Nine Things You Might Want to Know About the Massive Pacific Trade Deal

[eridani]

http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/277-75/29915-nine-things-you-might-want-to-know-about-the-massive-pacific-trade-deal

The TPP could also be a disaster for the climate, says the Sierra Club and other environmental groups. Developing nations in the pact — including Peru, Malaysia and Vietnam — have opposed limits on fossil fuel subsidies, and the TPP may incentivize exports of fracking-obtained liquefied natural gas.

Medicines and free speech: Obama has talked about exporting “innovation and tech,” “the best products in the world.” What he means, it seems from the leaked draft of TPP’s intellectual property chapter, is that copyrights and patents would be strengthened. Human rights activists say this will deny consumers access to HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and cancer drugs and limit governments from mandat[ing] lower drug prices for low-income patients. In Japan, Internet-freedom advocates have condemned U.S. demands for an ill-conceived copyright term extension and copyright prosecutions that could chill fair use.

Manufacturing and service work: The Obama administration says the TPP will give domestic automakers new access to the Japanese market and raise working conditions in developing member states. At the same time, they acknowledge that many workers will lose their jobs: Labor Secretary Thomas Perez promised to advocate for $575 million in annual trade adjustment assistance to compensate the newly unemployed.

American unions oppose the TPP, pointing to 700,000 in job losses from NAFTA and predicting that manufacturing and legal and clerical services will be shipped abroad. Indeed, Vietnamese and Malaysian companies — making clothes and electronics — hope this will be the case.

Transnational corporations and wealthy investors: It is telling, say Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and other critics, that tech companies, banks, Big Ag, pharmaceutical giants and Hollywood are united in their support of free trade. In addition to new business opportunities the pact affords, corporations and individual investors would also be given the right to sue any TPP state over perceived takings — including lost profits, according to some observers. Advocacy group Public Citizen argues that this would put the world’s 1 percent on the same footing as nations and cost millions in taxpayer dollars (PDF).

[ellenrr]

1. thank you!! I thought I was the only one who understood the TPP. Because

on one thread, there was wholesale support of it.
"If Obama likes it, it must be good."

Damn, I knew du must be better than that.

On the left there is Universal condemnation of the TPP, condemnation is a given, so I was shocked by the support of it by some people here.
I guess I forget that not everyone here is on the left.
But then are they right-wingers who support Obama?
that doesn't make sense....
are they simply ignorant about the TPP?

or is it yet another example of cognitive Dissonance?

actually I think the name of the entire forum should be CD instead of DU - for Cognitive Dissonance , cuz that is existent here in a huge amount.

[newfie11]

2. TPP is a disaster for the world

People that support it because Obama is pushing it need to do more research.
Following a leader only on his word is never a good thing. I cannot understand why he is pushing this. I voted twice for him but this is concerning.
I truly hope this thing never gets passed and dies quickly.

[DiverDave]

3. I am highly

skeptical. Going by my experience with nafta, I just don't see an upside for anyone but the manufacturers.
I was a new truck driver in 1993 when nafta went into effect I was driving a flatbed for 48 states and Canada.
I went into plants and took out every piece of machinery and took it to Laredo TX. for pick up by
Mexican drivers.
Those middle class jobs are gone forever. I wasn't as sensitive to their plight as I am now.
I feel badly that I had a hand in putting people out of work. Course, someone else would have drove those loads out of town.
tpp would take the rest of any manufacturing we have left...

No, tpp is NOT good for me and mine.
Shame on you for pushing a job killer.

[KG]

4. asian workers need american jobs! it's just the liberal thing to do!

[stillwaiting]

6. Look at that liberal paradise! It's a left-wing workers utopia there!

And, THAT'S something that liberals/progressives should be proud of.

Quality of life and shared prosperity on display!

[woo me with science]

5. Huge K&R Very useful post

and worth sending to others.