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Showing Original Post only (View all)The Trojan Horse President [View all]
"....Or is he what many of us have feared he is for a while now: a Trojan Horse president, presented at the gates as a progressive gift? Once let in, however, an army of Third-Way "Democrats," multinational corporations, insurance companies, banks and Wall Street masters-of-the-universe were unleashed to wreak havoc, again...."
By William Rivers Pitt
I am not an economist, not even close, but Joseph Stiglitz is. Stiglitz is actually a Nobel Prize winning economist, former Chair of President Clinton's Council of Economic Advisers, and former chief economist for the World Bank. Joseph Stiglitz is positively terrified of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal being pushed rabidly by President Obama. Because he is, I am also frightened by what this "deal" portends.
Joseph Stiglitz
Fundamental to America's system of government is an impartial public judiciary, with legal standards built up over the decades, based on principles of transparency, precedent, and the opportunity to appeal unfavorable decisions. All of this is being set aside, as the new agreements call for private, non-transparent, and very expensive arbitration. Moreover, this arrangement is often rife with conflicts of interest; for example, arbitrators may be a "judge" in one case and an advocate in a related case.
If there ever was a one-sided dispute-resolution mechanism that violates basic principles, this is it. That is why I joined leading U.S. legal experts, including from Harvard, Yale, and Berkeley, in writing a letter to President Barack Obama explaining how damaging to our system of justice these agreements are.
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-secret-corporate-takeover-hidden-in-the-tpp-2015-05-13?page=2
Fundamental to America's system of government is an impartial public judiciary, with legal standards built up over the decades, based on principles of transparency, precedent, and the opportunity to appeal unfavorable decisions. All of this is being set aside, as the new agreements call for private, non-transparent, and very expensive arbitration. Moreover, this arrangement is often rife with conflicts of interest; for example, arbitrators may be a "judge" in one case and an advocate in a related case.
If there ever was a one-sided dispute-resolution mechanism that violates basic principles, this is it. That is why I joined leading U.S. legal experts, including from Harvard, Yale, and Berkeley, in writing a letter to President Barack Obama explaining how damaging to our system of justice these agreements are.
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-secret-corporate-takeover-hidden-in-the-tpp-2015-05-13?page=2
At the core of this Nobel Laureate's argument against the TPP deal is the simple fact that legal authority - basic, bedrock legal authority - would be transferred from the sovereign courts of the United States to multinational corporations if this "deal" comes to pass. Note well, also, this statement from Stiglitz: "Though corporations can bring suit, others cannot. If there is a violation of other commitments - on labor and environmental standards, for example - citizens, unions, and civil-society groups have no recourse."
That is utterly intolerable, and it's what the president wants.
~snip~
The funny part came when President Obama dismissed Sen. Warren as just another politician as a means of defusing her criticism. Richard Nixon said, "I am not a crook" while staring into a camera. He was in fact a crook, and President Obama is in fact a politician. A consummate one, if truth be told. Of course Sen. Warren is a politician, but she is endeavoring to do what the president is not: represent the people. The president, for his part, is actively representing the corporations that actually are allowed to read the details of this deal, while the rest of us are not.
~snip~
Stiglitz, Warren, Sanders ... and they are not alone. A very interesting left-right coalition is coalescing around opposition to this mysterious, dangerous, perilous trade deal. The real mystery, however, is why President Obama - in his final years in office - would staple himself to such a divisive and damaging initiative. He has the opportunity to focus on infrastructure repair, an example made vivid by the recent rail calamity in Philadelphia. He could lean into pushing the ACA in Red states that still resist it. Hell, he could go wild and push for what they've done with solar power in Germany, panels right down the sides of the highways, free and open space to do all that green stuff he's been yapping about while approving oil drilling in the Arctic and the Atlantic Ocean.
But no, it's this terrible thing he has chosen for his "legacy."
cont'
http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/30815-the-trojan-horse-president
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Yes, "Stiglitz".. likes to throw around terms like "nasty" when talking about the President.. only
Cha
May 2015
#9
Hahahahaha. Sorry, WP said exactly that, and his trenchant analysis got hundreds of replies.
