Robert Reich on the Real Reason the Corporate-Friendly TPP Is Nearly Dead

[Enthusiast]

3. Proponents of TPP on DU come on here and say, "Those jobs are going away TPP or no TPP."

This ignores the fact that there are zero alternatives to these manufacturing jobs we are going to lose. Proponents of these no job trade deals just do not give a fuck if your state is devastated. They have a job. Their job is lying to people online about the TPP and other issues. I imagine they are well paid.

I have better idea. Keep the jobs here. Protect those jobs through tariffs. If other nations wish to partake of our markets they must play fair.

Tariffs should be enacted based on the behavior of the trade partners in question. If they pay cheap wages—enact a tariff that offsets these slave wages. If we maintain high environmental standards but a prospective trade partner does not—enact tariffs to offset the additional costs associated with environmental measures. And on and on.

This is the way it would be done if the negotiators loved their country in the slightest fucking bit. But they don't love the nation. They literally don't care if YOU or your family draw another breath. They hope you die and they hope you suffer doing it.