from Martin O'Malley, re: TPP

[Koinos]

7. Good and Bad Trade Agreements

O'Malley made it pretty clear in his Harvard speech yesterday that he is not opposed to all trade deals, but that he is opposed to this particular trade deal -- TPP -- because it is a BAD trade deal. He did not elaborate about the power this deal would give corporations to trump governments and government regulations and a whole lot of other things. He did emphasize the effect it would have on US workers and the US economy.

I personally dislike most "free trade" agreements (including NAFTA), since they reduce the power of a nation to protect its workers' livelihoods, upon which the national interest ultimately depends. But the TPP is especially toxic and noxious and should have been smothered long before it came to a vote. It makes governments subordinate to corporations. To what or who do members of Congress swear loyalty?

TPP is, therefore, a good test of any politician's genuine democratic credentials. Democrats traditionally have not sided with corporations over workers, but I suppose that times have changed. Bernie Sanders is right to insist that democratic candidates make undeniably clear where they stand on this. O'Malley had made himself abundantly clear about TPP.