Great piece, Michael.
I hope we as unions get our act together and protest this unfair trade agreement – and stand in solidarity with our Korean brothers and sisters and their unions fighting against this agreement.

Thanks for keeping track, Michael. Too disgusting & distressing for words.

Suggestion: On one of the posts about this subject, use a photo with all sorts of humans with muzzles over their mouths.

It would be more meaningful to retrace the stands among the rank and file members as well as their union bosses re Bill Clinton’s NAFTA thingy.

Send those jobs overseas! It’s the bipartisany thing to do. The only real hope we have is that the Senate Republicans won’t ratify any Obama treaties out of reflex.

Is there no one in a position of authority who will stand up to principles?

They’re all standing up to principle. Their principle is that the rich should get richer.

Isn’t it a bitch when there is every possibility that the tea-party will do more to protect American jobs than the nations biggest unions and the Democratic Party?

The unions on “free” trade, Amazon/Paypal/Corporate media helping to kill off Wikileaks; with the exception of a few DFH bloggers is there any organization left in America that isn’t willing to do the US governments dirty work for them?

It’s so depressing…

No. :-(. They are all bought.

Obama, and others, is polishing their pro-business resumes for their post 2012 Jobs ($500,00o per year for 12 days work per year attending board meetings), in the most profitable part of the US economy, the FIRE sector.

Yes. I’ve decided to join the Tea Party. When it come to jobs we have much in common.

Yeah, and damn few of the DFH bloggers are left. I haven’t been to KOS in a while but last I heard even most of the Orangutans are bending over and offering themselves to Obama.

I’ve heard more “reports” lately that Big Orange has finally awoken from it’s deep dark slumber is beginning to realize exactly who & what Obama is. They may be more available going forward to make “common cause” with.

Nope. There’s too much money to made off the slave wages and working conditions overseas. Soon the oligarchy in the USA will have driven the American worker’s standard of living down to a point where we will all be better off immigrating to Bangladesh. At least they have universal health care there—-such that it is. Peace

Yes. Important to keep track. A compelling presentation Michael.

But we now can see clearly what Obama’s philosophy is and it will not change. These kinds of treaties and laws will continue as long as he is in power. We just have to hope we can ride out another two years and haunt him with them in the elections. No more “it would be worse with the GOPers in power.” No. It is the same

Yes, a really big bitch, indeed, especially as the Kochs and other zillionaires are doing their darndest to astro-turf the Tea Party… which means it’s not exactly all that trustworthy. Just saying… but agree that the Tea Party has stood up *somewhat* more for the rights of our citizenry lately than even most of the unions do… sad to say.

I assume this deal means American farmers get to sell more food to South Korea. Farmers don’t see that if they have a bad year the American tax payer gets stuck paying the bill for food that was going to feed China or South Korea.

I am all far protecting farmers for crop losses provided the crops were going to be sold in America. I am less than thrilled to pay for crop losses for crops that were going to be sold to China or South Korea. The Chinese and South Koreans can pay American farmers for crop losses that were going to be sold to them anyway if they want!

http://my.firedoglake.com/thingscomeundone/2010/12/04/washing-hands-cheap-way-to-stop-plant-disease/

“We have seen prices for most commodities fall 40 to 50 percent from their midyear peaks. The global economic slump has cast a pall on most markets.”

The department recently predicted that farm exports, which account for about 20 percent of the value of farm production, would fall this year to $96 billion, from $117 billion in 2008, roughly in line with the recent falloff of all American exports. But the decline is particularly drastic for corn and wheat, two staples of the farm economy, and government economists say the falloff could directly lead to a loss of 45,000 jobs.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/10/business/10agriculture.html

I assume from these numbers that 20% of farm subsidies tax payer funded farm subsides pay for food going to other countries.
Any numbers on how much more food will be sent over seas to South Korea with this trade deal? How much more it will cost American taxpayers to pay this for food that is being sent overseas?

Any words on South Korea currency manipulation because without a deal on that we won’t sell any cars to South Korea. Bush 1 tried this 20? years ago with Japan and we sell how many cars to Japan now? What makes Obama think his deal is better?

The Fed Audit also revealed loans to the state owned Korea Development Bank.

So we’re also using tax-payer money to HELP this bullshit move along.

I think the key to forming a coalition with the tea party is to somehow separate out the non-racists, the blue collar “Reagan Democrats”, the members that truly believe America is endangered by the moneyed interests on Wall Street/K Street and their Washington partners, and others that used to be represented by the unions and Democratic Party.

I have no clue as to how to do this….

These jobs Obama claims will be created are they really new jobs sure the EU has a trade deal with South Korea but we have thousands of troops, tanks, planes ships etc in South Korea explain why South Korea has any Tariffs on our goods?

If South Korea does not buy our stuff well I am ok with moving our troops out of South Korea just how much does having thousands of troops in South Korea cost?
Tell South Korea tariffs equal no troops GET A SPINE OBAMA!

