Wikileaks Posts Entire Secret Trade Deals OnLine - Liberals Stroking Out

[angelatc]

Wikileaks has posted the entire contents of the 3 trade deals currently in secret negotiations, and TNR has a serious case of the vapors because the deal would privatize entire sectors of services now controlled by governments, stop new licensing requirements and mean that signatories would not be able to pass new laws and regulations in many existing industries.

From the libertarian standpoint, it doesn't hurt as much as it helps. From the leftist standpoint, it put too much power in the hands of business. From my standpoint, it will just create more "too big to fail" enterprises.

http://www.newrepublic.com/article/121967/whats-really-going-trade-services-agreement

That’s perhaps TiSA’s real goal—to pry open markets, deregulate and privatize services worldwide, even among emerging nations with no input into the agreement. U.S. corporations may benefit from such a structure, as the Chamber of Commerce suggests, but the impact on workers and citizens in America and across the globe is far less clear. Social, cultural, and even public health goals would be sidelined in favor of a regime that puts corporate profits first. It effectively nullifies the role of democratic governments to operate in the best interest of their constituents.

Profits are simply the best gauge of the value that society places on goods and services, not some evil that must be combatted.

 

[muh_roads]

That doesn't sound too bad.

I'm all for privatizing industries and taking Government out of the picture so long as one group doesn't have a monopoly, like the Federal Reserve.

 

[angelatc]

That doesn't sound too bad.

I'm all for privatizing industries and taking Government out of the picture so long as one group doesn't have a monopoly, like the Federal Reserve.

My biggest fear is that it will turn over regulatory authority to a UN-type body, which seems far more likely than governments banding together to stop regulations.

 

[presence]

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

 

[Natural Citizen]

So, then essentially, this means, as we've already discussed many times here, that western corporations can sue away the sovereignty of foreign nations. Right? I mean, I'm open for correction if anyone views that any differently. This is mercantilism 101.

 

[Natural Citizen]

My biggest fear is that it will turn over regulatory authority to a UN-type body, which seems far more likely than governments banding together to stop regulations.

There are other things going on. We're seeing traditional allies flock toward the Asian Infrastructure Development Bank and the BRICS Bank like mad. But, at the same time we're also seeing nations align themselves in a way in which they get a vote in the UN. And, so, that's huge. I've spent a great deal of time explaining this in the BRICS thread. Of course, nobody fuggin pays attention. Heh...

Anyhow. I see that you're looking to spin this into a left/'right paradigm. I'll likely not participate in that circus. But, I'd agree with you that there are some geo-political outliers. Big ones. And I think that those outliers are going to lead to WWIII. Not in the sense of bullets and bombs but in terms of...oh...lets say space war.

 

[AuH20]

This is where the Chinese firms come in:

The TPP allows corporations to directly sue our country if federal, state or local laws, government actions or court rulings are claimed to violate new rights and privileges the TPP would grant to foreign firms. Firms from TPP nations operating here could attack U.S. regulations over cancer-causing chemicals or environmental concerns before tribunals comprised of corporate lawyers that rotate by day and night between acting as "judges" and representing corporations attacking governments. These decisions then cannot be challenged in U.S. courts -- and U.S. taxpayers will get stuck with the bill. So much for our precious sovereignty!

 

[AuH20]

Big Pharma can't have generic drugs gumming up the price structure:

Prescription drug costs will increase. The TPP includes terms that would limit access to generic drugs and curtail government power to limit the price of drugs. See Public Citizen's report "The Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) threatens access to affordable medicines."

 

[erowe1]

Is "stroking out" a euphemism for something?

 

[AuH20]

You know what's extremely amusing about the left's reaction to TPP? The fact that they are recoiling in fear to this TPP initiative that allegedly opens up competition to 'Foreign Service Providers.' In other words, the fiefdom known as the U.S. Postal Office would have to prove it's mettle on the world stage. So they love the fact that our country is being inundated by foreigners with no allegiance to it's prior heritage, but now that their legalized rackets are suddenly under threat, they are immediately concerned about foreign influence. Schadenfreude I say. You wanted this. Time to sit down and eat every last disgusting morsel. Cheers for the New World Order.

 

[fisharmor]

So, then essentially, this means, as we've already discussed many times here, that western corporations can sue away the sovereignty of foreign nations. Right? I mean, I'm open for correction if anyone views that any differently. This is mercantilism 101.

True, but mercantilists have a record too, and its pile of bodies is much smaller. Fewer broken up lemonade stands, and when they locked up someone for being black, they were at least honest about their reasons.
If we're being pragmatic here then I say bring on some of the old fashioned mercantilism.
Hell, for that matter, bring back King George III.

Is "stroking out" a euphemism for something?

