Open Thread Wednesday 05-20-15
Good morning 99percenters!
A morning news dump and music from The Band.
How America’s ‘News’ Media Killed America’s Democracy: TPP & TTIP
by Eric Zuesse
“TTP & TTIP will produce ‘a dystopian future in which corporations and not democratically elected governments call the shots.’”A deal was worked out in the U.S. Senate on the early afternoon of May 13th to "Fast-Track" through to approval U.S. President Barack Obama’s proposed trade deals, TPP with Asia, and TTIP with Europe. (It should have been reported on the nightly TV news programs, but most of them ignored it then, and reported the news only the next day when the Senators made it official.)
TPP and TTIP have been represented in America’s press as “trade” deals, but instead they’re actually about sovereignty. They’re about America and the other participating countries handing their democratic sovereignty — on regulation of the environment, consumer protection, worker protection, and finance — over to panels, all of whose members will be selected by the large international corporations that for years have been working with U.S. President Obama’s Trade Representative to draft these ‘trade’ treaties.
If some corporation “C" under these “trade deals” then brings a case to one of those panels and says that country “X" has any regulations regarding the environment, consumer protection, worker protection, or finance, that are stricter than the ones that are set forth in TPP and TTIP, then country X will be assessed to pay a fine to corporation C, for “unfair trade practices” against that corporation.
In other words: these corporate panels will constitute a new international government, with the power to fine countries for exceeding the regulations that are set forth in these international ‘trade’ treaties.
Another TPP Lie Exposed: How Medicare Is Getting Stiffed in Obama’s Massive Trade Deal
The administration has undermined the public trust in its campaign to pass Trans-Pacific Partnership yet again.In their bid to sell a skeptical Democratic Party on a free trade agenda, the Obama Administration has insisted that no U.S. laws would change as a result. “Our trade agreements would not weaken our ability to implement the law now or in the future,” Treasury Department spokeswoman Whitney Smith told Bloomberg. Top White House officials contended to Politico that the “fast-track” trade bill “expressly forbids changing U.S. law.” As I said last week, this is only partially true, at best. In fact, the companion bill to fast track itself does include a change to U.S. law, paying for assistance for workers who lose their jobs from trade deals — by cutting medical assistance to the elderly.
The Senate will consider two companion trade bills this week. There’s the fast-track bill, which would allow any president over the next six years to negotiate trade agreements and get an expedited Congressional vote, without amendments or filibusters. And there’s also trade adjustment assistance (TAA), a bill that provides federal funds for workers displaced by free trade agreements. Workers receive job training and placement services, relocation expenses, income support, and help with health insurance premiums.
There’s substantial disagreement on whether TAA actually helps workers get new jobs, but Democrats strongly support the program. Even pro-trade Democrats made renewing TAA a condition of passing fast track, and the two bills will move together in the Senate this week. But even though supporters constantly talk up the economic benefits of trade, they nevertheless offset the $2.9 billion in TAA funding by cutting other spending. Supposedly, trade increases jobs and therefore federal revenue, leaving enough money available to pay for TAA. But in Congress’ eyes, some other priority has to pony up that cash nonetheless.
That priority happens to be Medicare. TAA is partially financed through $700 million in Medicare cuts. Sequestration expires in fiscal year 2024, but the TAA bill expands it by piling those cuts onto the back end. Most of the other $2.2 billion gets financed through customs user fees.
Ukraine Doubles Down, Uses Money Owed to Creditors to Fund War
Sensing weakening Western support, Ukraine, under the cover of a debt moratorium, diverts money it owes its creditors to fund more warUkraine’s now all but inevitable default and the diplomatic moves to ease tensions between the US and Russia have received an almost euphoric reception in some quarters.
Some think these point to peace in Ukraine, hoping Ukraine’s government will either shortly collapse or will be forced by these events to seek peace.
Such optimism is misplaced.
Ukraine’s default will not cause the fall of the Ukrainian government. Not will it end the war, any more than the diplomatic moves between the US and Russia will
We would repeat something we said in our discussion of the latest US Russia diplomatic moves (Kerry in Sochi: Better Relations Between Moscow and Washington - No Peace in Ukraine, Russia Insider, 18th May 2015):
John Kerry admits defeat: The Ukraine story the media won’t tell, and why U.S. retreat is a good thing
The U.S. seems to admit it overplayed its hand over Ukraine. Caving to reality is actually the best possible policyIt is just as well Secretary of State John Kerry’s momentous meetings with Russian leaders last week took place in Sochi, the Black Sea resort where President Putin keeps a holiday home. When you have to acknowledge that two years’ worth of pointless hostility in the bilateral relationship has proven none other than pointless, it is best to do so in a far-away place.
