not compute." Just horrible!

[cali]

10. if only I could rec this more than once!

but please don't think that fast track won't be introduced in Congress until after the elections next year.

[Pakid]

11. Good

Lets keep up the pressure and stop this once and for all

[awoke_in_2003]

14. Which is why me must not shut up...

K&R

[WinkyDink]

16. The more govt wants to know about you, the less it wants you to know.

[WinkyDink]

17. "weakened the chances of the TPP’s survival...." PLEASE GOD.

[NuclearDem]

22. ...while seriously considering running one of the key architects.

[grahamhgreen]

23. COSTLY trade agreement:)

[Buns_of_Fire]

25. Seriously wounded, maybe. Dead, not quite yet.

Keep jumping up and down on it until it's squashed squishy. Don't forget several wooden stakes into its greedy heart. Stuff its mouth with garlic and bury it in a lead-lined container encased in concrete.

And then be ever-watchful over the crypt, because, as Freddy Krueger said, "I'll be back."*




* Yes, I know that was Arnold, but I'm sure that Freddy thought it.

[myrna minx]

26. K&R

[woo me with science]

27. kick