Seriously. This is a simple question. It's an open thread for anyone to express any opinion on the topic ... though I would prefer if someone had some facts.
I get that past trade treaties have had some Real Problems. Bad Things about pollution, and labor, and tax havens, and all sorts of legitimately bad ideas. I get that. It is true. And I get that there are people who are convinced President Obama is in the pocket of Big Money. Okay.
But the fact is (the only real fact about this that seems yet to exist) -- The details of a possible Trans Pacific Partnership treaty are not yet known.
They're not. They're really not.
Not because they're "secret", but because they don't yet exist. The treaty has not yet been negotiated.
The criticism that the President wants to negotiate this treaty "in secret" seems to me to be misplaced, because that is the way virtually all successful treaties are negotiated. Otherwise, too many cooks really spoil that broth, and nothing at all gets accomplished.
Of course, bad treaties also get negotiated behind closed doors. True fact. Accepted. But the nice thing about "fast track" authority is that after a treaty is done being negotiated, there is plenty of time to read it and decide if it's good, and to weigh in and put pressure on your Senators.
There really is. Lots of time.
I think many people are jumping the gun.
So tell me -- and this is an honest question -- it really is an honest question, not a rhetorical one, not a gotcha -- what do you guys know that I don't? What has been revealed about this treaty (you know, the treaty that doesn't yet exist) that tells everyone that it is a Bad Thing?
I'm going to read and learn. Tell me in the comments about the so-far-non-existent details of this so-far-non-existent treaty that warrant opposition.
I need to know, because it's important that I understand why I should take steps to weaken this President that I voted for twice and that has been the only bright spot in the last six years -- tell me why I should throw him under the trade bus before I go all in on opposing him.
Thanks.
UPDATE:
Thanks to everyone who has commented (and everyone who will). I need some sleep tonight :)
I am hoping that someone can provide something more than concern. I am also concerned. But the final text doesn't yet exist (as far as I know), and there will be time to consider the final text after it exists.
Please, continue to discuss. I'll come back tomorrow.
I love this forum. I love discussions with thoughtful people. Thank you all.
5:02 AM PT: UPDATE 2:
I want to thank everyone who commented, even people who were less than polite. I see a great deal of passion, and passion is important. (I hope we can use that passion next year to take back the Senate, make substantial gains in the House, and elect Hillary as President.)
I particularly want to thank rktect who supplied some important insights and context, and Mark Lippman, who gave some links to actual applicable documents.
It appears to me at this point that most of the commenters who don't like TPP are 1) upset with the TPA ("fast track") process, and 2) concerned that the final trade agreement will be too close to something like NAFTA, and so will have insufficient protections on some important issues like labor standards, pollution, and so on.
Again, thanks to everyone who provided actual information, and also to those who are contributing their heartfelt passion. Democracy is not a spectator sport, and I am delighted to see so many participating.