Arriving in the morning and leaving in the afternoon, Kerry spent three hours with Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s very competent foreign minister, and then four with Putin. After struggling with the math, these look to me like the most significant seven hours the former senator will spend as this nation’s face abroad.
Who cannot be surprised that the Obama administration, having turned the Ukraine question into the most dangerous showdown since the Cold War’s worst, now declares cordiality, cooperation and common goals the heart of the matter?
The question is not quite as simple as one may think.
Busted pipeline leaks 21,000 gallons of oil off California coast
A busted pipeline off the California coast spilled approximately 21,000 gallons of oil into the ocean and onto beaches Tuesday as officials scrambled to secure the area, Reuters reported.
The spill occurred Tuesday afternoon at a site off the Santa Barbara County coast. The pipeline is operated by Plains All American Pipeline, the US Coast Guard in Los Angeles stated. While it’s unclear exactly what type of oil seeped out of the pipeline, officials from multiple government agencies, including local, federal and wildlife, responded to the scene.
The spill extended about four miles along Refugio Beach, the Coast Guard said. An official added that it had traveled about 50 yards (46 meters) into the ocean, according to Reuters.
The site has been secured by authorities, the Coast Guard stated. There is no word yet on the cause of the leak. CNN reported that the pipeline had been shut off.
The Band - The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
The Band - Up On Cripple Creek
The Band - The Shape I'm In
Comments
Morning folks...
I've been suffering from a mild case of burn out lately and have made myself somewhat scarce from the cyber world, trying to recharge my batteries.
Real life beckons, off to work.
Later...
Good morning JtC
Hope you get a break.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
trade v U.S. law
If something in the trade agreement differs from a U.S. law, isn't it the trade agreement that needs to be followed? I don't think we can say later, after signing the agreement, "Well, we don't need to follow that item in the agreement. Our law is different." Or can we?
It doesn't change it; it just supersedes it, hmm?
TPP
From what I've read, existing trade agreements have allowed companies to sue other countries if a practice or regulation hurts a company's sales or potential sales. No specific regulation needs to have been broken; it just needs to not be nice to the company. Would like to see the acceptable regulations set forth in TPP.
[edited to correct TTP to TPP]
Addendum...
Hi-ho Hi-ho, it's off to work I go...later
9/11.
The mother of all conspiracy theories is true as well. It was an LIHOP and MIHOP at the same time. That's where it all
starts.
Whoa! Sorry about that everybody.
I went to the store and my daughter came in and starting using my computer. She found this link open and
made a bunch of comments under my name.
I'll try to correct it later.
I certainly wouldn't want to give anyone an impression I'm a TRUTHER.
Because I believe Dick Cheney.
CT
Ha! Too many people would need to be involved and that many people cannot keep a secret!
/snark
burn out
Sure understandable, JtC. Due partly to your hard work here and for EB. Enjoy some time away.
With our lousy weather, and staying indoors more, I am spending more time online.
Morning.
Obama must be impeached. I don't know how people can stand by and watch this TPP stuff along with the
imperialist wars and give Obama a free pass. It's become out of hand. It's absolutely incredible that we're watching
it happening in real time and can't do a thing to stop it.
It's time for rough tactics.
heh, obama certainly does need to be impeached...
but that would require a decent people standing up and demanding it. i would love to be proved wrong, but i'm pretty sure that the american people are not that group.
Not as a whole they won't.
I still maintain there's enough out there that could pull something like that off if they banded together. Not that impeaching
Obama would be the task we'd choose if we could get that type of solidarity. There are certainly bigger fish to fry.
I'd say Eric Zuesse is a bit off in his opinion about the
impact of the TPP. He says it "will produce ‘a dystopian future in which corporations and not democratically elected governments call the shots."
The thing is we're already there. People have been calling this country a "corporatocracy" for years, we've been complaining about the power
of the corporations for decades. It reminds me of Citizens United. We're already there but this makes it worse.
WE'VE ALREADY ARRIVED AT THE DYSTOPIAN FUTURE!
Why are less people coming by?
It seems like every time I go on a little writing binge, less people visit the site. I'm being paranoid probably,
but I wonder about the impact of Daily Kos. Most of the members are from Daily Kos, they are people that are
democrats or near democrats and a lot of language on this site is anti-democratic party. Now that Bernie is the
new savior, I wonder about if people are uncomfortable here.
