Aerion Brightflame Posted May 2, 2016 Report Share Posted May 2, 2016 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36185746 http://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/may/01/leaked-ttip-documents-cast-doubt-on-eu-us-trade-deal http://www.dw.com/en/leaked-papers-allege-us-pressuring-eu-over-ttip-free-trade-deal/a-19228527 Three sources, two fairly impartial, one fairly biased but I included it for a moment of irony. TTIP is the latest in a series of large trade deals between the US and different nations designed to ease trade and provide big economic benefits for all involved. TPP is also included in this. However these agreements are generally disliked because they've shown little to no actual benefit for the general populace in the past. Oh and you know they include clauses that allow corporations to sue governments for policies that infringe of potential profits. Given the unique status of corporations in legal terms, it's never something these governments can actually come out winning. This is ignoring the fact that these deals are general produced with little to no democratic process involved because it's behind closed doors with actual politicians being involved as little as necessary and requires politicians voting on it to read and understand massive documents in a minor length of time TTIP is the deal between the US and the Europe, and in addition to all of the priorly mentioned, it's worrying because it seemingly features an overwhelming US favoured deal that is undermining all of the EU's advances in environmental and general safety when it comes to products. The third article is one that potential highlights why - The US is using trade exports among other things to bully the EU to compromise it's values, undermine Enviromental progress, all for the favour of lining the pockets of the 1%. Instead of trying to take the EU advances and applying them to the US to make the world a bit better, it's being undermined for the sake of profit. This is particularly delicious given remarks made by a US presidential candidate talking about China's unfair trade policy. Essentially these extra parts mean that corporations sit at the heart of legislature because of the power they can bring to bear on governments. So money defines policy. I can't draw a conclusion that doesn't involve me just going on an anti corporate America rant, so I won't make by. But yeah... discuss this horrible, horrible deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mido9 Posted May 2, 2016 Report Share Posted May 2, 2016 Why the hell are almost do USA's trade deals have so many extra legal ramifications? why cant they just be "tariffs are abolished, trade away" and that's it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aerion Brightflame Posted May 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2016 Why the hell are almost do USA's trade deals have so many extra legal ramifications? why cant they just be "tariffs are abolished, trade away" and that's it? Because corporations clearly need political power to ensure that they can keep making as much profit as possible for as long as possible. Consequences be damned. It's what happens when money gets into legislature Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad Posted May 2, 2016 Report Share Posted May 2, 2016 Somewhere, Bernie is twitching with rage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cr47t Posted May 2, 2016 Report Share Posted May 2, 2016 Wise up establishment and shut this down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zauls Posted May 2, 2016 Report Share Posted May 2, 2016 This sheet is pure evil. It exemplifies the "one rule for them, one rule for us" attitude and gives corporations the right to do whatever the hell they want. If this rule applied to all of us, we could sue the government for taking any action that would reduce take-home pay, like tax increases or the lowering of in-work benefits, for example (not saying this would be a good thing, just pointing out the differences in treatment of corporations and ordinary people). It will lead to poorer working conditions, lower pay, greater environmental damage, lower consumer protection, lower product quality/safety and further upward redistribution of wealth through the sheer greed and recklessness of corporations. It would genuinely be the final nail in the coffin for Western society. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aerion Brightflame Posted May 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2016 http://www.euractiv.com/section/trade-society/news/france-claims-ttip-talks-likely-to-stop/ Oh hey good guy France is back. For people who don't know, in order for anything to pass in the EU it needs approval from all 28 member states, so this is enough to stop it assuming it's true. On the other hand, the US will probably just come through with another very similar trade agreement in a few months, like the whole Internet restriction thing, so it doesn't actually solve the issue of corporate America being emotionless greedy bastards who are ruining the planet and our freedoms. But hey, not moving backwards is progress of a kind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
♪ ♪Aria ♪ ♪ Posted May 4, 2016 Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 TTIP could cause a monopoly, in terms of economical resources, making the game into a reality, and exploit our Earth to bits....Plus, it doesn't really balance between the EU and the US, which will cause some predicaments, and could end up being another "cold war" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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