Quit picking on Obama……
- Thread starter DaSleeper
- Start date
Obama administration told to stop expanding "corporate rights" in trade agreements
One of the most controversial provisions in free trade agreements is the Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanism, which gives corporations the right to sue governments over public measures that undermine their expected profits. It’s a pretty outrageous assault on democratic structures. In fact, when I tell people new to the trade debate about it, at first they often don’t believe me.
But it is a fact.
ISDS is included in bilateral and regional trade and investment pacts around the world. The supposed justification is that legal systems in many countries don’t adequately protect foreign investments, so it creates a special tribunal just for them. For example, under NAFTA, three U.S. agribusiness firms sued the Mexican government over restrictions on high-fructose corn syrup, and won $169 million in compensation. Tobacco giant Phillip Morris, operating through its Hong Kong subsidiary, has sued the Australian government over new rules on cigarette labels that highlight fthe health dangers. If that one seems a bit convoluted, it’s because when the Australian government signed a free trade agreement with the United States, it refused to include ISDS, saying its legal system was perfectly able to handle any disputes. But Australia was already bound by an investment pact with Hong Kong.
This expansion of corporate rights has become a big issue in the public debate on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP, also known as TAFTA). The EU announced in January that it would pause the negotiations on that mechanism in TTIP so it could hold a public consultation on the issue. But the Obama Administration has not followed suit, so a group of 43 U.S. organizations (including IATP, along with labor, environmental, faith and farm groups), led by the AFL-CIO, sent a letter to the U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman demanding a similar pause in the U.S., to get more public input.
Obama administration told to stop expanding "corporate rights" in trade agreements | Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
One of the most controversial provisions in free trade agreements is the Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanism, which gives corporations the right to sue governments over public measures that undermine their expected profits. It’s a pretty outrageous assault on democratic structures. In fact, when I tell people new to the trade debate about it, at first they often don’t believe me.
But it is a fact.
ISDS is included in bilateral and regional trade and investment pacts around the world. The supposed justification is that legal systems in many countries don’t adequately protect foreign investments, so it creates a special tribunal just for them. For example, under NAFTA, three U.S. agribusiness firms sued the Mexican government over restrictions on high-fructose corn syrup, and won $169 million in compensation. Tobacco giant Phillip Morris, operating through its Hong Kong subsidiary, has sued the Australian government over new rules on cigarette labels that highlight fthe health dangers. If that one seems a bit convoluted, it’s because when the Australian government signed a free trade agreement with the United States, it refused to include ISDS, saying its legal system was perfectly able to handle any disputes. But Australia was already bound by an investment pact with Hong Kong.
This expansion of corporate rights has become a big issue in the public debate on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP, also known as TAFTA). The EU announced in January that it would pause the negotiations on that mechanism in TTIP so it could hold a public consultation on the issue. But the Obama Administration has not followed suit, so a group of 43 U.S. organizations (including IATP, along with labor, environmental, faith and farm groups), led by the AFL-CIO, sent a letter to the U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman demanding a similar pause in the U.S., to get more public input.
Obama administration told to stop expanding "corporate rights" in trade agreements | Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
And I posted on the other thread without seeing this !
NPR was all over this when they announced "Lets Move" was to be credited for the drop in childhood obesity.
I doubt they will follow up with the new revelations.
Did anyone hear about the results of the Florida special election for the US House of Representatives last week? Big defeat for Obamism.
Prior to the election the Dems said this is a must win... now they are saying nothing much should be made about the results.
Well we shall see. I've never been one to count my chickens before they hatch. November is a long way away. I am sure the House of Reps remain firmly in GOP hands. The Senate may be harder to win back. That means the status quo remains.
If you can stomach the floating scripts and pop-ups, have a gander here:
The Obama Administration Has Turned The Parental Into The Political | ThinkProgress
Barack and Michelle are all of our parents now http://thkpr.gs/1gyEA5O
dontchya feel all snuggly now? :lol:
The Obama Administration Has Turned The Parental Into The Political | ThinkProgress
Barack and Michelle are all of our parents now http://thkpr.gs/1gyEA5O
dontchya feel all snuggly now? :lol:
Rob Ford (still) Has A Higher Approval Rating Than President Obama
Embattled Toronto Mayor Rob Ford may have been caught on tape smoking crack, acting embarrassingly drunk, and being ruthlessly mocked on late night television, but he still has a higher approval rating than President Barack Obama.
A poll released by Forum Research Inc. Friday found 42 per cent of Toronto voters approve of Ford compared to 58 per cent who do not. Meanwhile, the most recent survey of Obama’s approval rating conducted by Gallup last week found 40 per cent of voters approve of the president and 54 per cent do not. Obama can at least take consolation in the fact his disapproval rating is slightly better than Ford’s.
These numbers do not reflect the impact of a new video that reportedly shows Ford slurring his speech outside of Toronto City Hall Saturday night. Ford deflected questions about that clip while participating in a St. Patrick’s Day parade in the city Sunday.
Rob Ford Has A Higher Approval Rating Than President Obama | Business Insider
:lol:
Embattled Toronto Mayor Rob Ford may have been caught on tape smoking crack, acting embarrassingly drunk, and being ruthlessly mocked on late night television, but he still has a higher approval rating than President Barack Obama.
A poll released by Forum Research Inc. Friday found 42 per cent of Toronto voters approve of Ford compared to 58 per cent who do not. Meanwhile, the most recent survey of Obama’s approval rating conducted by Gallup last week found 40 per cent of voters approve of the president and 54 per cent do not. Obama can at least take consolation in the fact his disapproval rating is slightly better than Ford’s.
These numbers do not reflect the impact of a new video that reportedly shows Ford slurring his speech outside of Toronto City Hall Saturday night. Ford deflected questions about that clip while participating in a St. Patrick’s Day parade in the city Sunday.
Rob Ford Has A Higher Approval Rating Than President Obama | Business Insider
:lol:
No, like in 2010. Obama was able to use the IRS to defuse the TP in order to prevent a repeat in 2012. What happens in 2016 may be a different matter. But in 2014 angry old white men and women will steamroll the Bamster and his votaries.
Btw, Romney was the candidate of the Big Business/Chamber of Commerce/Country Club faction of the Republican Party. That makes him an accommodationist.
How's Obama's Russian reset working out? The other shoe is going to fall in Ukraine pretty soon. How's Obama's smart diplomacy working out?
