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Baobab

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Member since: Thu Feb 25, 2016, 10:12 AM
Number of posts: 4,667

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2016 (274)
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European municipalities join the battle against TTIP to protect sovereignty and public services.

http://bilaterals.org/?local-politics-enters-the-global

European municipalities join the battle against TTIP to protect sovereignty and public services, demonstrating how to take political initiative and build an alternative economy.

Opponents of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) see their chances of victory increasing. Local authorities are now also increasingly taking a strong position against supranational structures that negotiate opaque trade deals.

Recent declarations by the two Austrian presidential contenders ensuring they would block TTIP , Hollande’s declarations claiming he would not approve TTIP at any cost and the Polish Agriculture minister rejecting the TTIP provisions about food safety rules revealed in the leaks published by Greenpeace Netherlands, have placed the EU Commission and the EU Chamber of Commerce on the defensive. They have reason to be worried, support for TTIP is plunging in the US and Germany - from more than 50% in 2014 to less than 20% now - to the extent that US Consulting firms working for Pro-TTIP groups call for coordinated actions to win the public debate and “control the news cycle”.

Posted by Baobab | Sat May 28, 2016, 11:13 PM (0 replies)

"I know [student loan forgiveness] works because Bill and I did that!"

An inspiring rags to riches story? (Her story may not be true.)

Story posing the question:

Is Hillary's Personal Story About Student Loans a Fabrication?

http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/hillarys-personal-story-about-student-loans-fabrication

Posted by Baobab | Sat May 28, 2016, 10:13 PM (3 replies)

Wikileaks Says Secretive Trade Agreement Paves Way to ‘Corporatization of Public Services’ Soon

Source: Vice

WikiLeaks has released a thousands of documents that critics of free trade said shows how officials negotiating the Trade in Services Agreement, or TiSA, could force privatization on public institutions around the world.

The most surprising revelations in the WikiLeaks documents released this week involve state-owned enterprises, or SOEs — government-owned corporations that often operate like private businesses but pursue public goals, experts said.

.....

"We want trading rules that set up a level playing field," Drake said, adding that the AFL-CIO hadn't yet taken an official position on the deal. "It's not level if one country is providing subsidies to allegedly 'private enterprises' that other countries are not providing because it is against the rules. That's one of the threats from China: that it is using public monies to subsidize state-controlled businesses so they can behave in a predatory manner and destroy US jobs."

Read more: https://news.vice.com/article/wikileaks-says-secretive-trade-agreement-paves-way-to-corporatization-of-public-services

Deal will set up a level playing field for foreign corporations and their workforces.

Plan is expected to lower costs for business by globalizing services, including staffing.

Non-immigrant visas are all that are needed because workers are only in a country temporarily, for no more than a few years so it is treated like an intra-corporate transfer.

Services are 70% of all jobs.

"Everything you cannot drop on your foot"

Deal has been 10 years in the making, 22 if you include its predecessor, "GATS".

In keeping with the GATS goals, Education, Healthcare and all other public services except services supplied in the exercise of governmental authority must be privatized, monetized and globalized.

-----

"For the purposes of this Agreement…

(b) 'services' includes any service in any sector except services supplied in the exercise of governmental authority;

(c) 'a service supplied in the exercise of governmental authority' means any service which is supplied neither on a commercial basis, nor in competition with one or more service suppliers."

See also:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/India-drags-US-to-WTO-over-new-visa-cap-higher-fees/articleshow/51263331.cms

http://www.iatp.org/files/GATS_and_Public_Service_Systems.htm

http://ttip2015.eu/files/content/docs/Full%20documents/factsheet_tisa_and_financial_services.pdf

https://wikileaks.org/tisa/financial/04-2015/analysis/Analysis-TiSA-Financial-Services-Annex.pdf

EDIT: I think TiSA will result in ACA having to be rolled back to 1994 or 1998 levels (meaning all parts that aversely effect profits would have to be eliminated - completely eliminated. )

once the healthcare services become international trade they become WTO jurisdiction, , All regulations in the covered service sector after 1994 or 1998 would be rolled back, if the WTO is petitioned to do that by a financial services providing nation.

