Senate Reverses Course and Advances TPP Fast Track Bill

EFF ^ | May 14, 2015 | Maira Sutton

[yoe]

The (U.S. Senate advanced the Fast Track bill today) in a rushed vote following a slew of concessions made to swing Democrats who had ( voted to block it earlier this week.) The setback on Tuesday could have forced proponents of the ((TPP), the ((TTIP), and other secretive, anti-user trade agreements to go back to the drawing board to come up with a new bill. Unfortunately, Senate leaders were able to get around this impasse within 48 hours by agreeing to let Democrats vote on some other trade-enforcement measures first before holding the vote on Fast Track.

[snip] President Obama and the U.S. Trade Representative have been spreading complete lies about Fast Track and the TPP, even going so far as to say that the TPP isn't secret and that critics are a bunch of misguided liberals who "don't know what what they're talking about." But our concerns are not about being left or right of the political aisle—we're defending our right to free speech, access to knowledge, and privacy online.

[fatnotlazy]

I understand. I've often thought we should do as the people do in other countries. They go on strike. They protest. Certain groups here protest. They burn, loot and what not. We on the other hand are too dignified and civilized. We just work ourselves to death so we can pay their salaries and benefits while they turn around and stab us in the back.

Something is very wrong with this picture.

[Bulwyf]

We’re in too deep, striking, and protesting will do nothing.

The other side is far too entrenched to be removed so easily.

You’re right on the money on working ourselves to death so we can pay for all the ineptitude. We also pay a lot of cash so that we can enable the other side to do as much harm to us as they possibly can.

It’s all cheerful stuff heh.

[fortheDeclaration]

Gee, what a shock!