Linda Kaucher has been a long term opponent of so called free-trade agreements that legally enforce neo-liberalism. This extract from the Kesier Report is worth watching. She's undoubtedly right on this issue.
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I watched this yesterday and was quite shocked regarding the ‘Investor-State Dispute Settlement (TTIP)’. The loss of sovereignty and the ability of a country to make decisions about the social values of corporate activity is bad enough already. Linda also makes clear how the implications of this are cloaked from public view by limited media reporting -the sleep walking continues.
UKIP miss the real threat to our ability to chose our future. Yet they are the only party picking up votes.
Unfortunately, the decision makers of the EU (ultimately the leaders of the member states) may well be seduced by this. In my view, there are enough people in Europe who reject this view of the future. Together we might stop it, divided I am more doubtful.
I sometimes wonder if the neo-liberal interests quietly encourage the right. In Germany in the 30s, Thyssen the steel magnet, funded Hitler, thinking he could control the house painter. He was wrong and the situation today is not identical but there are elements which are similar. This is why the Russel Brand ‘don’t vote’ approach is dangerous. We used to be told the price of freedom is eternal vigilance. Richard mentions the ‘limited reporting’, it is a way of control.
Another reason why Richard’s blog, and others like it, are so valuable to those who can see a bit further.
UKIP has become a generalised ‘anger’ vote without people really looking at what they are because there is nowhere else for an ager vote to go. UKIP is very much part of the neo-liberal world view and seems to think that low tax will resurrect the economy – just like QE and low interest rates!
This interview sums up the position perfectly. Do we have any politicians who will act on behalf of the UK taxpayers rather than falling in with the manipulations of the City, who, despite their well established power, just push for more and more control?
It’s fantastic that Linda is at last getting her message into the media. She has been working tirelessly on this issue for about 10 years. I think it was finally Monbiot’s article which gave the final shove, even though he failed to acknowledge Linda’s work. She’s due to come to speak to my Labour Party branch in a couple of months. I hope now that members realise the privilege they are being granted.
There is at last a movement in the US, Australia and here as people are waking up to what is at stake.
How can you expect the EU to be any different when many of its UNELECTED leaders are placemen from the main global accountancy companies?
Everywhere you look in the EU, or leading finace, you note ex-Goldman people..
You think our dear ¨representatives¨ in the UK care?
Not a chance. Bought people.
UKIP?
Falling rapidly, Nigel is hopping about trying to find a niche to fit into since he got real (got talked to) about the EU.
It is good information but I could not help feeling that there is rather a lot of inevitability expressed. It is assumed that a government of a country cannot reverse a treaty or trade agreement-(during the discussion about the NHS). Surely a government can invalidate “global” rules, especially if they start causing problems domestically. It goes against our constitution in terms of the rule of law, based on what is best for the people. Government could persuade other EU members of the folly of this and get it repealed? Is this relevant to a “Courageous State?”
Under these agreements governments are disempowered
The corporation has all the power
That’s the problem
(although in practice I’m not sure that could actually be sustained if enough governments realised the error of their ways: contracts are in practice reneged by states as a matter of fact)
Quite right Richard.
But that assumes that the governments have not been out-powered by treaties that apply the power to other organisations, by people who have been bought from day one, then elected.
In the case of the EU, the main power lies in the hands of unelected people. many of who have been placed in those seats of power by their masters in the organisations that trained them.
We could, of course, remove ourselves from the EU. By doing that all existing treaties would be void and new ones would be needed to be negotiated. that takes time, there are hundreds if not thousands.
So corporations get contracts negotiated by lawyers and accounts, get them signed by the countries lawyers and accountants, etc-etc.
Of course, the dead and rotting hands signing all come from the same base….and most governments have corrupt leaders, with lawyers and accountants!
This isn´t politics, this is a power grab by the 0.01%
No doubt there are honest people in gov, but the dishonest will ensure they get nowhere.
TTIP is a Trojan Horse – it has nothing to with real free trade.
The identitities of those promoting this agenda and the fact that negotiations are taking place behind closed doors away from the public arena should set alarm bells ringing?
This is the latest attack on democracy by those that wish to consolidate their position.