OK, short and sweet: Now that the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) issue is beginning to heat up for real, it's time for the TPP opposition to move into high gear.
I'm trying to do my part. To my astonishment, I was unable to find a single petition at the White House website that even addresses the TPP. So I just created one:
Release the Complete Text of the TPP
By all accounts from insiders in the know, if the general public had any idea of what's actually contained in the draft agreement, the TPP would quickly go up in flames. So an important tactic for defeating the TPP is to pressure the White House to release the text. Whether they ultimately do so or not (and I'm not holding my breath), the argument for transparency and public disclosure is a compelling one. Either the White House releases the text, or they take the heat for stonewalling. Win-win.
Let's see if we can leverage the White House's own social media channel to generate massive public pushback. I need at least 149 more signatures in order for my petition to show up on the White House petitions page. After that, another 99,851 signatures within the next 29 days for it to receive an official White House response. With enough public response and visibility, it might even attract attention from the news media. And then it could go viral. It's worth a shot!
Here's the petition text in its entirety:
President Obama has been aggressively promoting the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) as a "trade" deal that would be very much in America's interest. Yet the negotiations between 12 Pacific Rim nations and more than 600 multinational corporations are being held in strict secrecy, with neither the general public nor Congress permitted to review any of its draft contents. Moreover, the President will soon pressure Congress for so-called "Fast Track" approval, which requires a straight up or down ratification vote, with little opportunity for debate, and none for amendments.
If the TPP is really as beneficial for America as President Obama claims, then he must allow us to see for ourselves. President Obama must release the complete draft text of the TPP to the general public.
Release the Complete Text of the TPP
One more thing: I don't Facebook and I don't Twitter. Any Kossacks who will help me give this thing a push by posting a link to my petition to their walls and/or tweeting the link to their followers will earn my sincere appreciation.
Short URL to post or tweet: http://wh.gov/...
MM