See the above video on Democracy Now for more on how that would work, also see this ISDS lawsuit between Dutch insurer and Clinton donor Achmea and the Slovak Republic.

Posted by Baobab | Sat May 28, 2016, 10:02 PM (22 replies)

"Being in Charge Isnt What it Used to be."

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/may/28/trump-boris-establishment-politics

Posted by Baobab | Sat May 28, 2016, 09:18 PM (0 replies)

Enslaved in Scotland

http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/may/28/slavery-human-trafficking-hotel-workers-bangladesh-scotland

Posted by Baobab | Sat May 28, 2016, 08:16 PM (1 replies)

Adverse decision in India-US WTO dispute over visa quotas could radically change many US workplaces.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/India-drags-US-to-WTO-over-new-visa-cap-higher-fees/articleshow/51263331.cms

India drags US to WTO over new visa cap, higher fees

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/thumb/msid-51263331,width-400,resizemode-4/51263331.jpg

"The issue is of special interest to India as several Indian software professionals go to the US every year on temporary work visas. The rules impact Indian information technology firms as they are being forced to hire local workers, which pushes up their overall cost of operations.

Although the government has been toying with the idea of seeking WTO's intervention on visa issues, it had been reluctant earlier as entry of foreigners is also a sovereign decision. The move comes ahead of the US presidential elections, where displacement of American workers and offshoring of jobs is an emotive issue."

See also: http://www.wikileaks.org/tisa

Posted by Baobab | Sat May 28, 2016, 04:55 PM (2 replies)

I just can't see Hillary ever winning given the situation.

She's going to lose.

Is there any chance she would withdraw voluntarily, without a big scene being made?

Posted by Baobab | Sat May 28, 2016, 03:52 AM (2 replies)

Is Hillary's Personal Story About Student Loans a Fabrication?

http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/hillarys-personal-story-about-student-loans-fabrication

Is Hillary's Personal Story About Student Loans a Fabrication?

by Les Leopold

"I know [student loan forgiveness] works because Bill and I did that. We both borrowed money when we went to law school and we paid it back as a percentage of our income, so I could go to work at the Children's Defense Fund, not some big law firm that would pay me more. I wanted to do the work I loved...I want everyone to have that chance."

Hillary Clinton tells this story to struggling students. She told it to minority students in Mississippi in November 2015, and she recently told it again to minority students in Brooklyn.

Her story makes several important points to attract young people who are flocking to Sanders.

First it offers hope that something practical can be done about crushing student loans. Wouldn't it be great if all student debt payments could be reduced to a percentage of income? She argues that is much more realistic than the Sanders free tuition plan.

Second, it suggests humble origins, and therefore combats the troublesome fact that she recently earned as much from one Wall Street speech as the average worker earns in five years. In this story, Hillary, too, had to amass debt just like other financially struggling students. And only by the good fortune of the Yale Law School debt forgiveness program was she able to work her way out of debt with little difficulty. "Everyone should have that chance."

Third, the story allows Hillary to project an image of selfless public service. The forgiveness program spared her from being forced by her loans to work at "some big law firm that would pay me more."

It's a politically potent story that fits neatly together. Too neatly, I think.

-------

Fact or Fiction?

To me, the odds seem high that Hillary's story is just that, an utter fabrication. In all likelihood, her family had enough income to afford Yale Law School in the early 1970s. At that time, the tuition was well in reach for an upper-middle-class family. (I know several of Hillary's law school classmates from similar backgrounds who accumulated no debt.)

But there's a bigger problem with Hillary's story: The loan forgiveness program she refers to didn't even exist in the early 1970s. Yale Law School literature is quite clear on this:

"Some students dream of jobs in smaller firms, nonprofit organizations, public interest, government service or academia. These are jobs that typically pay less than those at large firms. Yale Law School has pioneered a loan repayment assistance program to allow these students to take their dream jobs without worrying about their student loans.

