FORD's Issues Poll #1: Do you support the Trans Pacific Partnership?

[FORD]

OK, I've been threatening to do these issue polls for weeks now, but this seems like a good time and a good issue to start with.

And if you don't know what the Trans Pacific Partnership is, there's room for that in the poll too. But I'll probably follow up later with more info on it........

[lesfunk]

What the hell is that?

[FORD]

Like I said, I'll post more details a little later. The fact that so many have heard very little or nothing at all about it is half the problem.

Short answer... imagine NAFTA on steroids, crossbred in a MonSatan laboratory with RIAA/MPAA fascist "intellectual property" nightmares.

And that's only part of it........

[Nitro Express]

I don't support it. It's another gimmick to flank the US Congress and replace our national sovereignty with an international organization that will only cater to multi-national corporations. The big loser at the end of the day is the average citizen who's main source of power in the system is their congressmen and senators. Things change as soon as congress fears the citizens. A trade organization has no skin in the game. They aren't elected and you can't fire them.

[LoungeMachine]

What the hell is that?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Pacific_Strategic_Economic_Partnership

[Nitro Express]

What the hell is that?

You gave the exact answer the TPP wants to hear. Oh the citizens don't know, let's get busy and pass this thing!

[Nitro Express]

Out of public view the Obama administration is negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, a US-led free trade deal with several Pacific Rim countries. Six hundred US corporate advisers have had input, but so far the text hasn’t been shared with the public or media.

The level of secrecy is unprecedented. During discussions paramilitary teams guard the premises, helicopters loom overhead, and there’s a near-total media blackout on the subject. US Senator Ron Wyden, who chairs the congressional committee with jurisdiction over TPP agreement, was denied access to the negotiation texts.

Looks like our transparent Obama Administration is at it again.



We need to go back to this kind of White House.

[knuckleboner]

i'm down with T.P.P...

protectionist trade policies aren't always the best for an economy.

[LoungeMachine]

i'm down with T.P.P...

protectionist trade policies aren't always the best for an economy.

Agreed.

But being anti-TPP [or anti CAFTA/NAFTA] doesn't make one a "protectionist", per se.

[knuckleboner]

true. definitely true. i like the concept of trade agreements, assuming both sides gain equally. it doesn't mean all trade agreements are made equal.

[FORD]

None of them have been since NAFTA. It's time to roll all of that shit back.

International trade is inevitable, and neccessary. Corporate sweatshops, outsourcing, tax shelters, and shitty quality products, not so much.

And corporations having any sort of "veto" power over the laws of any nation, that's literally fascist bullshit.

[LoungeMachine]

true. definitely true. i like the concept of trade agreements, assuming both sides gain equally. it doesn't mean all trade agreements are made equal.

Exactly.

And even if they are "made" equally, enforcement is another issue.

Anyone remember reading about when we used to fund this country almost entirely on tariffs?

Of course that was before we became the world's police force and went nation-building....



Even more than trade agreements, how about we concentrate on our BRAIN DRAIN??. Fucking fucked up policies regarding education and immigration.

[knuckleboner]

Exactly.

And even if they are "made" equally, enforcement is another issue.

Anyone remember reading about when we used to fund this country almost entirely on tariffs?

Of course that was before we became the world's police force and went nation-building....



Even more than trade agreements, how about we concentrate on our BRAIN DRAIN??. Fucking fucked up policies regarding education and immigration.

exactly. i only support them if the enforcement's sincere. we need to be able to sell more cars to japan. American manufacturing doesn't really benefit by bringing back hanes t-shirt manufacturing from new dehli. if japan joining TPP helps that, great. if japan is able to continue limiting our access, then i'll happily reconsider.

[Kristy]

Like I said, I'll post more details a little later. The fact that so many have heard very little or nothing at all about it is half the problem.

Short answer... imagine NAFTA on steroids, crossbred in a MonSatan laboratory with RIAA/MPAA fascist "intellectual property" nightmares.

And that's only part of it........

Just promise you won't go all Alex Jone$-ish with this.

[FORD]

Just promise you won't go all Alex Jone$-ish with this.

Nah, I'm not much of an Alex Jones fan. Listened to some of his stuff back in the Chimp years, but it's sort of like Limbaugh in the early 90s..... dude went totally off the cliff with his batshit insanity. We know with Mush it was the oxycontin. I don't know what happened to Alex yet.... maybe there's something in that "Super-Tang" stuff he (and Elvis) are always shilling for which shouldn't be there? Considering it was developed by a veterinarian, maybe he put some ketamine (cat tranquilizer) in it?