public citizen

TRADE Act Introduced into Congress

The TRADE Act, or Trade Reform, Accountability, Development and Employment (TRADE) Act, will soon be introduced in the Senate this session. One of the key elements in this bill, beyond our usual labor and environmental standards is an analysis of the economic impact of each trade agreement on the United States and most importantly it's workforce.

Public Citizen is launching a grassroots campaign to alert the general public of this bill and contact their representatives to get it passed. They have also written up a one page fact sheet.

Here is Lori Wallach with her request for help to get this legislation passed and (finally) signed into law:

Public Citizen Live Blogged USTR Confirmation Hearing

Public citizen live blogged the USTR (United States Trade Representative) confirmation hearing of Ron Kirk.

Here's a classic quote:

Senator Ron Wyden: the middle class does not like these trade agreements. What do you plan to increase support of middle class?
Ron Kirk's Reply: We're going to utilize technology to tell the real story. Our website is "so" 1987.

America knows these trade agreements are glorified offshore outsourcing contracts and the response is to do better Internet PR?

Another Quote from Mr. Kirk:

Cheaper foreign products help hard pressed American families, and exports help create jobs. The overarching benefits of trade are diffuse, and the pain is concentrated.

Buying the Government

On the next episode of your corporate sponsored Democratic convention...soon to be revealed, the VP sweepstakes!

Who is the last survivor? Who will be the chosen one?

I don't know about anyone else but this absurd media hype suspense on the VP picks is like a bad version of Survivor show and ya know, don't worry, be happy, it's only the next possible Presidential administration. Ya know that thing called government supposedly going to manage the United States.

On that note, Public Citizen has a call to action on how the Democratic National Convention is a corporate pig fest, with millions in advertising, freebies and most importantly access to our supposed representatives.