Established in 1989, the Career Options Assistance Program (COAP) was one of the first loan forgiveness programs of its kind."

1989 is not 1973. Yet doesn't this description sounds similar to the story Hillary tells?

Posted by Baobab | Fri May 27, 2016, 09:02 PM (12 replies)

In Nine Democratic Debates, Not a Single Question About Poverty

http://fair.org/home/in-nine-democratic-debates-not-a-single-question-about-poverty/

Over 45 million Americans live in poverty—but you wouldn’t think potential leaders of the country are expected to know or care anything about this, listening to the questions asked by the elite journalists who moderated the Democratic debates this primary season.

A FAIR analysis of all nine democratic debates over the past seven months shows that not one question was asked about poverty. By contrast, 30 questions were asked about ISIS or terrorism (almost half of them concentrated in the December 19 debate, which took place days after the San Bernardino shootings) and 11 questions were asked Russia. Ten questions were asked about socialism or communism, all of which were directed at Bernie Sanders.

The candidates themselves have brought up poverty, either in their prepared remarks or in response to more abstract questions about the economy. Sanders brought up poverty in all but two debates, broaching the topic 12 times, or approximately 1.3 times per debate. Clinton brought up the issue five times in total, or a little more than once every other debate.

Posted by Baobab | Fri May 27, 2016, 08:50 PM (6 replies)

Media Seems To Indicate Strongly that Bill Clinton talked Donald Trump into running for President

https://www.google.com/search?q=Bill+Clinton+reportedly+talked+on+the+phone+w%2FTrump+to+encourage+him+to+run

Washington Post
Politics
Donald Trump talked politics with Bill Clinton weeks before launching 2016 bid

"Newlyweds Donald Trump Sr. and Melania Trump with Hillary Rodham Clinton and Bill Clinton at their reception held at The Mar-a-Lago Club in January 22, 2005 in Palm Beach, Fla. (Maring Photography/Getty Images/Contour by Getty Images)
By Robert Costa and Anne Gearan August 5, 2015

Former president Bill Clinton had a private telephone conversation in late spring with Donald Trump at the same time that the billionaire investor and reality-television star was nearing a decision to run for the White House, according to associates of both men.

Four Trump allies and one Clinton associate familiar with the exchange said that Clinton encouraged Trump’s efforts to play a larger role in the Republican Party and offered his own views of the political landscape.

Clinton’s personal office in New York confirmed that the call occurred in late May, but an aide to Clinton said the 2016 race was never specifically discussed and that it was only a casual chat.

The talk with Clinton — the spouse of the Democratic presidential front-runner and one of his party’s preeminent political strategists — came just weeks before Trump jumped into the GOP race and surged to the front of the crowded Republican field.

The revelation of the call comes as many Republicans have begun criticizing Trump for his ties to Democrats, including past financial donations to the Clintons and their charitable foundation.
People and groups Donald Trump has denounced
View Photos
Not one to back down easily from controversial statements, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s disapproval list continues to grow.

Trump took the call from his office in Trump Tower in New York, according to the four allies, who requested anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly. The call came as Trump was making a final decision about whether to run, and he was candid about his political ambitions and his potential interest in seeking the White House during the talk, these allies said."

This is completely improper-

There is no precedent for it but I think most Americans think the situation is completely improper.

Evidently there are thousands of web stories about this..

