“Disgusted, but not surprised,” is my response to The Columbian editorial board’s opinion of Oct. 19, “An appetizing outcome?,” which sings praises for the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. Has the paper’s board been having a drinkfest with the likes of Councilor David Madore, Port of Vancouver commissioners, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the World Bank?
Those of us who have been around the block are not fooled by this major piece of corruption that uses dishonest “scales” while hypocritically retaining the outward facade of patriotism. By “scales” I mean that the TPP has been drafted in secret largely because it has little to do with trade and everything to do with enhancing corporate sovereignty over public governments.
Its “Investor-State Dispute Settlements” clause is fraudulently manipulative (via legal-language hocus-pocus) in elevating mere corporations to the status of “corporate states,” putting them on a par with nation states; taxpayers will be forced to compensate should corporate investors see any restriction on “expected future profits.” Thus, this is a power grab, pure and simple, with “trade” only being used as a mask.
In short, skimping the measure (e.g. think Big Pharma, etc.), boosting the price and cheating with dishonest scales exposes what god is served: mammon. Lust for money is lust for money. It doesn’t take a prophet to see it.
Just the same, “Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice,” Proverbs 16:8.