General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: The Obama administration’s illusionary job gains from the Trans-Pacific Partnership [View all]pampango
(24,692 posts)it is worthless anyway. I understand that past trade agreements did not have enforceable labor and environmental provisions. Does that mean they never will? Do our past failures doom us forever? My question is do such standards belong in the rules governing international trade and, if so, how do we get them there if not by negotiated agreements?
Do we have to wait for a president whom we trust more than many seem to trust Obama? What happens in the meantime since our trade with TPP countries is currently governed by WTO rules and several 'free trade' agreements, none of which do much for labor and the environment.
My frustration in this is that liberals seem to be so focused on fighting trade which is not our core problem. It is a fight we may well win ("dealing with life as it is" because most republicans want to see the TPP defeated. The fights we cannot win (because they exist only "in a fantasy world" are those on progressive taxes, stronger unions, etc. precisely because the republican base will oppose us on those. I guess you can make the case that we should concentrate on those battles which the republican base will help us win and save the really important - but 'fantasy world' stuff - that the republican base will oppose us on.
Without progressive taxes, strong unions, etc. history shows that our middle class will suffer whether we have tiny "North Korea"-style (or 1920's America-style) trade levels or gigantic "Germany"-style trade.