Just say, "NO" to the TPP

Right now, on the Asian side of the Pacific ocean, a trade deal is being negotiated. It is called the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a deal between nations that border the Pacific ocean. By and large, this deal is being negotiated in secret. In fact, my congressman has been in Asia, supposedly to discuss the treatment of workers as well as working conditions. While this may be true, as far as it goes, it would seem that there is more to it. It is highly unlikely that working conditions is the only item on the congressman's agenda. More likely is that he is in the region to attend and participate in talks surrounding the TPP.

The mainstream media has been totally silent about this agreement which may "...undermine our own laws and increase the opportunity for corporate takeovers of public resources in the United States and abroad." (Wenonah Hauter, "The Un-American Way: On the Anti-Democratic 'Trans-Pacific Partnership'" in Common Dreams,org, August 22,2013)

The agreement would do many things, few of which would help most people in the United States nor in the other 10 countries. It would increase the export of natural gas and increase food imports. In the process, fracking will most assuredly increase. (ibid.)

It would also set up a framework whereby "...corporations would acquire an equal status to countries, allowing them to take legal action against governments both at the national and local levels." (ibid.) Laws protecting the public and to protect the environment could be stripped bare or even overturned completely. Laws governing the import of seafood, for example, could be rewritten or overturned. This would open the floodgates to seafood from overseas, from countries without the high standards our government currently requires. (ibid)
"The TPP would potentially give companies the power to sue local governments, granting them their own permission to exploit natural resources and undermine local laws. Treaties like the TPP undermine important efforts by grassroots movements and governments to protect people and the environment against the dangers of infecting our food system with increased use of antibiotics and hormones or the risks associated with fracking for natural gas." (ibid.)
There is, obviously, much more to this so-called "Partnership", but
our history with other trade agreements makes it almost certain that American jobs will be affected in a negative fashion, ala NAFTA.

Given the secretive nature of TPP I have to say that I am more than a little distressed that my own congressman sees fit to mislead his constituents about the nature of his journey to Asia. Why all the secrecy? Could it be because the respective governments and trade partners (corporations) want it that way in order to prevent the people of the United States to become vocal in opposition?  If so, too bad because we absolutely need to be very vocal in our contact with our legislators and the White House. As Ms. Hauter points out, "Undermining laws that U.S. citizens voted to put in place isn’t the American way." (ibid)  I wish Rep. Levin would realize that fact.

Just say "No!" to TPP.