http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07cv0y7

It doesn't look as if the TPP will be ratified by the US any time soon no matter who's in the White House.

It's going to be interesting to see how this plays out. Lefties have been screeching for protectionist policies for ... well since ever. Only now that Trump argues for it that they reject it. Weird.

My view is that these multi-national trade agreements such as TPP are another form of supranationalism akin to things like the EU or UN agreements.
All designed to lessen national sovereignty over time.

bogarde73 wrote on Jun 1^st, 2016 at 10:36am:

My view is that these multi-national trade agreements such as TPP are another form of supranationalism akin to things like the EU or UN agreements. All designed to lessen national sovereignty over time.

Most countries in the Pacific gave up their sovereignty for IMF loans and various bail out packages long ago.

Visit the Philippines, Indonesia or Mexico if you want to see what countries run by foreign corporations look like.

Arbeit macht frei, yes?

Postmodern Trendoid III wrote on Jun 1^st, 2016 at 10:27am:

It's going to be interesting to see how this plays out. Lefties have been screeching for protectionist policies for ... well since ever. Only now that Trump argues for it that they reject it. Weird.

The American Right used to be all for protectionism as well. Now the USA is mostly a corporate state with a single party, the Corporate Party of course, a party with two wings: the Republicans and the Democrats. To think that there is a functioning Right and Left in the USA is to be blind. But. There are signs that the natives are getting restless and something, we don't know what yet, is emerging.

[url][/url]
AiA wrote on Jun 2^nd, 2016 at 12:04am:

Postmodern Trendoid III wrote on Jun 1st, 2016 at 10:27am: It's going to be interesting to see how this plays out. Lefties have been screeching for protectionist policies for ... well since ever. Only now that Trump argues for it that they reject it. Weird. The American Right used to be all for protectionism as well. Now the USA is mostly a corporate state with a single party, the Corporate Party of course, a party with two wings: the Republicans and the Democrats. To think that there is a functioning Right and Left in the USA is to be blind. But. There are signs that the natives are getting restless and something, we don't know what yet, is emerging.

Oh, yes we do. Trump promises protectionism and will deliver nothing of the kind. If elected, he will be even more futile than Clive Palmer.

The US presidency does not have the resources at its disposal to return the US.to the Keynesian, post-war world. Nor does the US business and financial community have any inclination for it.

If Trump.doesn’t know this, he hasn’t been involved in business for the past 40 years. And if he does, he’s talking out of his arse.

Ever get the feeling you’ve been cheated?

Karnal wrote on Jun 2^nd, 2016 at 3:31am:

[url][/url] AiA wrote on Jun 2nd, 2016 at 12:04am: Postmodern Trendoid III wrote on Jun 1st, 2016 at 10:27am: It's going to be interesting to see how this plays out. Lefties have been screeching for protectionist policies for ... well since ever. Only now that Trump argues for it that they reject it. Weird. The American Right used to be all for protectionism as well. Now the USA is mostly a corporate state with a single party, the Corporate Party of course, a party with two wings: the Republicans and the Democrats. To think that there is a functioning Right and Left in the USA is to be blind. But. There are signs that the natives are getting restless and something, we don't know what yet, is emerging. Oh, yes we do. Trump promises protectionism and will deliver nothing of the kind. If elected, he will be even more futile than Clive Palmer. The US presidency does not have the resources at its disposal to return the US.to the Keynesian, post-war world. Nor does the US business and financial community have any inclination for it. If Trump.doesn’t know this, he hasn’t been involved in business for the past 40 years. And if he does, he’s talking out of his arse. Ever get the feeling you’ve been cheated?

lol. Here's one of the suspects. He spends years (probably been decades) criticising capitalism, then when someone proposes to do amendments he's capitalism's biggest supporter. There's some interesting psychology going on there.

bogarde73 wrote on Jun 1^st, 2016 at 10:36am:

My view is that these multi-national trade agreements such as TPP are another form of supranationalism akin to things like the EU or UN agreements. All designed to lessen national sovereignty over time.

We keep hearing how much these trade agreements will improve the economy, and so the lives of ordinary Australians, but can anyone point out what benefits the ordinary Australian has ever had from these agreements? Seems to me that the only people who benefit are the wealthy minority who are happy to sign away our sovereignty in return for even higher profits.

Postmodern Trendoid III wrote on Jun 2^nd, 2016 at 9:04am:

Karnal wrote on Jun 2nd, 2016 at 3:31am: [url][/url] AiA wrote on Jun 2nd, 2016 at 12:04am: Postmodern Trendoid III wrote on Jun 1st, 2016 at 10:27am: It's going to be interesting to see how this plays out. Lefties have been screeching for protectionist policies for ... well since ever. Only now that Trump argues for it that they reject it. Weird. The American Right used to be all for protectionism as well. Now the USA is mostly a corporate state with a single party, the Corporate Party of course, a party with two wings: the Republicans and the Democrats. To think that there is a functioning Right and Left in the USA is to be blind. But. There are signs that the natives are getting restless and something, we don't know what yet, is emerging. Oh, yes we do. Trump promises protectionism and will deliver nothing of the kind. If elected, he will be even more futile than Clive Palmer. The US presidency does not have the resources at its disposal to return the US.to the Keynesian, post-war world. Nor does the US business and financial community have any inclination for it. If Trump.doesn’t know this, he hasn’t been involved in business for the past 40 years. And if he does, he’s talking out of his arse. Ever get the feeling you’ve been cheated? lol. Here's one of the suspects. He spends years (probably been decades) criticising capitalism, then when someone proposes to do amendments he's capitalism's biggest supporter. There's some interesting psychology going on there.

Here's someone who's spent years avoiding the views he's criticizing. Are you suggesting I'm a protectionist?  Moi?

Discuss.