In Salt Lake City, from November 19 to 24, chief negotiators will meet for a summit on the Trans-Pacific Partnership, described by one observer as "the largest-ever economic treaty, encompassing nations representing more than 40 per cent of the world's GDP."  "Pivotal Trans-Pacific Partnership Section Revealed," PopularResistance.org, 11/13/09. When one has to find out details of trade treaties from Wikileaks, one is left with a skeptical opinion of what the latest treaty holds.

   I am disappointed in the present administration for several reasons: Obamacare instead of single-payer; use of drones to engage in what otherwise readily would be considered acts of war; accommodation of large corporations; the failure to close Guantanamo; continued deployment of U.S. military forces overseas. On the other hand, in this "less of two evils" political system, I am disinclined to ponder what our situation would be had McCain/Palin won in 2008 or Romney Ryan in 2012. 

   This treaty has been drafted with no input from the public.

   People should realize, finally, there are no large corporations with the United States people as their major concern. Large corporations may have their articles drawn under the laws of a particular State---lawyers for large corporations wrote Delaware's statutory scheme for corporations; that is why, for example, General Motors is a corporation formed under the laws of the State of Delaware---but those corporations have on overarching value: profit for shareholders. Corporations themselves are shareholders of other corporations. Foreign interests are free---there's a popular word, "free"---to purchase shares of stock in United States domestic corporations. American citizens do not enjoy the same "freedom" in many other countries. Corporations were given constitutional rights in the Citizens United Case.

   The situation is not good. On November 24 we may have an announcement about a new NAFTA. Where was the public input?

   This weekend we shall stream live from Moore's Bar in Greencastle and cover the ramp-up to the Monon Bell Game. Tune in from 11 am to 1 pm. Matt Stone will tape a piece and we shall speak with people at the bar about goings-on.