CK Patton's Class War Chronicles


Part 2 in a series on US Trade Negotiations and the TPP


"The problem is....we have corporate lobbyists often times involved in negotiating these trade agreements, but the AFL-CIO hasn’t been involved, ordinary working people haven’t been involved." Presidential candidate Barack Obama, AFL-CIO Presidential Forum August 7, 2007

 

Ahh, free trade....that neutral, harmonious-sounding phrase that appears to describe the benign process of removing barriers (tariffs) between countries to enable the free exchange of goods and services, for the benefit of all citizens.

It's rhetoric used by different U.S. Presidents, with each and every new trade agreement, centered around vague promises of economic prosperity. A way to cure our nation's economic ills, while "modernizing" and promoting democracy in the countries we trade with.

Who can forget President Bill Clinton describing NAFTA as he signed the final "side agreements" before submitting the package to Congress :

CK Patton's Class War Chronicles

-In which we hack the moniker free trade and expose  the corporate media spin surrounding so called free trade agreements (FTAs) -

“Capitalists, for the most part, don't care much for capitalism. Their goal is to make money.” - Alan Murray, Wall St. Journal

“[NAFTA]  lacks...worker and environmental protections that are necessary for the long-term prosperity of both America and its trading partners.  I would therefore favor...a significant renegotiation of NAFTA and the terms of the President’s fast track authority. ”  US Senate candidate Barack Obama, 2003 

The Class War Chronicles by CK Patton

OK, so it’s no longer possible to hide the fact that a significant wealth gap has developed in this country. For those on the plus side, there's no time to feign even a modicum of chagrin; you’re too busy trying to rig the system to keep it this way.

2 years ago, The Occupy Movement shoved the issue of the wealth gap between the top 1% - especially the .001% - and the rest of us - into public discourse. But after 40 years of flat income growth for the majority, and a stagnant economy since 2007, the sheer magnitude of actual wealth inequality in this country remains {somehow) severely underestimated:

Jacob - Are we going under?

Louis - You're asking the wrong question, Jacob.

Jacob - What's the right question?

Louis - Who isn't.

Wall Street : Money Never Sleeps (vid)

At the capital, all systems down, the United States a no-go for the moment, as the nation's business stops. No word yet if the Prez has tried healthcare.gov - or if it works yet  (it did when we tried yesterday). politico