4 ms·
Note that the treaties themselves are not secret (as strongly implied by the EFF), but the negotiation process is. The EFF has always been a fundamentalist org
by codex 13y ago
Note that the treaties themselves are not secret (as strongly implied by the EFF), but the negotiation process is. The EFF has always been a fundamentalist organization, but shame on them for resorting to such blatant misinformation to make their case.
These secret negotiations very much resemble the frank, closed door negotiations between, say, members of Congress and the White House, where deals wouldn't be made if they had to be made in public. Politicians can't be seen giving concessions to the other side, nor do they want sound bites used against them in the next election.
It also appears that these negotiations are extremely slow, which is likely why only the executive branch is involved. It's hard to negotiate when there are 100 factious parties involved instead of just the President. I suppose that's the entire reason we have an executive branch.
- gkjohn 13y agoWell, not exactly. Negotiations between members of the Congress and the White House happen between parties that have already stated their grounds to the public. They negotiations themselves are secret but you know where each party stands. At this negotiation we have no clue (we can speculate though) as to what the US or the EU were proposing in the first place. We will just be informed of the outcome.
- tedunangst 13y agoI wonder how this compares to say, the Louisiana Purchase? How much open discussion took place during those negotiations?
- mcv 13y agoYet corporations get do get access to the negotiations. What makes them more essential to the process than the legislature that has to ratify the treaty? In the end, it is the legislature that has to determine whether this treaty serves the interests of the public, if it serves them enough, and if enough has been done to defend the interests of the public during those negotiations. A very secretive process makes that evaluation very hard. Limiting the time to decide, may make it impossible for any honest representative to say anything other than "no". (So it'll probably be ratified.)
- r0h1n 13y ago>> Lawmakers in Congress are just about to introduce a bill to hand over their own constitutional authority to debate and modify trade law. It’s called Fast Track, or Trade Promotion Authority. It creates special rules that empower the White House to negotiate and sign trade agreements without Congressional oversight. Lawmakers won’t be able to analyze and change their provisions, and have only 90 days for an up or down, Yes or No vote to ratify the entire treaty. That means Internet and copyright provisions, buried in omnibus treaties, will get almost no oversight. Yes, "shame on [the EFF] for resorting to such blatant misinformation to make their case". I applaud your trust in the executive branch of the USA, and its incorruptibility when it comes to special interest groups.