Hekate
May 2015
#328
The TPP hasn't been finalized OR signed. Obama has been President for more than SIX years....
George II
May 2015
#262
You're talking about extremists and the words 'left' 'right' do not apply to extremists. That word
sabrina 1
May 2015
#133
A brief aside: What does it mean that they meet? In what sort of model can it be seen...
xocet
May 2015
#198
Thanks for your comments. I agree that there is no convergence of values for left and right.
xocet
May 2015
#374
Few at DU are actually far left. And there is no reason to think of the political spectrum as a
merrily
May 2015
#106
I have met a few thoughtful Communists here, so farther left is represented a bit, however
Dragonfli
May 2015
#142
Even the left of the left of the Democratic Party is not that far left. Even the liberal r word
merrily
May 2015
#334
Delayed reaction: Isn't the "professional left" anyone who makes money by being left?
merrily
May 2015
#382
I believe the first time I heard the term professional left was when the President
Enthusiast
May 2015
#387
And the far right of the Democratic Party is far closer to Republicans in general than the far left.
Erich Bloodaxe BSN
May 2015
#110
Two people attend the same lecture. One claims the lecture was far too long. The claims it was
merrily
May 2015
#354
What is good about the TPP? Why should we support it? That's all nearly every credible group, union
sabrina 1
May 2015
#132
HaHa.. thanks for using the goog! "The Tea Party movement does not support the TPP."
Cha
May 2015
#128
Seeing the truth is not their Job, and beating up critics won't get Her
orpupilofnature57
May 2015
#12
Yeah, "republicons love you" Hoyt for not thinking President Obama is a Trojan Horse.. see
Cha
May 2015
#21
But it had nothing to do with the post they responded to and made no sense because of that.
cui bono
May 2015
#376
What is the origin of this incredibly idiotic theory that Obama is making policy
geek tragedy
May 2015
#100
Yeah, seriously. I mean it couldn't possibly have anything to do with his pandering to banksters
cui bono
May 2015
#296
But isn't supporting a politician 100% actually being a "blind follower"? So confusing...
Hekate
May 2015
#336
Uh huh. She was a professor, iirc, then OBAMA tried to appoint her into his government...
Hekate
May 2015
#352
the "fucking pos used car salesman" didn't get a hide.. why would this? I wouldn't alert on
Cha
May 2015
#79
It is evidence of personal hatred, which runs in each and every one of this
geek tragedy
May 2015
#95
No worries, fadedrose.. I didn't even read it. Just got back online.. hours are so different out
Cha
May 2015
#311
Thank you for that, NCT, and boy do I know that! You'd think some originality would be called for.
Cha
May 2015
#309
Whatever appeals to your target audience, like the ACA thread. Credibility = Zero. n/t
freshwest
May 2015
#385
Well said, Maraya~ "..maybe they don't know whathehell they are talking about." I'm opting for
Cha
May 2015
#318
I know.. I usually trash 'em.. but "trojan horse".. lol give. me. a. freaking. CT. break.
Cha
May 2015
#319
thank you for your post! I find it disturbing to see this description of our POTUS....
secondwind
May 2015
#340
Mitch McConnell Says Obama 'Has Done An Excellent Job' Pushing Trade Deal
Ichingcarpenter
May 2015
#10
Most of the people in Congress are Republicans, elected by pro-corporate, anti-labour folks.
Erich Bloodaxe BSN
May 2015
#116
Unfortunately that subset are becoming megalomaniacs that run everything,
orpupilofnature57
May 2015
#31
some of the points made are very important, it's how the argument is presented that
cali
May 2015
#70
You're right. It deflects responsibility away from others who helped draft the TPP. [n/t]
Maedhros
May 2015
#199
Stiglitz should again be Chair of the President's Council of Economic Advisers.
