What is Fast Track/Trade Promotion Authority?

The United States Constitution gives Congress authority over setting the terms of international commerce and it gives the Executive branch authority to negotiate with foreign nations. Obviously, for this to work requires cooperation between the two branches. Under Fast Track authority, the administration is granted by Congress the authority to negotiate trade agreements, draft implementing legislation to change laws, and to sign international trade agreements. http://www.ustr.gov/trade-topics/trade-promotion-authority

Congress, under Fast Track, is limited to 20  hours of debate and an up or down vote on the final agreement with no amendments allowed. Fast Track Authority has been around since 1974. The last one granted by Congress expired in 2007. At this time, the Executive Branch does NOT have Fast Track Authority.

Two Congressmen,  Rep. David Camp (R) MI who was House Ways and Means chair and Sen. Max Baucus (D) MT who was Finance chair introduced legislation to revive Fast Track mechanism in January of 2014.  http://www.citizenstrade.org/ctc/trade-policies/fast-tracktrade-promotion-authority-tpa/

Here is a brief history of Fast Track:  http://clinton2.nara.gov/Initiatives/FastTrack/history.html If you keep an open mind, you will see that granting this authority is NOT the END OF DEMOCRACY as some would have you believe. It has been done for decades. Congress has extended it to many presidents. Don't fall for the HYPE! Other presidents have been trusted with this authority, but, now the media hype is going to all extremes to suggest it is the end of the world as we know it to grant it to President Obama.

As you can see, there are many reasons for Congress to grant a President Fast Track Authority. Just remember that Congress ultimately has the decision power and can affirm or reject ANY trade agreement negotiated by the Executive Branch. More to come on Trans Pacific Partnership agreement.

#NoKXL

Okay people it's time to do some grass roots lobbying. For some unknown reason, Harry Reid is going to allow a vote on the Keystone Pipeline next Tuesday. So, we need to get busy for the next few days letting our Senators know how we feel about this issue. You can find contact information for all current Senate members here:  Senate.gov

The House of Representatives just approved it by a vote of 252-161.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/14/politics/house-passes-keystone-pipeline/

In case you don't have an opinion yet on this issue, here are a few links to sites that give you information about the proposed pipeline:  

Regarding the economics of it:  http://www.cnbc.com/id/102181913
 http://www.labor4sustainability.org/articles/5-reasons-why-the-keystone-pipeline-is-bad-for-the-economy/

Five myths debunked:  http://mediamatters.org/research/2013/02/14/5-myths-about-keystone-xl-debunked/192668

The dumbest debate:  http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/05/12/keystone-pipeline-is-d-c-s-dumbest-debate.html

The NY Times Index of articles:  http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/k/keystone_pipeline/index.html

Time to act, read up and then let your senators know how you feel about this critical issue.

Pat Taylor Fuller is an Editor for Progressive Democrats - Moving Forward, Not Back, and she has a blogspot named Pat's Commentaryhttp://pageposts1123.blogspot.com/

It's #PromiseDay

November 14 is #PromiseDay at SandyHookPromise.org . The point of the initiative is to encourage people to promise to say something. At https://promiseday.org/ the message is:  sign up and support efforts to educate bystanders to speak up when they might know that another person intends to use a gun to harm others. The website has several points that are useful to educate others about the importance of speaking up.

Here is a PDF file that explains it all:

 https://promiseday.org/sites/default/files/Say%20Something%20print%20version.pdf

In 4 out of 5 school shootings, the shooter told someone of their plans. Imagine is that someone had taken action. Could some of those tragedies been prevented?

Be a better bystander and share this post and the PromiseDay.org website with your friends and followers. That way we can all be part of the solution.   How many lives could be saved? We can stop these senseless acts by being better bystanders -- knowing what to look for and saying something when we see a threat of violence. And more importantly, teaching young people to do the same.

It's a BFD!

Remember when Joe Biden told President Obama that ACA was a BFD? Well, this climate agreement with China is another! Behind the scenes these two countries have been working on an agreement to curb carbon emissions for over nine months. Each country has pledged to work on carbon emission cutting into the near future. The United States will continue its emission reduction 26-28% below 2005 levels through 2025. China is committing to getting 20% of its energy from non-fossil sources by 2030. China is looking to the future by investing in expanding its renewable energy capacity. Already China has 9.8% of its energy coming from renewable and nuclear energy.

The Natural Resources Defense Council is encouraged by this agreement and says that it sends a powerful message to other countries throughout the world. http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/11/12/3591284/us-china-climate-deal/

Obviously, this is a major blow to coal producers and their investors. Now, India, the third largest importer of coal has announced plans to halt imports of coal within the next three years. http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/11/12/3591511/china-us-climate-deal-big-coal/?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

I am glad that I support a President that does not discount climate change and in fact, is actively trying to do something about it. We Democrats need to be shouting this far and wide. This is a BFD!

How to Think for Yourself

Do you practice critical thinking? Do you question the messages you are receiving from television and other forms of media? I have noticed lately that many people seem to blindly accept some "authority" or talking head's viewpoint.  When I ask them if they've read anything on the subject, they don't have an answer.
Case in point:  Twitter friend said that the Trans-Pacific Free Trade Agreement (TPP) was a bad deal. When I asked if the person had studied about it, this was their response, "Just a little bit during past election-terrible for environment + I thought GREEN Energy and LESS corporate greed was Dems agenda?" 
Now, that tells me that this person didn't read up on it at all; but, is merely repeating talking points they heard from some pundit. This is not critical thinking. I am not saying that all pundits are trying to mislead. (Although most are trying to boost their ratings.)

What I am saying is that we need a crash course in how to critically consume what the media is feeding us. The first tip that I use is to consider the agenda of the person trying to influence me. What is their bias? You can hear it if you listen carefully. My second tip is to gather as much information as you can on the subject. Read up on it yourself. Analyze the details. Look at pros and cons. Nothing is 100% pure or perfect. Thirdly, once you have done your own research and analysis, have courage to stand up for what you've deduced.

You can see why more people don't think for themselves now can't you? It is work. Thinking is a bit harder than just accepting someone else's ideas. But, it is worth it in the long run. The benefits include: trust in your own abilities, boosting your brain power, more awareness to the manipulations of the media and others, and you just might help others to expand their brain power and thinking skills.

Democrats Support Veterans

If you have been paying attention, you will know that Democrats support Veterans. The Democratic Platform states:  "As the threats facing our country have evolved over the years, so too has our ability to respond to them. Our national security personnel are the most dynamic and well-trained in the world, and we must never forget the solemn duty that they fulfill for our nation. Democrats are committed to ensuring that our troops have the training, equipment, and support that they need when they are deployed and the care that they and their families need and deserve when they return home."
 http://www.democrats.org/issues/national_security


Meanwhile the GOP do this:   "U.S. Senate Republicans blocked legislation on Thursday that would have expanded federal healthcare and education programs for veterans, saying the $24 billion bill would bust the budget."  http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/27/us-usa-veterans-congress-idUSBREA1Q26O20140227

There are many ways to Honor Veterans and many places to go to find information on how you can participate. But remember this:  Democrats actually do honor Veterans:  "Our commitment to America’s veterans is equal to the full measure of devotion that our veterans committed to us."  http://www.democrats.org/people/veterans_and_military_families 

It's not a bunch of showy Veteran's Day rhetoric. This is what Democrats have DONE:   http://assets.democrats.org/digital/website/CE_Veterans.pdf   Tell that to your GOP uncle.

Unite Now!

For the past few days I've watched people try to figure out why Democrats lost so badly last Tuesday. I've read many interesting theories explaining the results. Everybody knows the answer.

So here's my take on why. People on the left all have issues that concern them, but there's not enough unity. The Democratic Party is the only place for people on the left to go. We support all the major issues from marriage equality to immigration reform. You name an issue that people on the left care about and Democrats care about it, too. See Democratic Platform:  http://www.democrats.org/democratic-national-platform

But, instead of uniting, we've been fighting and the plutocrats have used their media outlets to get both parties to demonize each other so we are distracted and don't notice that they are getting their way. See this article:
http://billmoyers.com/2014/11/04/infuriating-facts-disappearing-middle-class-wealth/

It's time we all realize the real enemy is the 1% and their tools. They've used the Tea Party and ALEC to get control of Congress and state governments all over the country. Now, they are busy turning everything over to corporate control.

We'd better wake up and stop this madness. The only way 1% can control the rest of us is if they keep us busy fighting each other. Stop already! I don't want to hear any more blame game.

Think of the issues that are important to you. The Democratic Party is the place to go to address those concerns. Join a local or state Democrat group and work with us to stop the corporations and the plutocrats. Think long term. You won't get everything you want right away. The corporations have been planning this takeover since end of WWII. They think long term and we must too!

All Politics is local; volunteer! Get involved.

Unite and fight! Vote Blue! Thank you!