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.

Politics By Any Other Name is Still Politics

Have you ever witnessed something that bothers you so much it is still fresh in your memory months later? The past several days I have been thinking a great deal about an incident at the Michigan Democratic Convention in Detroit on February 23rd. A real race was shaping up between two good candidates for Chair of the State Party. Mark Brewer had many years experience under his belt while Lon Johnson had youth,organizing experience and the backing of the entire congressional delegation.  Going into the afternoon sessions before the general session, I was still uncertain who I would vote for. 

Rep. Sander Levin

After lunch we went into our Congressional District Caucuses. Mine happens to be the 9th District and the Congressman is Rep. Sander Levin. The election of officers went smoothly (a little TOO smoothly if you ask me - only one slate of officers was presented). There was, however a major dust up between Sandy Levin and a member of the Rules Committee. It started because the UAW presented 1300 new members. It wouldn't have been an issue except that the payment for those memberships arrived past the deadline. No one was supposed to be allowed to vote at the convention if they paid their dues after January 25th. However, these new members from the UAW were credentialed and were going to be allowed to vote. All these votes, presumably, would have gone for Lon Johnson. Mark Brewer wouldn't stand a chance against that onslaught. So, the "discussion" from the meeting of the Rules Committee spilled over into our District Caucus. It was quite heated as the usually calm, even tempered Congressman let fly a few colorful words and phrases. 

Sandy Levin argued that the state Party never made it a requirement to pay to vote. To require a paid membership was, in essence, a poll tax and he said, "we never have had and never will as long as I can help it, have a poll tax to vote." 

On the other hand, the member of the Rules Committee also had a valid point: How fair is it to allow new members to vote when their memberships weren't paid on time? Other people missed the deadline and would not be allowed to vote. Why were the UAW members being allowed to vote? The reason seemed quite clear: The UAW members would make it virtually impossible for Mark Brewer to win. The Congressional Delegation hand picked Lon Johnson and would do anything and everything in their power to get him that Chairmanship.

Brewer and Johnson

It was not a pretty sight especially for a newcomer to state politics like me. The drama finally ended at the general session later in the afternoon. Mark Brewer, seeing the handwriting on the wall, withdrew his name from nomination which left the convention with the task of declaring Lon Johnson the winner by acclimation. Some of us were left with a bad taste in our mouths, thinking that we had been railroaded and set up. Whether Lon Johnson was the right choice or not was actually immaterial. It was the way he won which was the point. 

In my estimation, anyone who is willing to go as far as Lon Johnson and his supporters did has a rather large issue with their character. To go to any length to win, even at the expense of others, rather reminds me of Richard Nixon and the Watergate scandal. He and his minions performed every dirty political trick in the book as well as many crimes. All in the name of winning. Winning at any cost is a good way to lose integrity. It means we are no better than the other Party. If you win at the expense of others you are actually the biggest loser. 

I was shocked by what I had witnessed that day. The man who I had looked up to for 38 years, my Congressman, displayed that 'win at any cost' attitude. He was rather blunt about his power play and I couldn't believe what I was seeing and hearing. If he represented what the State Democratic Party is about, I am not sure whether I want to remain a member. 

If that wasn't enough, another incident occurred which made me even more uncomfortable. I read several Facebook posts that indicated that the 13th District was also in some turmoil. Apparently, Lon Johnson was not satisfied with the results of their election of officers. I have no idea why he sees it this way but duly elected representatives were stripped of the position and, for some, even of their membership rights. It looks like Mr. Johnson is trying to hand pick all officers. Overturning legitimate elections is no way to run the state Party. It is NOT democracy in action. I am ashamed to call myself a Democrat after this series of raw power plays that make voting irrelevant. It actually sounds like the OTHER Party which is attempting to rig the state and national voting process so that millions are disenfranchised and makes it almost impossible for Democrats to win.
 
Then there are Michigan's Emergency Managers, who go into financially desperate cities and removes the elected officials and take control of the community. These citizens don't get a vote either. 

What is happening in the Michigan Democratic Party is not that different in spirit. I think the Party needs to look at itself, re-evaluate its behavior and make a u-turn before it is too late. There is still time but the clock is ticking.

Peril and Hope

The latest projections by the Huffington Post have the GOP retaining control of the House of Representatives, even adding a few seats to their majority. It is unclear whether the Democrats will retain control of the Senate. I can see now why Sandy Levin wants to retire: he might not want to continue to fight the Republicans on every single thing. I read that he refuses to play political games and that's all the GOP knows how to do. I might be tired of it too if I were him. I know how tired of it I am as a citizen. But that is precisely why we need him to win this election. We desperately need people like him. We need his decency, his competency and the refusal to play games. This county's only hope is in people like Sandy Levin. If the worst happens and Romney also, somehow (by hook or by CROOK) wins and the House GOP maintains and extends their control and the Democrats lose control of the Senate then this country is doomed without voices like his. Still, I would understand at his age the desire to retire. I see it regularly in my own mother.

People like Sandy are our hope inside the government. But the ultimate hope is in the people of the United States of America:. the hope that we will fight to keep our voices for truth and social justice alive and strong so that we might fight the corruption and greed and lust for power of the GOP and their corporate masters. We must fight to reverse the trend towards government surveillance of citizens whether or not  we are guilty of anything other than patriotism . The Patriot Act was but one example of this trend. There have been many others: NDAA, FISA,the projected use of drones in American cities...all are efforts to control an increasingly restive population. But they are doomed to failure just like the dictators in Africa and the Middle East if we fight for our rights as they are given to us by God and the US Constitution. It is a fight of faith, personal and civil. It doesn't mean violating the separation of church and state. It means the exact opposite: it means upholding that gulf between the two in order to preserve our liberties. When the forces of religion, corporations and government merge, heaven help the people of the United States. We must be the voices and bodies to stop that awful possibility and reality. Occupy Wall Street may be one of the shining examples in this struggle; citizens uniting for a greater cause than themselves. That is, and will continue to be, the great hope for this country, the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.


P.S.  I realize Sandy Levin voted FOR all the above awful legislation but on all other matters he has been and is on the side of justice and fairness. In addition, his opponent in the new MI 9th district is just awful and a Tea Party advocate.