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Arizona Roadrunner

(168 posts)
37. TPP-ISDS and the Democrats
Tue Jun 28, 2016, 07:49 PM
Jun 2016

As a person who has served on a local government’s Board of Directors, I am VERY concerned about the TPP ISDS court process with results being the surrendering of governmental sovereignty to corporate interests, foreign and domestic.
Basically due to secretive deliberations, this “judicial” process is designed to favor corporate over governmental concerns and interests. This agreement should not allow corporations to use this judicial process, but should demand they use our existing judicial process as it relates to governmental entities. How many state and local governments can afford to be involved in such a process? Just by the threat of suits through ISDS, a climate where governmental units cave in will be created. Look at what has happened under NAFTA and the WTO as it relates to our right to know where our food comes from. Look at how a Canadian corporation is using NAFTA to sue the U.S. on the Keystone project.
This will mean that political topics such as minimum wage increases and housing and zoning laws may be pre-empted by just the threat of a suit through the ISDS process. Look at what happened with Egypt when a corporation tried to use a process analogous to the ISDS to prevent Egypt from raising their minimum wage laws. (Veolia v. Egypt)
Therefore, I recommend, in the national interest, this agreement not be approved. When people find out how this can be used to prevent them from finding out things such as where products are made, etc., there will be charges of treason and the political process will never recover the trust of the American citizens.

By not voting against the TPP outright, the Democrats have given Trump a great opportunity to tie the Democrats to the "establishment" and "corporate America". He can also use this position to raise questions about the Democrats "really caring about you and your job". This is a loser position for the Democrats for the "down ticket" candidates too. By the way, the US Chamber of Commerce is not worried about Clinton being "currently" against TPP. They figure after she gets into office, she will find a way for her to be "currently" in favor of it.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/chamber-of-commerce-lobby_b_9104096.html

Ross Perot was right. n/t Jester Messiah Jun 2016 #1
That really sucks. Kablooie Jun 2016 #26
I saw that... freebrew Jun 2016 #63
Sweden trades more than twice as we do. Their unions are strong. Their wages are high. pampango Jun 2016 #2
The Nordics and Free Trade Human101948 Jun 2016 #14
How do they have positive trade balances without tariffs and with high wages and strong unions? pampango Jun 2016 #51
Also because wealthy corporations have gotten wealthy exporting jobs to other countries and then Akamai Jun 2016 #73
This just means their trade policies protect them. passiveporcupine Jun 2016 #18
They have lower tariffs and more 'no tariff' trade than the US has. pampango Jun 2016 #46
Uncle Alan on greater worker insecurity... appalachiablue Jun 2016 #68
That evil old face is scary. N/t Scruffy1 Jun 2016 #69
I'd never heard this passiveporcupine Jun 2016 #75
Yup/ Free Market Job Creation, Bedford Falls: 'It's a Wonderful Life' GOP Version. appalachiablue Jun 2016 #77
I would also propose Dyedinthewoolliberal Jun 2016 #25
I'm sure you are right. They expect more from their government and "are more than willing pampango Jun 2016 #50
VAT tax.... paleotn Jun 2016 #28
VAT applies to both imports and domestic products. Tariffs only apply to imports. pampango Jun 2016 #49
Yes, it applies to both paleotn Jun 2016 #52
So applying a VAT (say 20%) to both imports and domestic products levels the playing field? pampango Jun 2016 #58
What the heck are you talking about? paleotn Jun 2016 #59
The Swedish VAT raises the cost of a Swedish-made car by assessing incremental increases at each pampango Jun 2016 #60
Not always. Only in the last few decades. Jim Lane Jun 2016 #3
Exactly passiveporcupine Jun 2016 #19
Anything Trump is for , I'm against! Cryptoad Jun 2016 #4
Just because Trump stopped thinking doesn't mean Democrats should. No automatic positions, pls. . nt Bernardo de La Paz Jun 2016 #10
You must change your opinions often, then n2doc Jun 2016 #12
That is a pretty closed minded view. passiveporcupine Jun 2016 #21
Mostly agree Cosmocat Jun 2016 #66
Are you against broken clocks as well? paleotn Jun 2016 #30
As with all "free" advertising campaigns. Downwinder Jun 2016 #5
Yeah, like free college tuition? passiveporcupine Jun 2016 #23
Only for the Military. Downwinder Jun 2016 #27
We could always reinstate the draft passiveporcupine Jun 2016 #36
Conscripts have a different attitude. Downwinder Jun 2016 #41
That is it, right there. LuvNewcastle Jun 2016 #39
The military doesn't always cover full college costs. Exilednight Jun 2016 #43
United States service academies Downwinder Jun 2016 #47
DURec leftstreet Jun 2016 #6
Message auto-removed Name removed Jun 2016 #7
Quite so. sangfroid Jun 2016 #8
. MohRokTah Jun 2016 #9
That "giant sucking sound" mountain grammy Jun 2016 #11
Another broken clock.... paleotn Jun 2016 #31
Pretty huge thing to be right about. mountain grammy Jun 2016 #53
I am for Fair Trade. One that benefits everyone. madinmaryland Jun 2016 #13
Me too. passiveporcupine Jun 2016 #24
And the latest ones are mainly about proving more power and leverage to big corporations n2doc Jun 2016 #15
Let's say it again passiveporcupine Jun 2016 #16
Yep. LuvNewcastle Jun 2016 #45
Actually, You are Wrong About the Origin of Free Trade mckara Jun 2016 #17
Post rec Dem2 Jun 2016 #22
You are right. Scruffy1 Jun 2016 #70
K&R rgbecker Jun 2016 #20
Bankrupting a company so Aerows Jun 2016 #29
+1 840high Jun 2016 #33
+5 It was Reagan's admin. that made pensions an "assett" I believe. appalachiablue Jun 2016 #40
K & R appalachiablue Jun 2016 #32
.that^ 840high Jun 2016 #34
As far as I know Ricardian international economics is still sound Cary Jun 2016 #35
TPP-ISDS and the Democrats Arizona Roadrunner Jun 2016 #37
"Free Trade" has very little to do with trade... Shebear Jun 2016 #38
the 'HOUSE' always wins. pansypoo53219 Jun 2016 #42
Message auto-removed Name removed Jun 2016 #44
It's simple really. Cassiopeia Jun 2016 #48
k&r nationalize the fed Jun 2016 #54
You have to explain simple concepts, most have degrees from Google U. Rex Jun 2016 #55
Yep. The US would be a better place if all 50 states could impose tariffs on trade with each other. Nye Bevan Jun 2016 #56
TPP enables interstate commerce? klook Jun 2016 #61
I was replying to the OP which did not mention TPP at all (nt) Nye Bevan Jun 2016 #62
4) JEB Jun 2016 #57
Ahhh ha libodem Jun 2016 #64
I'd suggest that we use some other term than "free trade" FairWinds Jun 2016 #65
I wonder what we got in return for this "compromise." Baitball Blogger Jun 2016 #67
This is how it went Urchin Jun 2016 #71
FAIR TRADE Angry Dragon Jun 2016 #72
There's no such thing as free trade. Some people lose big time ... WORKERS Zen Democrat Jun 2016 #74
Free trade agreements aren't so much about free trade Craig234 Jun 2016 #76
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