Faryn Balyncd
May 2015
#51
Everybody knows this but avoids it. Nice piece, Will. Better have your umbrella ready.
marble falls
May 2015
#71
Umbrellas are nice but I prefer people who will stand shoulder to shoulder with me. We can share, or
jtuck004
May 2015
#265
Obama did go through law school when arbitration rather that lawsuits was being promoted
HereSince1628
May 2015
#76
You have no effin' idea what the President is going to do when leaves he office.. but, that doesn't
Cha
May 2015
#84
You're the one who fabricated the "Obama is a greedy monster who is seling America
geek tragedy
May 2015
#175
No, those sources don't supporty your allegation that the President is a greedy moral monster
geek tragedy
May 2015
#184
Lets start of with that I voted for Dennis Kuchinich over Obama and Hillary in '08.
Hoppy
May 2015
#191
"Obama’s Retirement Plan: Help Black Kids" You don't have to have "inside knowledge".. just get
Cha
May 2015
#306
Hey she.. thank you for the link.. I elaborated on it and sent it to the one who has "no idea.."
Cha
May 2015
#307
I dunno what he'll have to say about the reality.. seemed so invested in fantasy land.
Cha
May 2015
#310
Billary? Obama and Clinton haters on the left would be well-advised to avoid using rightwing
geek tragedy
May 2015
#97
"Billary"? You sure you're in the "Democrat" Party? The slur "Billary" is straight from FR. nt
Hekate
May 2015
#335
It's also a very common and well-known way, in the real world, of referring to any famous
merrily
May 2015
#360
Back in 2009 I had a post hidden when I wrote that Obama's abandoning even the public option ...
Scuba
May 2015
#90
You rattled off a list of talking points that the President's haters on the left cling
geek tragedy
May 2015
#99
I don't think Democratic Presidents should be bashed at Democratic Underground...
SidDithers
May 2015
#251
I don't think he ever got the hang of DU3. He stayed there longer than most. But, there's been a
freshwest
May 2015
#394
you can thank Joe Lieberman et al for killing both that and the Medicare expansion nt
geek tragedy
May 2015
#177
I can't take this much stupid so early in the morning. Next he's the Manchurian Candidate. He's
Pisces
May 2015
#130
Some guy told me George Soros paid his tuition at the tony Hawaiian prep school he attended./NT
DemocratSinceBirth
May 2015
#201
This is one of the main parts of this deal causes me to give a thumbs-down. >>
BlueJazz
May 2015
#149
well, the author of this piece has received praise at Free Republic for his Obama-hating rants
geek tragedy
May 2015
#174
Well, this post sure has highlighted the intra-party hatred among the different
ChisolmTrailDem
May 2015
#202
Actually, now that I've re-read my post, I should not have included the term "DINOs".
ChisolmTrailDem
May 2015
#217
Because you are so much smarter and better informed than those who disagree with you? /NT
DemocratSinceBirth
May 2015
#260
Is it possible that people can be informed and still disagree with you, me, or anybody?/NT
DemocratSinceBirth
May 2015
#270
What makes you call it hatred? Just want to fan the flames? Maybe it is just people wanting what
jtuck004
May 2015
#266
Will not even read this. But thanks for the Big Lie title to warn off honest people.
True Blue Door
May 2015
#225
well I'm pretty sure if he'd campaigned on mandatory for profit health insurance, nafta on
Doctor_J
May 2015
#230
Do you remember where you were the moment you realized you'd been sold a brand? n/t
jtuck004
May 2015
#259
I'm so proud of President Obama, Hulk.. thank you! But, the "trojan horse" people would rather
Cha
May 2015
#321
In the annals of deranged Tea Party-flavored conspiracy theories, this takes the cake.
True Blue Door
May 2015
#290
Makes sense. There's definitely an Alex Jones wing around here putting out this crap.
True Blue Door
May 2015
#293
Shit, I put that author on ignore so I wouldn't have to see that spittle-flecked rage any more.
Hekate
May 2015
#291
The point of hide 'n seek is to hide. And find. And entertain kids. The Trojan horse symbolizes,
merrily
May 2015
#362
I was afraid that the complexity of the issues that bring the motives of President
JDPriestly
May 2015
#343