After a little smack-down by the Senate, the Most Transparent Administration Ever is still trying to push through the Trans-Pacific Partnership in the Most Transparent Way Possible. If by “transparent” you mean members of Congress having to read the actual text of the trade deal in a secure basement room with no cell phones or notes allowed and subsequent mention of the trade deal’s specifics forbidden.
Methinks there is more than meets the eye in this boring ol’ trade deal. What little we do know about the deal is that there are many aspects that stink to high heaven. Higher priced drugs? Check. Corporate tribunals outside of any legal system? Check. Bogus claims of transparency? Yup.
What is being trumpeted as the most amazing trade bill since, um, forever, seems to be more like a trinket-filled goodie bag for various corporate interests. Ah, to be a pharmaceutical company in love. Enjoy the cartoon and be sure to take a closer look at the additional links behind the cartoon!
Mark Fiore is a Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist based in San Francisco, where his work has been featured on the San Francisco Chronicle’s web site, SFGate.com, for over ten years. His work has also appeared on Newsweek.com, Slate.com, CBSNews.com, MotherJones.com and NPR’s web site. Fiore’s political animation has been featured on CNN, Frontline, BillMoyers.com, Salon.com, and cable and broadcast outlets across the globe.
