Yesterday I posted Some questions about the TPP from a post by Brendon Harre in which he said…
I have an open mind regarding international trade.
I am in favour of free trade reforms if the beneficiaries are spread throughout society.
I am not sure if the TPPA fits into the beneficial category for the ordinary person. I am not sure if trade and democracy are working together like they have in the past or against each other.
I have some questions -not just for the supporters of the Trans-Pacific Partnership but also to those that oppose it.
He has circulated this on left wing blogs were he has made what he wanted clearer.
It was directed at both sides. But I mainly want answers from the pro-TPP people because they have done such a poor job answering basic questions.
Some of anti-TPP people have also done a poor job of truthfully answering basic questions.
I wrote an article about the TPP where it seems we may be in danger of losing important aspects of our democracy. Pro-TPP people have to give some pretty robust answers to some fundamental questions IMHO.
So it’s fairly clear where his TPP allegiances lie.
Are we really “in danger of losing important aspects of our democracy” with the TPP?
I haven’t seen any robust arguments in support of this claim. There seems to be little if anything in the agreement that impacts any more on our democracy than past international agreements.
Every international agreement can put some restriction on what New Zealand can do, but it’s a voluntary restriction that can be reversed if ever our democracy chooses to do so.
Before the TPP agreements was reached last year the anti-TPP warned of a range of specific potential problems.
After the text of the agreement was made public the opposition changed to general terms like anti-democracy and anti-sovereignty.
Brendon, it’s up to you and those who oppose the TPP to make robust arguments for the problems you allege.
In the absence of compelling arguments that our democracy will be compromised I assume there is nothing much we need to be concerned about.