I am pretty sure South Koreans would be willing to have US troops leave as a stand alone proposition. Those troops are there because the US government wants them there.

What concessions did Obama make to get this deal what was the original deal that South Korea refused to sign despite Obama visiting the country last month I’m curious just what Obama gave away to make this deal happen.

Any links to support this because thats is information we can use. Any South Korean news links would count double and help the front pagers.

The savings to America of South Korea withdrawing troops would be a great way to cut the national debt. Lets see the Tea Baggers argue against saving money by cutting bases.

President Obama, Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, and Members of Congress worked the phones yesterday to keep unions quiet.

So what’s the quid pro quo, I wonder?

The UAW is joined in supporting the NAFTA-style Korea Free Trade agreement by such protectors of working people as: US Chamber of Commerce CEO Tom Donohue; President of the National Association of Manufacturers John Engler; Citigroup CEO Vikram Pandit; JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon; Amway CEO and top Republican funder Dick DeVos; Big Bank lobby group Financial Services Roundtable President Steve Bartlett; and more.

So what else does anyone need to know?

WASHINGTON, Nov 26 — The acquittals by a U.S. military court in South Korea of two U.S. soldiers, charged with negligent homicide in the deaths of two Korean schoolgirls, has sparked a wave of indignation against the United States and its 37,000 troops on the peninsula.

Hundreds of people demonstrated at Yongsan, the huge U.S. military base in Seoul, with smaller actions taking place in Kwangju and other cities on Nov 23-24.

Civic groups hope to collect two million signatures on a petition demanding legal changes in the U.S.-Korean alliance that would allow U.S. soldiers to be tried in Korean courts. They are also sending a delegation to Washington to ask President George W Bush to overturn the acquittal.

http://www.ipsnewsasia.net/bridgesfromasia/node/38

Why are we wasting money if they don’t want us there.

From my perspective, I consider them all to be nothing more than two-bit gangsters until proven otherwise. In other words, that’s my baseline. Obviously, the same standard applies to their ruling class benefactors.

Fuckin’ criminals.

I generally presume that US decisions decide such questions, not vice versa. For example, recent elections in Japan have been won by candidates that ran on removing US bases, especially in Okinawa, and the US pushed back hard and little change has resulted. The late Chalmers Johnson is best overall source on this issue – he spent a lot of time talking about incidents like the one you mention. In short, we are wasting our money because our elites want us there.

My best guess, from a little bit of searching, is that South Koreans want US troops to leave, but not immediately, and that often gets reported as saying they do not want us to leave immediately (which is misleading). See for example here (50% say withdrawn gradually and 4% say immediately) and here (26% say withdraw as soon as possible, 71% disagree, but that lacks the gradual option).

So what’s the quid pro quo, I wonder?

I have been wondering that myself I can’t find any quid that like jobs that was not going to happen anyway the idea South Korea has tariffs on our goods despite our having troops there is the kind of outrage Tea Baggers should be screaming about.
But of course the tea baggers are corporate pawns:)

Labor is really powerless at the present time.

Big Labor has not change with the times, they still fight like it is 1950.

Depression always give Employers more power, thus the need for Labor to have a friend in the White House

As long as un-employment stays high, Employers can step on Labor, thus the reason Obama avoids doing projects that put Labor back to work.

FDR help Labor during the Great Depression by keeping Labor working, Obama is doing the opposite, he is killing Labor, by not providing labor any Jobs.

Obama is no friend of labor, never has been, never will be.

Anyone watching tv how is the MSM spinning this?

Or is there a News blackout?

Big Labor has benefited so much from deindustrialization that its stated and unstated positions on the Korean deal can be chalked up to be just rational responses to a labor-friendly policy.

/sarcasm

Excellent post!

We’ve got how many tens of thousands of troops over there in harm’s way, staring down the barrels of the N. Koreans, and we apparently have no leverage to cut a trade deal that benefits the American worker?

I am so disgusted, I think I better go run around the block a few times … release some steam.

So what’s the quid pro quo, I wonder?

The President gives Big Labor a reprieve. For one whole week, Big Labor will not be required to serve coffee and tea to the important people at important Business-Government conferences.

the enemies of Big Labor below:

the white house is no friend of labor
the MSM is the mouth piece of Big Corporations
congress is own by the elite

and yes these are the same evil people that hate the rest of us!

what a country!

It’s another Obamination.

Just what if anything does the elite get much less America someone mentioned the Carlyle group Bush 1′s hedgefund had an interest in South Korea. But how big and what kind of interest?

From the 4/26/08 link:

Contrary to Bush’s statements, Democrats in Congress, including presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, are generally opposed to the agreement.

“The only trade agreements I believe in are ones that put workers first,” Sen. Obama told members of the United Auto Workers in November. “Because trade deals aren’t good for the American people if they aren’t good for working people. That’s why I opposed CAFTA. That’s why I oppose the South Korea Free Trade Agreement.”

