Why the TPP Must be Opposed at All Costs

[Jack Rabbit]

17. K/R and thank you, Polly

Anybody who cannot see that the present terrible trio of trade deals subvert democracy or national sovereignty probably can't see blue sky on a clear day.

The ISDS is still part of the TPP (Article 28 in PDF) and it's little different than we were led to believe it would by those opposing it, including Wikileaks. It still allows those acting through corporations to sue governments for regulating pollution or occupational safety.

This means you and I can elect a congressman who campaigns to support legislation regulating carbon emissions, he can follow through with his promise and get the measure passed and ExxonMobil can sue the US Government over it. ExxonMobil can demand a hearing before the ISDS panel, composed of three corporate lawyers, who have the power to award ExxonMobil a sum of money to be borne by US taxpayers (that's also you and I) for "a benefit it could reasonably have expected to accrue . . . (that) is being nullified or impaired as a result of the application of a measure of another Party that is not inconsistent with this Agreement" (Article 28.3(c)).

So, how is that not a subversion of democracy or national sovereignty? This ISDS panel is not elected by US voters, yet there exist entities than can appeal to the ISDS the acts of congressmen whom we elect to represent us and can make the US taxpayers compensate an artificial person who breaks our laws and harms public health.

Horsepucky, I say. Whose army is going to make the United States of American compensate an oil company for failing to abate environmental pollution? Whose army is going to make us even recognize the authority of a panel of corporate shysters to sit in judgment of the American people? The TPP has no sunset clause? Whose army is going to keep us tied to this instrument of corporate tyranny one minute longer after we, the American People, recognize it for what it is?