tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post7793740422673996641..comments2024-03-27T18:00:02.032-04:00Comments on Sardonicky: Dog Days EditionKaren Garciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15612731479365562803noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-20798029021001238712015-08-02T06:04:52.115-04:002015-08-02T06:04:52.115-04:00Thom Hartman has a really good observation that Tr...Thom Hartman has a really good observation that Trump and Bernie are doing well in the polls because they are both against TPP and the Free/Faux Trade model. Trump acknowledges that we probably have 20% real unemployment - which most people in the middle class sense but keep being told is not true - and Trump puts it down to our "insane" trade policies. Well, normally I think Trump is a horse's ass but he has this one right - <br /><br />http://www.thomhartmann.com/bigpicture/real-reason-trump-leading-polls<br /><br />Hartman maintains that the Middle Class is finally seeing through the free trade myth which is why they aren't buying into the Hillary / Jeb choice and are giving support to anti-free trade candidates. I am hopeful that this might have a cooling effect on the TPP. I can tell you that my two senators and House member all wrote me long letters explaining why they felt it was in the best interest of small businesses and all Washitonians that they voted to fast track the TPP. They usually ignore my criticisms so they clearly have gotten a lot of grief from their constituencies about they yea votes.<br /><br />If the middle class has finally had enough of Free Trade and pressures their Congressional members to vote against it, Organised Labour might finally re-gain some ground. Now THAT might be a tide that lifts all boats if the poor exploited people in the Developing World can be safe to organize against the appalling working conditions that allow Americans to have $50 microwaves and $3 t-shirts.<br /><br />I love the idea that now the TPP isn't "done and dusted" in Hawaii and is expected to drag into 2016, Hillary will have to commit herself one way or the other. If she is for the TPP (which we all know she is) and the middle class is cooling to faux/free trade, she might be in a pickle with her candidacy - hooray.<br /><br />BTW - the sugar industry in Australia is having kittens over the fact that Obama is being so protective of U.S. sugar in a FREE TRADE agreement. It is all over the ABC (our Public Radio) and there is enough public outcry everywhere against the pharmaceutical patents being extended - in and out of Australia. The last time Australia had a free trade agreement with the U.S. our pharmaceuticals went way up in price.<br /><br />Bless him, Jimmy Carter - at age 90 - is still speaking out and saying our government is an oligarchy where the rich buy off our politicians. Of course, they will try to marginalise him, but Thom Hartman has a nice little piece on him https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksPJ_xISegcValerienoreply@blogger.com