Who knows?
I was out of town most of last week because of a work retreat.
Other people might have other reasons. I doubt its because of Sanders or DKos.
Well, my grandma always used to say if you don't
ask, you'll never find out.
fewer people
Hmmm. I don't notice a difference. Have only been here a couple of weeks though. When did it start declining? When I joined? Uh oh.
"It's not you; it's me."
Keep writing, Al.
political burnout maybe
since the only thing will work is putting our lives on the line. I, for one, am reluctant to do that. That means changing the system is pretty hopeless, as far as I'm concerned.
I'm thinking of tuning in, turning on and dropping out. Not necessarily in the old way but definitely some variation on that theme.
Well, speaking for myself, your writing is a major
reason that I come by. So, please don't stop!
[Note: Made a correction, so comment requeued to the top. Sorry!]
The other day, I meant to echo Nancy's "thanks" for writing on the topic of boycotting the election, Sanders run, etc., and just topics, in general, that folks are afraid to touch at other (so-called) progressive blogs. BTW, it looks like you'll soon have O'Malley to kick around.
Just kidding!
Actually, I hope to help you on that account, as much as I can. [I've had to cut back for medical reasons, but hope to elaborate on these topics, later.]
Seriously, we need a place where it is 'safe' to discuss the positions of all the Democratic Party candidates, without being shouted down as 'purists.'
Or lectured, because we may no longer be satisfied with voting for 'the lesser of two evils.'
BTW, I could be wrong, but I've noticed that some bloggers appear to be sorta 'seasonal,' blogging a lot heavier during the winter months.
Al, I appreciate your hard work. I don't comment as much on some topics (of yours and others), because I'm, sometimes, not well-informed enough to do so. Of course, I read them and 'rec' them, and am grateful for the opportunity to learn.
The topic that brought me out of 'lurking status' was the Grand Bargain. And it's all that I can do to (attempt to) keep up with that issue--especially since lawmakers got smart, and are now attacking out Social Safety Net under the radar--and by attaching toxic amendments to unrelated legislation, etc.
I'm gathering info on the so-called 'tax reform' package that our fiscally conservative lawmakers are hatching up.
Watched three Senate Finance Committee hearings this week.
It's all so depressing.
Apparently, Democrats have (not only) bought into creating a practically "flat" federal income tax, they are on board with implementing a regressive VAT tax.
It is clear from White Papers and hearings that Baby Boomers are considered the 'cash cow' for both the MIC, and for pretty much all non-mandatory spending projects.
BTW, a while back, lawmakers switched from C-Span taping some of their hearings--I'm guessing so that one cannot easily make 'clips' of these hearings (without special software). I'm hoping that I can work around this. If not, I'll post the full hearings, with mini-transcripts, and a 'note' to watch a certain segment (at minute such and such).
Just over two years ago, I posted an excerpt and link to FT reporter James Politi, quoting the President (March 17, 2013) saying that the tax reform for corporations will be 'revenue neutral.'
Indeed, Bruce Bartlett (in one of the hearings) states unequivocally that the best way to garner enough revenue to "pay for" the slashing of the marginal tax rates for the wealthy and corporations, is to enact a new VAT tax.
I'll elaborate on this much more later. But, the bottom line is: If lawmakers were to totally eliminate tax expenditures enjoyed by the most affluent Americans (which they say are: mortgage interest deduction(s), charitable contributions deduction, and state/local tax deduction) there would be tremendous pushback. And they won't go there.
And, just paring down these expenditures, and eliminating those tax expenditures that 'common folk' utilize (employer-paid group health care plans--which affect 150 million Americans), would not be sufficient to pay for the tremendous cuts to the marginal tax rates which corporations and wealthy Americans will be afforded if this "tax reform" passes.
So, the thinking is that you institute a "new" tax--one that will ostensibly finance projects/benefits for the society at large (but, of course, for the most part, won't).
Apparently, they are optimistic that this scheme can be sold to a guillible and unsuspecting American public.
Also discussed in one of the hearings, was passing tax reform "piecemeal." You'll be seeing this screenshot from time to time in the coming months, as a reminder, in case any of these Senators represent you. Here's the current members of the Senate Finance Committee who are getting ready to pull this off.
Please don't let these folks get away with this heist!
Mollie
"Every time I lose a dog, he takes a piece of my heart. Every new dog gifts me with a piece of his. Someday, my heart will be total dog, and maybe then I will be just as generous, loving, and forgiving."
Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.
Thanks UL.
That could make a diary right there. Well, JtC is the one who's done the hard work, I'm just trying to help get this
going. I tend to be sarcastic, cynical and a little out there which I'm sure turns some people off and I don't
want to do more harm than good.
Interesting news on this "tax reform". Anything that's reformed now seems to actually institutionalize harmful or less
than helpful policies and plans instead of reforming anything. Like the NSA reform or Obama reforming the military equipment
to law enforcement.
Two things.
Commenting is down on a lot of private blogs this month, like FDL. (Although, it is going strong on media sites like Washington Post.) I scan comments.
Readership is another matter, entirely, and it is a much overlooked but meaningful metric. In terms of metadata, I observe the spread of unique ideas continue apace.
And me, me, me, all about me: Had a deadline on a review of a study for Small Arms Survey on Monday. Last week I was lost in that. But I get your paranoia, Al. Totally.
____________________
The political system is what it is because the People are who they are. — Plato
Participation goes in spurts...
it ebb and flows. In the few short months that we've been open for business it's fluctuated wildly. I've learned to not be so concerned about it, just when it seems like things are really slow they all of a sudden pick up, that's the nature of the blogging game. Pluto is right, commenting is down just about at all blogs, check out the "big one" and see just how few comments are being made in the diaries. All in all, when you compare us to all the other "not the big one" blogs we are doing very well, even when things are slow, check some of them out, you'll see what I mean.
Watch this place get active when the "Inevitable One" bull-hockey kicks in, it's already starting with a couple of really ridiculous diaries today. As I said, I've learned to not worry about it. Hang in there all you "99baggers", heh!
This is unbelievably stupid.
Kos is a gatekeeper extraordinaire.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/05/20/1386187/-Markos-Moulitsas-Clint...
OMG
The gate must have fallen on his head. He hasn't bee right in the head for quite a while now. Where is everyone? Maybe everyone is just sick and tired of it all. When a site is small, every little absence is noticed.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
It's a strange thing to see. Marcos and Daily Kos I mean.
I've gone thru this three times now. A lot of people from DK wanting a different place so they can really say
what they want, so they aren't beholden to the establishment dem party, etc., then a new site is established and
people say yay, stick around for a couple weeks, then they go on their way.
I guess that's the nature of the beast, the blogosphere.
If I had my way I'd combine all the small blogs with like minded people (the radicals) into one blog where we could
really brainstorm and plan how to overtake the rich.
But I only get my way when the kids and grandkids are sleeping and by then I'm too tired to do anything about it.
a different place
I think people are drawn to the number of eyeballs their writing or commenting will get. There is such a larger audience at the other place. That would be part of it anyway.
more people, fewer people, part 2
Thinking about this a little more, I realize I like a smaller place. I have the sense that I am actually talking to people here, where elsewhere I am just throwing my thoughts out there to whatever and whomever.
For a long while too I have noticed when I look at tips I have received elsewhere it is often the case that I don't even recognize the names. It has grown so much and so fast. Funny to say that since they're mostly all fake names, but you do get to know people. Nice to have tips, but who are you? It means more to get a tip from someone I am familiar with. Except, of course at EB, and sometimes MB's Night Owl thread where it is more of a community. Of course if I give it time, the new names will be familiar, I suppose, so maybe I am not appreciating the newbies as I should.
Here, we don't see the names, but still, it's small enough to have an idea whether your thought was appreciated by people you respect.
Does this make sense to anyone? What do you think?
Makes sense.
You're right. Bigger isn't necessarily better and in the case of blogs you make a good point.
The article is beyond stupid
It's hard to even take it seriously
I am completely unaware of certain things
that Markos came to this country, became a Republican and wanted to join the CIA. I am unaware of this fact.
that Hillary Clinton was a Goldwater Girl. I don't know this.
that Goldwater was a Bircher-supported candidate...and Hillary supported him. News to me.
that Elizabeth Warren was a Republican but switched because she now thinks Democrats are better for the markets. Don't know this!
I've researched the last three items.
They are correct.
____________________
The political system is what it is because the People are who they are. — Plato
Wake and bake
"But you're a serial killer."
"I know, but I'm moving to the left"
"What does that mean"
"It means when I talk it will sound like I'm a liberal"
"But you're still a serial killer"
"I know, ain't it great! It's like I'm free!"
We simply cannot compromise. We can't have leaders
that will compromise, and I'm not talking about politicians.
https://willyloman.wordpress.com/2015/05/20/world-news-according-to-an-a...
