General Discussion

Jim Lane

(11,175 posts)

20. Krugman, an economist, is analyzing the economics. My biggest concern is legal.

Sat Dec 6, 2014, 10:11 AM

Dec 2014

The leaked tidbits strongly suggest that TPP would give multi-national corporations unprecedented powers to set aside laws (notably state and local laws) that inconvenience them.

I can see this as being no big deal economically. The Republicans fear-monger about how, for example, environmental protection costs jobs, but it really just redirects the jobs. Instead of dumping the effluent in the river, the company hires a few extra people to operate the treatment facility, and therefore can't hire quite as many in other parts of the plant. Economically, I agree, that's no big deal.

My perspective, however, is that of a lawyer who's done environmental work, including mass tort cases, and who might end up representing the people downstream. If the state can't enforce its regulation against the dumping, it's a big deal to those people.

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TPP: do you truly give a crap? [View all] MannyGoldstein Dec 2014 OP

Marginally bad idea Recursion Dec 2014 #1

Idunno fadedrose Dec 2014 #2

What if it's good for most of the world's 1%? MannyGoldstein Dec 2014 #3

Call the French fadedrose Dec 2014 #4

They voted for Hollande, an economic populist and boring "normal guy" CJCRANE Dec 2014 #19

Of the 1%, by the 1%, for the 1%............... wandy Dec 2014 #35

According to Krugman, proponents and opponents of it are hyping the positives and negatives. Ykcutnek Dec 2014 #5

But Elizabeth Warren thinks it's a pretty bad idea MannyGoldstein Dec 2014 #6

Good point. Ykcutnek Dec 2014 #7

Krugman, an economist, is analyzing the economics. My biggest concern is legal. Jim Lane Dec 2014 #20

+1 Dont call me Shirley Dec 2014 #26

I agree with you. nt MannyGoldstein Dec 2014 #37

Well if it is no big deal if it doesn't.. sendero Dec 2014 #22

beyond the beyond in dumbth . olddots Dec 2014 #8

I don't like it for the same reasons Obama gave when he said he was going to re-negotiate NAFTA nationalize the fed Dec 2014 #9

Canada and Mexico are part of TPP negotiations. Terms of trade with them are being "renegotiated". pampango Dec 2014 #14

We* bail out the banks. Give multi-billion dollar bonuses to the banksters who stole it. Octafish Dec 2014 #10

Why is it taking so long to get it passed? I thought corportists, Obama, other nations planning to Hoyt Dec 2014 #11

krugman is not always right, but BootinUp Dec 2014 #32

I oppose any agreement that is so bad, so thrreatening to our society that its provisions have JDPriestly Dec 2014 #12

This is the problem Elizabeth Warren has with it~ RiverLover Dec 2014 #13

This is yet another problem I have with the TPP. F4lconF16 Dec 2014 #25

that's the fatal flaw of "you OWE us your votes," innit? MisterP Dec 2014 #39

If it was to be so good for us, where's the transparency? I'm sure the 1% love it! dmosh42 Dec 2014 #15

It would be a good idea IF, as China and some republicans seem to fear, it has labor and environment pampango Dec 2014 #16

Environmental protections and labor rights have been in the language of the TTP from the start. ucrdem Dec 2014 #21

Thanks. I had never seen that Trade Ministers’ Report. n/t pampango Dec 2014 #23

The provisions won't be strict, that is the problem. OrwellwasRight Dec 2014 #31

We don't know that. If they are not strict, there is not good reason to consider them. n/t pampango Dec 2014 #40

We do know that. OrwellwasRight Dec 2014 #42

Your point is that labor chapters in previous agreements were bad. I agree. pampango Dec 2014 #44

I am saying that neither Obama nor Froman OrwellwasRight Dec 2014 #45

I believe they have made clear that is the intent. I don't think it will matter. pampango Dec 2014 #46

NAFTA also had "strong labor and environmental provisions" OrwellwasRight Dec 2014 #47

Fast track and the Trans Pacific Partnership nationalize the fed Dec 2014 #48

This message was self-deleted by its author Warren DeMontague Dec 2014 #17

Once we can get our wages on par with China it will be an employment renaissance. raouldukelives Dec 2014 #18

Nat'l Geographic: 4 Ways Green Groups Say Trans-Pacific Partnership Will Hurt Environment RiverLover Dec 2014 #24

Obama's craziest detractors have alleged some wild stuff FiveGoodMen Dec 2014 #27

CWA Union: EMERGENCY MEETING ON FIGHTING FAST TRACK FOR TPP think Dec 2014 #28

IMO the TPP is a step towards making the US (and the world) sort of like a giant WalMart. djean111 Dec 2014 #29

Anyone who supports this, is my sworn enemy. 99Forever Dec 2014 #30

Idunno. Donald Ian Rankin Dec 2014 #33

Regardless of whether it's good or bad, I believe in democracy CJCRANE Dec 2014 #34

I completely disagree - I believe in representative democracy. Donald Ian Rankin Dec 2014 #36

I didn't say anything about government by referendum. CJCRANE Dec 2014 #38

How do the uninformed get informed? aspirant Dec 2014 #49

Years of dedicated study. Donald Ian Rankin Dec 2014 #54

TTP means the strangling of American Democracy. Odin2005 Dec 2014 #41

+1000 OrwellwasRight Dec 2014 #43

Orwell was definitely right! Odin2005 Dec 2014 #52

HUGE K & R !!! - Thank You !!! WillyT Dec 2014 #50

As I brought to another poster, there's a simple test for whether it's a good idea. Scootaloo Dec 2014 #51

Based on the consequences of past "free trade" deals... Derek V Dec 2014 #53