Citizens Demand To See Secret ACTA Treaty

I Don't Believe in Imaginary Property writes "One hundred groups of concerned citizens have united to demand a look at the secret ACTA (Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement) treaty and have drafted a letter to their representatives asking for information. We've discussed ACTA before, including what are believed to be parts of ACTA that lawmakers are trying to get a head start on."

Comments

Re:Brave New World, 1984

[whoever57]

how international treaties can be signed, thus becoming laws which supersede the most supreme law of the country (constitution, charter, bill of rights etc.)

I believe that the Supremes ruled some (many?) years past that treaties cannot be used as an end-run around the constitution.

Re:Brave New World, 1984

[cpt kangarooski]

In the US, at least, that's correct. The federal Constitution is supreme, with federal law and treaties at an equal level (where they conflict, the most recent trumps). All of those are superior to state constitutions, which are superior to state laws.

People often misread the Constitutional language indicating that treaties are superior to state constitutions, which is where the confusion arises.

This having been said, treaties are often used as an end-run around Congress. First, they're developed by the executive branch, which otherwise cannot write federal law at such a high level, and can be much more secretive and less receptive to the will of the people than Congress. Second, only the Senate is involved in ratification, and they cannot amend treaties, so it's a pure yes or no vote. Third, the Senate can be pressured into ratifying, on the basis that the US has committed to its treaty partners, after a diplomatic process that may have taken years, and shouldn't let them down at such a late stage. And fourth, if the treaty is not self-executing, Congress as a whole is pressured into enacting enabling legislation, lest we not be in compliance with the treaty.

It isn't good, but we're stuck with this system and its flaws, barring either a Constitutional amendment that would give Congress more of a diplomatic role, or the Congress (particularly the Senate) developing a spine and looking to the public interest.

The lack of MSM reports on this is Damning.

[plasmacutter]

I just did a google news search, and nobody outside the ars technica/slashdot crowd has stories listed for this.

The fact that such a huge coalition is being ignored by CNN, NBC, ABC, REUTERS, et. al. shows how deeply these news agencies are buried under the thumb of the media cartels.

Positively disgusting.

Re:Brave New World, 1984

[wrook]

I'm also not the parent, but here are some good links that will explain what many people are concerned about:

Capitalism which many people think is good.

Corporate Capitalism which cause some people to be a bit worried.

Corporatocracy which causes some people to be very worried.

Corporatism which a very large number of people find extremely worrisome.

Fascism which is considered to be a really, really bad idea by a very large number of people.

If you read through all of those links, ask yourself honestly where you feel that your country sits on the scale. The parent expresses concern. After reading these links, do you share their concern?

Re:Brave New World, 1984

[gantzm]

Yes it is. It's a democratic republic.

Actually it's a constitutional republic.

But nobody seem to bother with that old piece of paper these days.