General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTPP is in trouble, thanks to public interest
The public debate over the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership has been a lot more robust and educational than the one that preceded the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement more than two decades ago. During that fight, then-Washington Post editorial page editor Meg Greenfield didnt see a problem with a six-to-one ratio of space for pro- vs. anti-NAFTA editorials. On this rare occasion when columnists of the left, right, and middle are all in agreement ... I don't believe it is right to create an artificial balance where none exists.
Today there are more economists in the news debunking the arguments put forth to promote the TPP, and this has contributed to the collapse of some of these talking points.
This week, economists Dean Baker and Paul Krugman warn that people should be suspicious of any agreement that leads its proponents to lie and distort so much in order to sell it. They called attention to President Barack Obamas former Chief of Staff William M. Daley, who made the ridiculous claim in a New York Times op-ed that it is because our products face very high barriers to entry overseas in the form of tariffs, quotas and outright discrimination that the U.S. ranks 39th of the 40 largest economies in exports as a share of GDP. As Baker and Krugman pointed out, it is actually because the U.S. is a very large economy, and therefore the domestic market is sufficient for many U.S. companies.
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http://america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2015/5/tpp-runs-into-trouble-thanks-to-public-interest.html
Dawson Leery
(19,348 posts)SheHMZ
(4 posts)I just got off the phone with Sen. Feinstein's S.F. office: they told me she was voting for the TPP after Obama twisted her arm (probably didn't have to twist too hard) on Fastrack. We need to FLOOD her office with angry calls! Whoever is in a state where their Dem Reps seem indecisive (or in CA's case, weasal-ly), SCARE 'em to do the right thing & vote NO on that damned TPP!
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)physically occupy a Congressman's office and phone bank to get people to call
Oh, you did not see this on CNN? Good explanation, the only two media that showed up were me (we run an independent media) and Univision
Plus it is San Diego, not like any news from my town matters.
http://reportingsandiego.com/2015/05/21/scott-peters-office-occupied-by-activists-over-tpp/
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)Every one of those 8 who are still in Congress voted for TPA advancement this week. That's Carper, Feinstein, Wyden, Murray, Cantwell and Nelson.
SheHMZ
(4 posts)Ron Wyden too? That disappoints me more than Feinstein, who I know is a Republican in Dem's clothing. I lived up in OR for 10 years before "going back to Cali."
Plucketeer
(12,882 posts)and stated I wanted her to know I was against this secretive trade business and the perpetuation of the Patriot act. I also told the staffer that I felt she was not listening to her constituents and was basically thumbing her nose at them by voting however she took a notion to. The staffer's voice got a bit emotional as he defended her against my allegations. I asked that he convey our little discussion to her as well.
It's time these self-serving folks start to pay heed to the folks that put them in office with their votes - not the ones that pour on the monies and other rewards.
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)Thankfully we are now, and can organize more easily.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)Jack Rabbit
(45,984 posts)840high
(17,196 posts)sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)GoneFishin
(5,217 posts)It must drive them forking crazy that any old piss ant can widely disseminate real facts after they have spent decades cornering all of the mass media, especially the right wingers who were very calculating about gobbling up the air waves so that they could spread their "fair and balanced" news.
99Forever
(14,524 posts)It's making their thievery much harder to slip past us.
bvar22
(39,909 posts)Fast Track has already passed the Senate,
and there are enough Republicans & Turncoat Dems to pass it The House.
President Obama will happily sign it.
"They" don't care what we think,
or that OUR jobs are disappearing or cutting pay & benefits.
nradisic
(1,362 posts)Speak up, email, write and protest. It is NAFTA on steroids. No. No. NO!!!
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)I just hope it's not wishful thinking on Aljazeera's part.
Omaha Steve
(99,556 posts)groundloop
(11,517 posts)Glad to hear that people are getting on board with their opposition to the TPP.
DirtyHippyBastard
(217 posts)I find myself agreeing less and less with this president.
dreamnightwind
(4,775 posts)Coouldn't resist, from one to another.
WillyT
(72,631 posts)Or some such shit.
99Forever
(14,524 posts)Seems an appropriate way for someone who betrayed the very people who put him where is, to look.
He earned it.
ucrdem
(15,512 posts)When has the public, press, or even his own congressional delegation ever NOT been "concerned" about an Obama initiative? NOTHING he proposes is worthwhile, NOTHING he says is credible, no success is ever remembered, even the most remote possibility of objectionable legislation (CPI for example) is endlessly rehearsed, resented, and recalled anew.
Sorry Al Jazeera, no sale.
djean111
(14,255 posts)So - that is my plan. People who feel they must say "Say hello to President Cruz" can form a line somewhere. This is on the Centrist corporate Dems, not me.
dreamnightwind
(4,775 posts)in the political world, it is doing just fine. They really don't much care what we want, they care what their largest donors want.
Call, write, demonstrate, let them know we are on to them and will work to vote them out if they won't support us. One of my senators is Feinstein, she has no business representing any of us, a total sellout, since forever.