About 5,230,000 results (0.89 seconds)
Search Results
Bill Clinton reportedly had an intriguing phone call with Donald Trump ...
www.businessinsider.com/bill-clinton-donald-trump-pho...
Business Insider
Aug 5, 2015 - Clinton was reportedly "encouraging" of Trump's possible run. ... Featured. Future Now · Innovators · Money Talk · Retail Innovation · Rewired · What Matters ... Bill Clinton reportedly had an intriguing phone call with Donald Trump weeks before his campaign launch ... And I love playing golf with him.".
We May Have Bill Clinton to Thank for Donald Trump's Presidential Run
www.motherjones.com/mojo/.../bill-clinton-donald-trump
Mother Jones
Aug 5, 2015 - We May Have Bill Clinton to Thank for Donald Trump's Presidential ... The Washington Post reports Clinton and Trump had a private phone call shortly before the GOP's ... nominee—stopped short of outright pushing him to run for president. Instead, Clinton reportedly prodded Trump to seek a "larger role in ...
Report: Bill Clinton May Have Encouraged Donald Trump to Run for ...
www.vanityfair.com/.../bill-clinton-called-donald-trump-befo...
Vanity Fair
Aug 5, 2015 - Report: Bill Clinton May Have Encouraged Donald Trump to Run for President ... Celebrity culture, for thrusting him into the public consciousness? ... the Post, the two men spoke over the phone in late May, shortly before Trump ... the race, he reportedly told Trump that he was “striking a chord with frustrated ...
Report: Bill Clinton called Trump ahead of campaign launch | TheHill
thehill.com/.../250356-report-bill-clinton-called-trump-ahead-of...
The Hill
Aug 5, 2015 - Report: Bill Clinton called Trump ahead of campaign launch ... Trump spoke with Clinton from his office in New York, and the former president encouraged the .... Bill called Trump to give him his talking points. .... I'll be willing to bet Slick Willie called to encourage Trump to run for President because he is ...
Donald Trump and Bill Clinton: Behind the 'Bromance' - The Daily Beast
www.thedailybeast.com/.../donald-trump-and-bill-clinton...
The Daily Beast
Aug 6, 2015 - Clinton knew exactly who he was talking to when he and Trump had a phone chat back when The Donald was deciding whether to run for president this time around. ... “Look at the trouble Bill Clinton got into with something that was totally ... Clinton reportedly did not come out and tell Trump to run during ...
WaPo: Bill Clinton encouraged Trump to play a bigger role in the GOP ...
hotair.com/.../wapo-bill-clinton-encouraged-trump-to-play-a-big...
Hot Air
Aug 5, 2015 - Clinton was reportedly “upbeat and encouraging” during the call ... the free publicity involved with a story about him yakking to Bill Clinton about the presidential race? ... For all their talk about getting back at the GOP, all they're really ..... a bigger role in the GOP in phone call shortly before campaign launch.
Trump denies Bill Clinton talked him into running - CNNPolitics.com
www.cnn.com/2015/08/07/.../trump-clinton-cnn-lemon-phone-call/
CNN
Aug 8, 2015 - Donald Trump said Friday that a phone call he had with former President Bill Clinton ... Trump denies Bill Clinton talked him into running ... The Washington Post reported that Clinton called Trump in late May, encouraging the ...
Bill Clinton offered encouragement as Trump considered running for ...
www.powerlineblog.com/.../bill-clinton-offered-encouragem...
Power Line
Aug 5, 2015 - It turns out, though, that Donald Trump did turn to Bill Clinton for political advice ... said the former president was returning several calls Trump had made to him. ... Clinton never urged Trump to run, but he was “upbeat and encouraging.” He reportedly told Trump that the billionaire was striking a chord with ...
Donald Trump: Bill Clinton Isn't 'Happy That I'm Running'
www.huffingtonpost.com/.../donald-trump-bill-clint...
The Huffington Post
Aug 7, 2015 - The real estate mogul dishes on a private call with the former president. ... phone call that took place between himself and former President Bill Clinton earlier this year. ... Clinton reportedly “encouraged Trump's efforts to play a larger role ... happened to him, and that's peanuts compared to what Hillary did.
Bill Clinton Reportedly Told Jeb Bush That His Donald Trump Problem ...
www.hngn.com/.../bill-clinton-reportedly-told-jeb-bush-donald-trump-p...
Aug 10, 2015 - Former Democratic President Bill Clinton reportedly told Republican ... DC Whispers continues: "It's said that Hillary Clinton wants nothing to do with Donald Trump. ... his website that Bill Clinton actually manipulated Trump into running ... when he phoned Trump in May to encourage him to enter the race.

Posted by Baobab | Fri May 27, 2016, 06:40 PM (13 replies)

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