To be as blunt as possible, the May 4 editorial “Fair Trade Stance is Key,” concerning Trans-Pacific Partnership, was a dishonest piece of propaganda. Had the editorial given an honest summation of the salient features of the agreement I could simply take issue with specifics, but it didn’t. And it didn’t because, like the multiyear negotiations to construct this Trojan Horse, secrecy was/is essential to its passage. “They,” the establishment, don’t want you to know what’s in it.
To endorse this thing without ever mentioning nontariff trade barriers or the international dispute settlement courts that will enforce them is like talking about swimming with sharks without ever mentioning that they bite. This is not a trade bill. It is one more attempt by huge multi-national corporations to exempt themselves from the laws people pass to protect their health, safety and environment.
Currently, tiny Uruguay is spending millions of dollars to defend against one of those nontariff trade barriers. Philip Morris is threatening them legally for denying them potential profits. Know what those scoundrels in Uruguay did? They started an anti-smoking campaign. That is the reality of this monstrosity: Protect your kids from horrible diseases and you’ll be sued.
Notice, please, that those of us who oppose it are open and honest about its contents. For its proponents the secrecy never ends.