Sen. John McCain, the Republican nominee, enthusiastically supports the agreement.

Hmm, that’s funny, I could’ve SWORN McCain LOST the election….

Meh, so much for “elections have consequences”..

So what’s the quid pro quo, I wonder?

Maybe Obama’s promising that “this time” he’ll get card check through.

Yeah, right.

I’d love to see reports from the field re how Kos and the other usually reliable Obama cheerleaders are playing this.

I’m not sure as I rarely venture from my “home” here, but from the grapevine it sounds like we may need to reconsider classifying Kos as a usually reliable Obama cheerleader.

IF that’s the case, I applaud it. That’s one step closer. Now, if only those apologists would also take the next logical step, as there is just as much evidence for that step as there is in not supporting Obama, and that step is to realize it’s NOT just Obama. It’s the entire DEMOCRATIC PARTY at the national level.

We’re still not going to mount an effective opposition until enough have realized this truth as well, because they are still able to play bullshit games to convince many that’s it’s not the Democratic Party as a whole.

Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and their number 2′s in each house are ON THE SAME PAGE AS BARRY.

Still far too many have deluded themselves into believing otherwise on that score.

The WH should be asked that question:)

We’ll see if we can find one!

hahaha yeah card check! LOLz.

Learned powerlessness. Labor could fight back, like they have against every other job-killing NAFTA-style free trade agreement. but they won’t.

I agree, but Labor has leaders like Obama who are trojan horses

Labor has been taken over by weak and useless leaders.

times change, labor never did.

in 2010, any time some one attacks labor, labor should have tools to educate their membership ASAP. they don’t

I gave a link yesterday http://www.hereinreality.com/carlyle.html there are better sources. They build war equipment, they were a startup in the 1990s. Now they are fabulously wealthy investors like the Saudi family.

Good nieghbor father of two, wife school teacher defends BO like a brother. When I go over the big screen is on with MSM (not Fox). I share what is going on behind the scenes. He is in electrical, environmental clean up. BO took his tax creds as they use energy to asparge the hydrocarbons they remove.He is under water in the mortgage, under huge debt to keep his company afloat with no work in site. Yet he reminds me of the great HRC bill passed and other hollow acomplishment. He is in denial on the ME wars. There are a lot of loyal dems like him. He is a progressive he thinks.

“I assume this deal means American farmers get to sell more food to South Korea.”

But we need to remember that in the last generation “American farmers” no long mainly means families who own farms they farm themselves. It mainly now means large corporations who run industrial farms that abuse animals, pollute the environment, and pay below living wages to their workers. Plus they get large Federal subsidies to grow crops that are then made via industrial processes into chemicals masquerading as foods, high fructose corn syrup and partially hydrogenated soybean oil, which are then used to make cheap, junk food that is destroying the health of our nation.

Can you say “Archer Midland Daniels?”

‘I think the key to forming a coalition with the tea party is to somehow separate out the non-racists, the blue collar “Reagan Democrats” ‘

There aren’t many blue collar “Reagan Democrats” in the Tea Parties. They have been portrayed that way in the Plutocrats’ Propaganda Machine AKA the Media, but actual scientific investigation into their population has shown they are primarily upper income, suburban types who are either about to retire with their finances secure or have already.

The few blue collar types, who get trotted out in the reports, are actually Religious Right types whose worldview is so fixed by their authoritarianism and submission to the Beckian pundits that they’d never ally with “socialists.”

I don’t think the vast majority of blue collar, working folk who pragmatically vote by the economy are actually in the Tea Parties.

“Or is there a News blackout?”

Not as much as on Cancun.

I assume we can drop Trumka from the list of possible Progressive Challengers, right?

Nope! IT’S ALL RIGGED! Not just the Senate but the whole damn system. The oligarchs/plutocrats/greedy thieving bastards, (take your pick), have been planning this since FDR pushed back. Now, their progeny, whether real or ideological, are seeing generations of planning come to fruition. Welcome to serfdom. :(

I assume we can drop Trumka from the list of possible Progressive Challengers, right?

Trumka rolls over for the admin every time.

He is quite an excellent actor in the current political theater of Dems as good-intentioned naifs doing what little they can in the face of inexplicably powerful Republican forces.

Does everyone realize trade deals allow Wall Street to expand overseas? The Dims are a wholly owned subsidiary of Wall Steet, Wall Street doesn’t want to give up its’ cushy finance economy and have it replaced by a manufacturing economy (something that creates real wealth).

Good point. The banks have given up on America (sitting on the TARP, not lending to American business), and they’ve moved on to Asia.

it’s going to be a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Is this another N.A.F.T.A..You know it’s fine to get tomatoes, avocados, poinsettias’s in season from Mexico but not at the cost of jobs .In hindsight which is 20-20 my Teamster brothers had it right back in the 90s stop the trucking coming across the border.Will we get 70,000 jobs on Korea trade as Obama says ?.Lets build from within with jobson, Bridges,train service,electrical grids.Dams and cooling towers