LOL I like where your mind may have been going, but no, it just means having a stroke.

 

[GunnyFreedom]

Is "stroking out" a euphemism for something?

bursting aneurysms?

 

[Origanalist]

TiSA Transparency Negotiating Text

This is the secret January 2015 draft of the Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA) Transparency Annex, including negotiating positions. TiSA is currently under negotiation between the United States, the European Union and 23 other countries. The Agreement creates an international legal regime which aims to deregulate and privatize the supply of services - which account for the majority of the economy across TiSA countries. The draft Annex aims to make governments more transparent to global commercial actors, creating obligations to notify and consult with transnational corporations on decisions and measures which may affect their interests. This text dates from shortly before the 11th round of TiSA negotiations held from 9-13 February 2015 in Geneva, Switzerland.
Download the PDF for Analysis of Annex on Transparency Negotiating Text

Well, that's not ironic.....

Analysis on TISA Transparency Text dated 23 January 2015
(updated from the 16 April 2014 Transparency Text)
There is a deep irony whenever governments make commitments to ‘transparency’ in contemporary
pro-corporate treaties that are negotiated under conditions of extraordinary secrecy. TISA is one of
the most extreme examples, with the Parties pledging to keep the documents secret for five years
after a final agreement comes into force or the negotiations are formally abandoned.1
Some
governments are already releasing their own and joint documents; others are hiding behind the
secrecy pact and refusing to be held accountable.
‘Transparency’ in this TISA text means ensuring that commercial interests, especially but not only
transnational corporations, can access and influence government decisions that affect their interests
– rights and opportunities that may not be available to local businesses or to national citizens. They
may want to stop or change government decisions they don’t like, or rally to support those that are
being challenged.
Chapters or provisions on ‘transparency’ have become increasingly common in recent free trade and
investment agreements. In addition, there will be ‘transparency’ provisions in specific TISA
annexes, such as financial services2
or domestic regulation.3
They impose cumulative obligations on
governments.
The leverage that foreign corporations exercise over governments is already a sore point in many
countries. TISA would add more opportunities that go far beyond the limited GATS provision on
transparency, both in their content and by providing entitlements to private firms.4
If its champions
have their way, this will end up applying to the entire WTO membership, including many
developing and least developed countries.
The leaked text has an escalating scale of obligations. The following describes the most aggressive
versions of the proposals, unless otherwise indicated. ‘Interested persons’ is code for commercial
interests.

https://wikileaks.org/tisa/transparency/01-2015/analysis/Analysis-TiSA-Transparency-Article.pdf

 

[juleswin]

Makes me wonder if this wasn't leaked on purpose to get certain groups to support it and then the final bill changed to screw everyone up. Its still the very Liberal Obama for the people who care for labels pushing this. A man who hasn't come up with one good idea in his term in office.

And lest we forget, he is still pushing for higher minimum wage and a deal on climate change. How very free market and libertarian of him. I say its either someone is using wikileaks or they are in on it.

 

[tangent4ronpaul]

In related news ISIS is hiring corporate lawyers...

-t

 

[Origanalist]

That doesn't sound too bad.

I'm all for privatizing industries and taking Government out of the picture so long as one group doesn't have a monopoly, like the Federal Reserve.

Secret transnational agreements not available to the public sounds extremely bad to me. We have no idea nor any input as to the final results.

 

[AuH20]

See the Maastricht Treaty. It started off in a similar manner and eventually the EU was created. I have no doubts that TPP is based on a similar strategy. First, weave global commerce together and then follow it up with the governmental coalescence.

 

[tangent4ronpaul]

Anyone a William Gibson fan?

Corporations more powerful than governments sounds just ducky!

-t

 

[devil21]

This is where the Chinese firms come in:

I have to review the docs but that sounds like the lynchpin of these 'trade agreements'. Allowing foreign (read: global) corporations the ability to strike down existing US laws ex post facto to facilitate their exploitation of the country they are operating in. Anything that inhibits their business, such as labor laws, export laws, environmental restrictions, etc. Chinese mining corps won't like our export rules. Manufacturing won't like our labor laws.

Coming soon to a city near you. FOXCONN USA! Hence why cities are being built up in condo 'stack and pack' configs at a feverish pace, where public transport moves everyone around inside the glass bubble of the city, and few can escape since cars will slowly be done away with in favor of "green alternatives" of public transport. Agenda 21...

Manufacturing will come back to the US. Just as long as you don't mind living in a 300sqft condo and working 14 hours a day for peanuts. Just look at FOXCONN to see what the future of US cities holds.

 

[Ronin Truth]

We'll learn a lot (perhaps much more than we really want to know) from what the GOP controlled Senate does with this (treaty?).