Rep. Lofgren Gives USTR A Simple 3-Point Plan For Real TPP Transparency
from the let's-try-that-out dept
We've discussed, repeatedly, the incredible lack of transparency from the USTR regarding the TPP negotiations. Back in June, we noted that 130 Congressional Representatives all got together to send USTR Ron Kirk a letter, noting their concerns. At the end of August, Kirk replied (pdf) with his standard talking points. He insists that meeting with people is "transparency," even if they can't see the document. He insists that Congress has access to the TPP, even though the USTR locks out key staffers, and doesn't let the elected officials take notes or make copies. He insists that the document needs to be classified because it's the way things have always been done (which is generally a sign of someone not having much of a real argument).Either way, Rep. Zoe Lofgren is unimpressed. She's now sent Kirk a letter, responding to Kirk's request for "suggestions" on how to improve transparency with some rather simple and straightforward ideas (pdf and embedded below), meaning that it's unlikely the USTR will pay much attention to them. You can read the full version at that link, but here's my summarized version, with commentary:
- USTR should make the US positions (not those of other countries) open to the public. She doesn't even say the full text needs to be open, but merely summaries of the US's position. It's hard to see any reasonable argument against this. Since the USTR is negotiating on behalf of the American public (in theory, though the reality often seems so different), it seems ridiculous that the USTR would ever not put out at least summaries of its positions on what it's negotiating. Contrary to Kirk's claims, this does not weaken the US's negotiating ability at all. Quite the opposite, it strengthens it by making it subject to public scrutiny and input, while also highlighting to the world our resolve in coming up with a proposal that the public will accept.
- Any IP section within TPP must have strong support for flexible "limitations and exceptions" for things like fair use and the public domain. While the USTR has shown a willingness to include some text on limitations and exceptions, the most recent leak raises questions since it appears to be rather inflexible and goes much further than is reasonable.
- USTR should create more representative "trade advisory committees," which it consults on these issues. As it stands, the ITACs (International Trade Advisory Committee) is heavily, heavily biased in favor of older legacy industries, rather than innovators or the public. Lofgren reasonably suggests that a lot more thought and effort should go into fixing how unbalanced these committees are, since they have tremendous influence over the text.
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Filed Under: copyright, ron kirk, tpp, transparency, ustr, zoe lofgren
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Or is it that Lofgren was one of the few willing to receive your visits to Washington?
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Welcome to the world of scratching backs, I guess. It's the way politics work, right?
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"At the Rep. Zoe Lofgren roundtable for #sotn. Talking about the importance of what happened in the #sopa/#pipa fight."
Yup, it's pretty clear now.
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In the last year... I've met with probably 40 to 50 Congressional Reps, about a dozen Senators and multiple federal staffers (White House, State Dept, DHS).
Just today, I had a call with the White House.
Try again.
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But, keep trying to say things to try to diminish me when you know absolutely nothing about, well, everything.
But, we all know that's just how you like it. There's no fun in trolling if you actually have to live with the facts.
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Oh, and a call with the White House? Ba himself, or just a college buddy that works in the research area? Do tell. It would be wonderful if you actually disclosed where your efforts are politically, because it would explain a lot more of your thrashing about, and perhaps why you use this blog as a bit of a bully pulpit.
On payroll yet?
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Wouldn't you like to know. :)
Trust me, it wasn't a college buddy.
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Please do tell - I think that getting this out in the open is a good way to explain much of what is in your blog now.
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The getting paid part is important, it could change the content of this site and could filter stories - important in the middle of the election cycle.
I am starting to think it might be something about the "internet vote" Mike has started to prattle on about.
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The silliness of Masnick's replies in this thread alone are grounds for his wife's impending divorce request.
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If this is the best you can offer - an appeal to the authority of the status quo - then you are beneath contempt.
Got any actual arguments, data or logic?
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Doesn't seem likely, as Masnick appears to be a cheapskate. I couldn't find anything other than a miserly $250 to Obama five years ago.
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If your interest in smearing Mike is only personal, you are one scary harrasser.
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This is all about her setting the stage to erode existing IP protection at some point in the future.
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And people are very legitimate to care about absurd IP Chapter they don't want, if so was the case.
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You seem to be looking at things through this legalistic view. It's almost like you think societal morals/ethics/norms are shaped by what's codified in law. That is completely wrong.
I don't know if Rep Lofgren is telling the jerkwad known as Ron Kirk that he ought to be more transparent from a legalistic point of view or from a common point of view. I do know that when I say the USTR ought to be more transparent I mean that I don't care what the law allows him to get away with. If he's hiding behind the law like a cowardly dog, then the law ought to change and he should be forcefully, publicly, and shamefully removed from office.
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The first rule about getting somewhere is taking steps in the right direction. What the Lofgren is doing here is just adding more smoke and more confusion into the situation, and not doing anything that actually moves the process forward.
It's like your neighbor's mom telling you to stop playing ball near their flowers. It's a meaningless thing. If she talked to your Mom, and your Mom told you, then you would change. It's all about process, and it's shocking that a house member with 15+ years experience doesn't seem to understand anything other than meaningless attempts at public shaming.
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This is actually her setting the stage for making a transition from a ridiculously bad ITAC-composition, to a much more diverse opinion.
If that is setting up for an erosion of IP rights, then it is not her you need to blast...