I remember when people on Daily Kos were expounding
on the liberalness of Francois Hollande. I had read numerous articles prior to his being elected that he was a wolf in
sheep's clothing, like Obama. Turns out correct. It's time to end that hope. Including with Sanders. It ain't gonna
happen, not within the current systems. We aren't going to be able to get in the "inside" and try to change it from there.
The powerful banksters won't allow. They have to be taken down first.
This could be cynicism talking:
I see a Black Swan circling overhead.
Even though the US pulled another "Ukraine" on Greece's border, in Macedonia — like most terrorism that comes out of the Neocon US State Department, this one is doomed to backfire.
____________________
The political system is what it is because the People are who they are. — Plato
ISIS holds massive parade in Iraq
Seriously, where are the bombers?
If they can operate in the open in numbers of this size, then I think I understand what the problem is.
I don't think you can un-ring this bell.
Why is this any of this the business of the United States?
This is a religious issue on the other side of the world. (Not to mention the fact that ISIS was created and funded by the US, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, with strategic help from Turkey and Lebanon. (Pay attention to whom they do not attack.) We've known this from day one. They own complete fleets of identical SUVs and Trucks. They are outrageously well armed and well funded. It's just not that complicated to see what's going on here. This, too, is a proxy war against Russia via Syria and Iran.
It's all about an issue over a single pipeline. The Sunnis want it to originate in Iran. The Shias want it to originate in Qatar. Syria chose the Sunnis. That's why the CIA started a fake revolution there.
Same old story as Libya, Ukraine, and now Macedonia. All of them over pipelines and nationalized oil.
Note the Syrian location. It's up to them whose oil flows. War is always simple. Just follow the money. Note also the tiny tip of Crimea at the top of the Black Sea, and recall that Russia has diverted its EU gas supply pipeline from Bulgaria to Greece. The same destination as Iran's proposed pipeline. That should tell you everything you need to know about geopolitics and the death of the irrelevant US Empire. Also, this reveals the future of Greece.
The US has plenty to do cleaning up its own fouled nest of hungry children and right's-stripped humans, at home.
____________________
The political system is what it is because the People are who they are. — Plato
As an...
"Islamic State" with intents to become a Caliphate, I find it interesting that there isn't much hatin' going on against Israel coming out of ISIS, or have I just missed it?
Wounded ISIS Members are flown to Israel
…for treatment. Again, it's not like any of this is a secret. Except to Americans.
A "caliphate" is a government — and a scare word to make Americans hide under their beds. The national borders in the Middle East were drawn by Anglos (including Israel). They mean absolutely nothing.
The US had a civil war where 600,000 were killed — over a caliphate. A Christian caliphate.
Argentina has a Catholic caliphate. Why don't we bomb them?
____________________
The political system is what it is because the People are who they are. — Plato
Contrast how the US incinerated people on the "Highway of Death"
They were retreating from Kuwait and no longer a threat to anyone, but the U.S. subjected them to an inferno and they were all burnt to a crisp.
The conclusion is that ISIS is able to do what it's doing because the U.S., Israel, and Saudi Arabia want it that way.
Good morning folks~
When I signed up a few weeks ago I had really hoped to start participating here on a regular basis, then my mom collapsed and nothing else mattered until I could get things under control here, home health care and all that. I really like what I see here, so I hope to be able to stop in more often.
I shave my legs with Occam's Razor~
Hi triv. Sorry to hear about your mother.
Totally understandable, when health and family intervene we have to do what's necessary. I hope she's all right
and you hang in there and take care of yourself.
always great to see you triv
Hope things get set up so that you get plenty of help caring for your mother. Best wishes to both of your.
Never be deceived that the rich will allow you to vote away their wealth.-Lucy Parsons
Slight demilitarization of the police
link
Political appointee, Cheryl Mills, handled FOIA
requests for State Department, and for FSC matters (I suppose that included FOIA requests for her emails).
Which is allegedly "why" so many were routinely denied.
Even corporatist (very pro-FSC) Bloomberg reporter, Mark Halperin, is super concerned about this revelation--especially, on top of the Blumenthal 'Libya connection' revelations.)
Mollie
"Every time I lose a dog, he takes a piece of my heart. Every new dog gifts me with a piece of his. Someday, my heart will be total dog, and maybe then I will be just as generous, loving, and forgiving."
Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.
Thank you JtC
for covering for me while I have been out of town dealing with family issues. I am still out of town, but hope to return here full time (at least for a while) some time this weekend.
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy