A Revolt Gets A Bit Louder–And We Get A Smidgen of the Constitution Back

[marmar]

from the Working Life blog:



A Revolt Gets A Bit Louder–And We Get A Smidgen of the Constitution Back
Posted on 13 November 2013


Big, bad things often get done–things that shred our economic security and undo some pretty basic constitutional ideas–because, after years and years of listening to sound bites and catchy phrases, it’s easy to let the bi-partisan elites thunder ahead on very bad policy. That’s the case with so-called “free trade.” But, something is happening that is slowing down that monumentally foolish, and destructive, rush on very bad trade deals — and it’s connected to the broader revolt out there, sometimes quiet, sometimes noisy.

So, first, the news, courtesy of the people at Global Trade Watch, which has carried on this fight really going back to NAFTA. 151 Democratic members sent a letter to the president opposing so-called “fast track” authority when it comes to dealing with future trade agreements, particularly the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Free Trade Agreement (FTA). On top of that 25 House Republicans are in opposition to extending “Fast track” authority.

A quick explanation: “fast track” really is a euphemism for “ram it down your throats whether you like it or not”. Democratic and Republican presidents love it because it gives them even more power, and there is no president, of either party, who doesn’t want more power, Constitution be damned. Under “fast track”, they can negotiate trade deals and under “fast track” rules, the deals had to be voted up or down, with NO AMENDMENTS ALLOWED.

Which is a big-time constitutional fuck-you: it basically hands over power to the executive and means your member of Congress has no right to raise his or her hand to fix a part that, say, might put in labor or environmental safeguards (I leave aside for a moment that I’m not a big believer in little fixes to these deals that are basically massive corporate protection and investment deals). ...................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.workinglife.org/2013/11/13/a-revolt-gets-a-bit-louder-and-we-get-a-smidgen-of-the-constitution-back/#sthash.mgaXOZOj.dpuf

[HooptieWagon]

1. Bingo.

They're negotiating it in secret, because they know the public will be outraged. Fast track will limit the amout of time between when its put before Congress, and when Congress votes. The less time Congress has to examine and debate it, the less time the public has to find out whats in it and bombard Congress with calls and letters. It is "ramming it down our throats"...by little more than executive fiat.