General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: How can a person who fights for the TPP be considered a friend of the 99%? [View all]davidthegnome
(2,983 posts)Is that there's this big debate here, about whether the TPP is any good, about whether anyone who supports it, fights for it, can be considered a friend of the 99%... now, that seems like a reasonable question, given that... well, it appears to have some bad stuff in it. What I have yet to see though, from either side of this debate, is, perhaps, what we are all lacking... knowledge of - and understanding of what it actually is and does on a broader scale. So right now, the entire debate is based on vague understanding, limited knowledge, perspective coming from those of us who (correct me if I'm wrong) really haven't got much of a clue about the overall status or purpose of this thing. We can imagine, guess, estimate, whatever... but until it's actually broken down for us... it's like a bunch of third graders arguing about nuclear physics. But, you know, I like these debates, so I'll play.
I don't like the secrecy, not one bit. What needs to happen here, I think, is for someone - anyone, I don't care who, to come clean and tell us what the hell the TPP IS. What proposals have been made, what effects they are likely to have. We need to discuss the various elements of it, examine it, debate it... and understand it, at least somewhat, before the decision should be made of whether or not to pass it through. In this regard... no, I do not think President Obama, or anyone pushing for this is my friend. If they would be my friend, they would explain to me what the hell this is, before expecting me to live with it.
To be fair, I believe Obama has accomplished a great deal during his Presidency, considering what he has had to work with. In many regards I believe he is indeed my friend, that he did the best he could to offer me and every other American some kind of better option for health insurance. Nope, none of it's perfect, but it's better than what I had before.
This stuff though... this makes me nervous, suspicious. It makes me wonder what the hell is really going on, who the real players are, whether the gist of this thing will ever see the light of day.
As things stand now, I could never support the TPP. I can't really say though, that it's despicable and I absolutely hate it all either. Simply put, I don't know what it actually is.