General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Forget the DU created issues. How does Hillary not have an opinion on TPP? [View all]Recursion
(56,582 posts)In the past couple of years, activists on the left have hit an enthusiasm gold mine that we've been searching for for years. Unfortunately, the two issues we hit gold on were:
1. The shortening of an existing oil pipeline (Keystone XL), and
2. The standardization of existing bilateral trade agreements among several minor countries (TPP), and I suppose
2a. The resumption of executive authority to negotiate trade agreements that Congress can then accept or reject as-is within a fixed time period (TPA)
My non-scientific sample of my mostly-politically-turned-on FB feed is that most opponents of Keystone XL don't know it's shortening an existing pipeline (or even that there is an existing pipeline), and that most opponents of TPP don't know that we have existing FTA's with the negotiating parties, or that China is not included.
I'm glad to see this enthusiasm on our side, but when so much of the activist wing has chosen these particular two (rather pointless) hills to die on, I'm sympathetic to a politician who just wants to keep her mouth shut about them.