It never seizes to amaze me how, even seemingly intelligent people, can fall into the trap of preoccupying themselves with the behavior and habits of the poor without extending the same consideration to the behavior and values of those on the very top.
Ok, we know some people abuse the welfare system but the amount of thieving that goes on at the bottom of the economic ladder is a drop in an occasion compared to the daylight robbery that happens at the top.
Why, instead of attacking the social welfare system, are we not cracking down on the corporate welfare system that socializes big business’ costs (by offering them carbon tax credits for instance) and privatizes their profits?
We know the trickle down economy is a fragment of neoliberal economists’ imagination, so why do we let multinationals get away with blatant tax avoidance?
Many argue that there is little that any one country can do because these highly fluid companies will simply uproot, head to a different country and take the local jobs with them.
This defeatist line of thinking fails in its limited imagination. If, under the TPPA, 12 nations can come together to agree on measures designed to protect the interests of multinationals, why can’t they come together to ensure maximum protection for the rights of people?
John key says, we have no choice but to offer big companies incentives to stay in New Zealand. Why should companies that are already using our resources to make profits, demand sweeteners from our government? And we talk about the excessive entitlement of the poor?
If there was a global will and cooperation to eradicate poverty and tackle inequality then the TPPA would be all about reigning in the powers of multi-nationals, not enhancing them.
If we had a people’s TPPA, we could confidently tell big businesses to take it or leave it. After all, if corporate welfare is abolished globally then there will be little reason for big businesses to relocate elsewhere.
Sadly, the reality is that poverty and inequality are the necessary pillars of neoliberalism. Today, 85 people hold as much wealth as the bottom half in the world. Yes, just 85 individuals!
A people’s TPPA will never become reality unless we fight the current economic model and its insatiable appetite for growth.
The main thrust of Russel Norman’s speech was about the value of dissent and the role of agitators in a functioning democracy.
He is absolutely right. If we love New Zealand, we have to do more than just watch the All Blacks play rugby; we have to get off the couch and defend our country against the TPPA’s assault on our democracy and sovereignty.
The anti-TPPA national day of action is on Nov 14th. Support New Zealand’s democracy and join a march near you.
I’ll be there…and hope the rest of the country, and their children will be there also ( as it is the future generations who will really suffer at the hands of the TPP.)
It was an abhorant use of power by both our trade minister and PM to sign this ‘so called’ trade agreement.
No TPPA. thanks. Who in their right mind (and with integrity) signs a deal excluding China and Russia? Unless of course you are Key who has bankrupted this country and is scraping and bowing to his “Club” members – the bankster.
Petro dollar sinking, or sunk, with phony market figures published to confound the punters. Even the Saudis are bowing to Putin. Rumour has it US dollar gets the boot on 5 Nov. I look forward to this date with great interest. Here’s hoping.
We’ll be there. Definitely!
+1
TPP is an agreement that is not about trade but about protecting the status quo of corporates to keep polluting, profiting and ultimately gain ability to force government to fund them further by eroding the right of governments to run councils, schools, prisons, courts, social welfare, law enforcement, security and so forth. The essential services of this country that we pay our taxes for now opened to the whims of lawyers and the might of very unscrupulous people.
Apparently 85 individuals now own the same amount as half of the rest of the world’s population. How did they get there? By these types of agreements. The rich are getting richer and more powerful and more greedy.
If it is a ‘free’ trade agreement why is there so much about copywrite and patents? These conditions are all designed to make governments pay more. It is a transfer of wealth from taxpaying individuals to government to corporations to a handful of wealthy individuals who already own everything.
The government does not understand the agreement. In typical fashion they just read the heading ‘free trade’ and dig no further. Even though they know there is negligible free trade in it for NZ and just going to increase the governments spend. But they want to sign it anyway!!!
National want to sign out of conformity, stupidity and ideology. Labour did one so we should too (only they are different agreements stupid!) !
We have the most stupid, conformist and ideological government ever and Labour are not far behind in stupidity on this one either.
Is there one in Auckland?
You are right – many people defend right-wing policies on the basis that if they are challenged the corporations will simply decamp to another part of the world with cheaper wages etc. But there is no reason why you couldn’t have an international agreement to tackle the gross imbalance and inequality that is developing worldwide which as you say should rein in the power of the big corporations and prevent this. Such agreements are not new, they just need to focus on economics which is the source of most of the world’s problems today. It just needs the idea to get out there and the people to get behind it.
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