Wait. I thought the whole argument against these trade agreements isn't focused on the act of trading itself, which can be demonstrably beneficial, but that these particular deals severely restrict individual governments' control trade, put too much power into the hands of corporations through IP rights and control of data, and could really screw over workers' rights. If that's the case, who cares about this gentleman's argument? We're giving up our rights to control for a couple of measly bucks. Edit: I'd also like to point out the fact that since this guy is talking about disbursement of wealth, he shouldn't close with You can't share wealth and power and still be on top. It doesn't work that way.It will send yet another signal that America can no longer be counted on as the world’s leading nation.
The author, David Brooks, usually reads like an out-of-touch corporate shill. New shitty portmanteau: shillionaire. Check out this post for a vicious literary beat-down. Edit: lol'ing in the original article's comments section:Brooks's views on poverty are pretty fluid. Most of the time he considers it something that the poor simply have to accept as they live their small but deeply meaningful lives. Other times, poverty is something that can be alleviated by a nod of the head or a considerate word to a homeless person in the subway. This is the poverty-will-always-be-with-us Brooks. The nod and the word from someone with a lot of money means a lot. And you can't put a price on it. Today Brooks is taking a more proactive approach to poverty. It actually can alleviated, at least in the third world, but only if the TPP is approved by Congress. This is the social justice warrior Brooks, the one who sees poverty as not inevitable but avoidable. If Brooks's views of the poor are fluid, his view of the wealthy never wavers. He's always there to lend them a hand.
Yes, that is the case. So a question arises: Is anyone who writes in favour of the TPP just clueless, or is he dishonest or perhaps even malicious?If that's the case, who cares about this gentleman's argument? We're giving up our rights to control for a couple of measly bucks.