Trade deal will have horrible consequences

The Obama administration and congressional Republicans will once again try to push the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement through Congress soon, attempting to sweep the numerous problems with this trade agreement under the rug.

It's important that we understand the impact such agreements have on us: reference the traffic snarls in Barrington caused by tar sand and other freight rolling through the village four times a day, which started with the signing of The North Atlantic Fair Trade Agreement that allowed Canadian National rail line to buy up all of the Illinois Central rails.

Once that was allowed, stopping the mess that we now experience in our village was not possible, as much as we tried. What's more, if Barrington tries to further impede freight movement on the old EJ&E, CN can sue for estimated lost revenues. CN calls itself "the NAFTA railroad."

I live north of Route 14. I no longer shop anywhere in Barrington south of 14 because of the traffic mess; my friends do not either. Can you say revenue losses for small businesses and retail tax?

TPP will be more of the same, except worse for everyone except multinational corporations, their CEOs and investors.

The biggest corporations shouldn't get special deals and expanded legal rights throwing existing environmental standards and worker safety protections by the wayside. I'm against this policy because trade deals should improve the lives and living standards of all people both here and abroad.

Labor Day should serve as another wake-up call to our elected officials: reject the TPP.

Janet Wolff

Barrington