Aardvark Daily

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Cheats!

Fair and reasonable competition is the key to sustained growth, reasonable prices and the rapid advance of technology.

Unfortunately however, the old adage that "cheats never prosper" is not really true -- especially when those doing the cheating are a world super-power, or one of their allies.

What am I talking about?

Well read this Arstechnica story and perhaps you'll understand.

It seems very much as if the "security" agencies of many Western nations are being used to engage in a little economic espionage by spying on companies from other countries.

In the wake of this revelation, it is becoming increasingly obvious why the US government considers Ed Snowden and his embarrassing revelations to be such a threat.

Not only has he exposed the duplicity and dishonesty of the US administration in the political and diplomatic realm but he is also showing the world that there is an enormous degree of hypocrisy involved as well. The USA has previously accused China of spying on US companies so as to engage in economic espionage.

Just as importantly, this revelation makes the whole pretense that the TPPA is actually a "negotiation" little more than a joke.

When the USA knows exactly what the bottom-line of all parties are (as they undoubtedly do), these "negotiations" are a farce -- perhaps little more than an opportunity for those involved to enjoy some international junkets with taxpayers picking up the tab.

Given the outrageous demands being made by the USA in respect to the TPPA, and now the clear and obvious disclosure that spying as a method of stacking the deck in trade deals is definitely an acceptable practice, we should withdraw immediately. At least we'll save the cost of all those international air fares, expensive hotel rooms and other expenses. Such savings are likely to more than eclipse any illusory "trade benefits" that have been promised by the TPPA.

How sad it is that governments engage in such double-standards...

When a government's citizens cheat (on taxes, business deals, etc) this is considered a significant crime, often punished by jail or other censure. However, when those same governments cheat, by spying on their trade partners for economic gain, that's okay?

Yes folks... power really does corrupt.

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