Greatest issue in 2016 elections

The American public never got a vote, or any public approval, for the atomic bomb development. OK, it was a time of war and armament decisions were made by those fighting and planning. But if the American people were asked any time after those two 1945 events if they wanted the bomb or not, the response would have been, “No, thank you.” Barry Goldwater’s presidential defeat pretty much expressed public opinion at the time, and since. And now America is facing a similarly monumental decision, one that will completely reshape our country and the world, will cause upheaval on a global scale and create animosity for Americans for decades to come.

With no public discourse or approval, the U.S. Congress and its equivalent in the European Commission have been negotiating a complete alteration in the way every product in the USA, every item of food, every manufactured product, is sold and approved here and in Europe. What is the new plan? It is called the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. Like the simple “A-bomb” (that was only another bomb, right?) this one is called “tip” (TTIP). Cute, no? Three world leaders have proclaimed that TTIP is (Prime Minister Cameron of the UK) “the biggest bilateral trade deal in history. A deal that will have a greater impact than all the other world trade deals put together.” 

Have you been told about it, or asked to vote on it? Not on your life. There’s too much corporate greed and politicians’ need for 2016 funding involved.

The truth is, a simple-to-say name for what seems like a free trade deal hides incredible problems for us and the whole world. And the people negotiating this at the behest of their commercial business financiers (and political funders) want a no-restrictions business platform where they can invent, manufacture and ply their wares. Again, that seems like business as usual, right?

It sounds good for jobs until you realize that it includes: allowing GMO foods to be sold in Europe with no labelling; European drugs and products (remember German thalidomide in the 1950s?) to be sold here without FDA approval processes; a free exchange of products skirting laws and regulations that the American people put into place, in law. This is an over-reaching agreement that wipes those laws out. It’s kind of like the atomic bomb. How can just another form of bomb change all warfare, all trade, and all nations’ relationships? And yet, the A-bomb sure did all that.

The people promoting this free trade deal come out with statements like, “Every EU trade deal comes with solid guarantees which fully protect public services. TTIP will too.” Except that written into the agreement is the right, yes the right, for American companies like Monsanto to sell GMO foods (currently banned) without any EU approval and — here’s the real joy for these evil people — without any labeling! Yes, American companies will extend their processed food non-labeling throughout the world, via TTIP and the new Asia-Pacific U.S. trade agreements that Congress rubber stamped as well.

Chlorine-washed chicken from China and the U.S.? Worldwide. GMO soy and corn? Worldwide. No safety labeling on food? Worldwide. Antibiotic-laced pink slime meat? Worldwide. And there are about 3,000 geographical labels the U.S. can and will get rid of. Swiss Emmental cheese? Champagne? Parma ham? Those names will mean nothing and can be used freely. Why is TTIP being promoted? Money, profit. The estimate is TTIP will provide an additional annual $150 billion in trade profit across the EU and USA.

Now, here’s a real downside to all this commercialism beyond the obvious ones above. For those of you old enough to remember, think back to the demand of the U.S. ambassador in Paris to allow golden arches on the Champs Elysees. Think the French still admire MacDonald’s brazenly forcing through signage on their national treasure avenue? Not on your life. The hatred toward America over TTIP will be long-lasting and, perhaps, create more violence towards America across the globe. No country will be able to ban anything, for whatever health or cultural reason. It’s free business baby, to hell with national cultures and safeguards.

The pursuit of corporate profits should not, without your vote, be allowed to completely change the geo-political landscape. And yet, this secret, largely under-the-media-radar treaty will do largely that, and is already being heralded in European media as the “ugly American bullies” newest take-over. China’s position is one of complete accord — through the Asia-Pacific treaty they can ship to the USA and, thereby, extend their goods directly into Europe. Who is left out? Most of Africa, India and, of course, Russia. This treaty will be calamitous, especially for Russia, coloring every other geopolitical decision for decades to come. And still, not one candidate for 2016 is saying a word.

Peter Riva, a former resident of Amenia Union, now lives in New Mexico.