Thinking about the TPP. FDR regarding tariffs:

[JDPriestly]

17. Unfortunately, as our high trade deficit and declining wages prove, even multilateral trade

agreements can shift the tax burden from the rich (who are now hiding their money from the taxman in tax havens and by incorporating in foreign countries) to the poor and middle class.

The multinational approach to trade has failed. We should just admit it and go back to bilateral trade agreements.

In particular, the trade courts are very dangerous to our way of life. They have and can delay or prevent a country from implementing environmentally vital programs.

They have and can encourage cheating not just with regard to taxes but with regard to product quality, safety standards and costs to consumers.

Free Trade was a wonderful idea, a marketable slogan. But it has harmed American workers, American consumers, the finances of our government and our society as a whole.

We need to renegotiate our trade agreements.

The assumption on which the free trade agreements are based is that the nations with which we enter into the agreements will be as honest, idealistic, fair, democratic, concerned about and responsive to their citizens, the environment, their customers, etc. as most people in our country are.

That assumption has proved to be terribly false.

We need to negotiate our trade agreements to protect the high standard of living in the United States.

It is crumbling. We need to act fast to save it.