Our democracy has functioned for nearly 238 years amidst some bumps in the road, but until the past 4 decades has been one of hope and pride for our citizens.
Then things began to change as Bills were being passed that favored large mega-corporations over citizens, deals were made behind doors that forbade citizens from entering, the media began to appear to be controlled as they voiced the same issues on any given day, Wall Street was placed on the pedestal as the benchmark for how our economy was doing with little or no regard to the fact more and more Americans were slipping into poverty, our standard of living was dramatically downsized as "trade agreements", NAFTA being a leader, closed American manufacturing plants in favor of foreign lands where labor was cheaper and there were no regulations governing the working conditions, the wages of our workers were stagnated as "wage freezes" or well below the rate of inflation became commonplace in the 90's, then came the turn of the century and as though lowering the American standard of living and quality of life weren't enough pride in our nation was diminished as we illegally invaded two nations, torturing humans, killing and maiming millions, and shredding our Constitution thus taking most of our civil liberties.
The exclamation point on the demise of democracy in the once Superpower may well be the Trans Pacific Partnership, TPP, which has been devised by 600+ corporate attorneys, and will be monitored by the same, behind those closed doors that even YOU, our elected official, has been shut from knowing what is contained in the document, said to be some 26 Chapters with only three (3) having to do with "trade". That fact in itself is a loud Warning Siren and should catch your attention.
Next, they want this passed without your inspection through the "Fast Track" arrangement which has expired. It it the same "Fast Track" that allowed such travesties as NAFTA, CAFTA, the PATRIOT Act, and two (2) illegal invasions of foreign nations.
From what little has been exposed of this TPP there should be loud sirens going off. What has leaked regarding this travesty needs to be brought into the open, for all to examine. After all, even in a Third World nation such as Costa Rica, the citizens were allowed to vote on whether to accept CAFTA or not while it was "Fast Tracked" in the United States, and then only passed in the wee hours of the morning after several "No" votes were changed in a way only done in political circles.
My appeal to you is to NOT accept "Fast Track" and to bring this to the floor in Congress where it can be debated in full view of our citizens. After all, this TPP has the earmarks of stripping the sovereign rights, and our democracy as it pertains to our laws.
Environmentally, this may well reduce our once beautiful planet to nothing more than a giant landfill.
This tragedy may well be the legacy of our generation, one which you are also a part of. It may well reduce our youth, my loved ones and yours, to nothing more than serfs to mega-corporations, thus stripping them of any hope of improving their quality of life.
We cannot allow our democracy to end this way. Please do not pass "Fast Track" at a minimum allow this to be thoroughly discussed BEFORE any further action is done on the TPP.
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