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Actually, it's very much all of our business. That these things are negotiated in secret represents the highest degree of corruption and toadyism. It should be criminal.
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Jews are only 2.1% of US population. But 80% of FOMC members are Jews, and 90% of TBTF Wall Street bank CEOs are Jews. 3/4 of last FOMC chairmen were/are Jews and all 3 implemented disastrous for the country policies (but extremely lucrative for Wall Street banks).
Arthur Burns (Jew), disastrous money printing policies that culminated in 15% hyperinflation, stagflation and severe 11% unemployment recession.
Paul Volker (goy), cleaned up the Arthur Burns mess, Wall Street banks feared him
Alan Greenspan (Jew), bubble blowing economics, The Great Depression II
Ben Bernanke (Jew), continuation of Greenspan policies, Arthur Burns-like money printing insanity, to be continued
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Apparently zealots feel they have to stick together...
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Anyway, Happy Yom Kippur you bag of dogshit. Keep watching for those black helicopters landing behind your doublewide.
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You are a world-class douchenozzle. Elite level douchenozzles comprise only .01% of the English speaking world, yet 100% of all bigots. Suspicious? I'd say so. Thank you for your thought-provoking contribution. It's nice to know you have a purposeful life after your defining and perfectly cast role as Cletus in the riverbank scene in "Deliverance".
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I have nothing against religion as I do not care what silly stories people believe in. However, I do care about facts and truth.
This blog post is about finding out the truth in the TPP. You commented on the FOMC so I made a snide remark containing facts. You really think those cock suckers at the FOMC would be transparent? They rule the world and are not even elected by the people.
And back to the meaning of your original post. Are you saying that since we don�t know what goes on at the FOMC meetings, or comically the Joint Chiefs, that we have no right to ask what goes into trade agreements?
May Allah be with you this holiday!
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I find this despicable and abhorrent.
That the legislation is voted on in public after its formed means nothing. By that time, barring exceptional circumstances, it's a done deal.
This is worse than taxation without representation, this is legislation without representation.
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Even Lofgren hasn't registered a concern that TPP will necessitate changes in US copyright law. And why you think trade agreements need to crowd sourced is beyond me.
I find this despicable and abhorrent.
Then you may consider directing your efforts in a direction that leads to procedural changes, as simply moaning about it doesn't do any good.
That the legislation is voted on in public after its formed means nothing. By that time, barring exceptional circumstances, it's a done deal.
That is simply untrue. It wasn't with KORUS, it wasn't with ACTA in Europe and it won't be with TPP if the overall package is viewed as not in the best interests of the US. Your problem is that you want copyright provisions to be considered independently of all of the other provisions of TPP. Well there are hundreds of other special interests who want the same thing and the reason that won't happen is that there'd never be a deal. Copyright, nor any other special interest is never going to be allowed to be the tail wagging the dog.
This is worse than taxation without representation, this is legislation without representation.
Bullshit. There's a ratification process for the overall treaty. Any domestic laws that may need to be changed to conform to treaty obligations also have to be voted on by your representative. Not everyone's existence revolves around piracy and eroding IP law. Your rep will look at the whole package and vote accordingly. Even big time piracy promoters Issa and Polis voted in favor of KORUS, so you better get to work on your representative because most represent ALL of their constituents, not just the interests of the few.
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I really don't care what Lofgren has registered a concern about or not, and I never said that I think trade agreements need to be crowdsourced. I only said that the process shouldn't be done secretly.
Viewed as not in the best interests of the US by who? Legislators? That makes it a done deal without some kind of exceptional public reaction (such as was seen with ACTA).
Nope, that's not at all my problem.
You say that like it means something, but it doesn't. We've seen how this plays out 99% of the time. The changes in the law will be rubberstamped because to do otherwise would be to "renege on our international obligations."
BTW, I don't care about piracy and my concern over IP laws has nothing to do with their impact on it. My concern is about the collateral damage current IP laws are causing.
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I know, I know... but, but, but this is different.
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My response is "so what"? Whether or not Lofgren is a hypocrite doesn't relate to the basic issue here.
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You should consult with the resident expert on toadyism; Marcus, before making such mischaracterized assertions.
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FTFY
IMHO the USTR is in comtempt of congress and needs to be removed!
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IMHO you have no idea how your own government functions.
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Trade agreements that have a massive impact on the public are none of Congress' or the public's "god damn business"?
Really now?
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Post proof of such supposed "massive impact".
Post it right here:
Since that won't be happening, I look forward to more L00ny FUD from you, Masnick lol
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Speaking of FUD, looking at the agreement or just looking at what the USTR is trying to bargain for at the negotiations is hardly a 'line item veto.'
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Lofgren's sole concern is the IP chapter. Even Stevie Wonder can see that. Lofgren attacks the process as a surrogate for attacking the IP chapter proposals.
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We're talking about what is right, though, which is a different thing from what the prescribed procedure is.
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Then why waste your time? There's all of this hue and cry over what is "right" but no activity directed toward making an actual change.
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So you now accept that the dismantling of IP is a real threat!
Great! That means we're on the way to winning!
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Step 2. ...
Step 3. Profit!
=P
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(To expand on the AC's comment, the USTR is part of the Executive Office of the President)
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* The USTR is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, which operates under a discretionary budget that must be approved by Congress each year.
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Nontheless, the Executive Office of the President of the United States likewise operates under a discretionary budget which requires annual approval by Congress.
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