Malaysia's Slave System Gets Obama's Approval
Summary
TLDRThe report from Zack Carter of the Washington Post highlights the Obama Administration's dilemma over the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a proposed trade deal. An amendment to combat human trafficking threatens to exclude Malaysia, known for serious violations, from the TPP. The administration's struggle to remove the anti-slavery provision for the sake of the trade deal raises questions about moral integrity and corporate influence in policy-making. The narrative also criticizes the inclusion of Brunei, which recently implemented Sharia law, further complicating the debate on human rights and trade.
Takeaways
- 📰 The Washington Post report by Zack Carter reveals a conflict between President Obama's support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the fight against human trafficking.
- 🌏 The TPP is a proposed free trade agreement involving 11 countries, including Malaysia, which has been criticized for its human rights record.
- 🔄 An amendment to a bill in the Senate aims to prevent fast-tracking trade deals with countries that tolerate human trafficking, which could exclude Malaysia from the TPP.
- 🏭 The Malaysian electronics industry is highlighted as a sector where forced labor, including sex slavery, is particularly prevalent.
- 🤔 The Obama Administration is in a difficult position, as it may need to oppose an anti-slavery provision to maintain the TPP as currently structured.
- 🗣️ The report suggests that the administration's stance could be seen as prioritizing corporate interests over moral principles.
- 📈 Critics argue that so-called 'free trade' deals like the TPP can lead to job losses and negatively impact the American middle class.
- 🤝 The U.S. has recently included Brunei in the TPP, a country that has implemented Sharia law, which raises questions about the consistency of the U.S.'s moral stance in international relations.
- 💡 The argument presented is that the U.S. should take a stronger moral stance by not engaging in trade with countries that have poor human rights records.
- 🔄 The script points out the hypocrisy of U.S. foreign policy, which claims to fight for freedom and democracy while engaging in trade with nations that do not uphold these values.
- 👥 The script criticizes both the Republican and Democratic parties for being too closely aligned with corporate interests and for not adequately representing the needs of the American middle class.
Q & A
What is the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) mentioned in the script?
-The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a proposed trade agreement that aims to promote economic growth; enhance innovation, productivity, and competitiveness; raise living standards; reduce poverty; and promote transparency, good governance, and enhanced labor and environmental protections. It has been a subject of controversy due to concerns about job outsourcing and impacts on national sovereignty.
Why is the human trafficking provision a threat to President Obama's trade agenda according to the script?
-The human trafficking provision is a threat because it could potentially exclude countries like Malaysia, which has a record of human rights violations, from the TPP. This would disrupt the trade pact and complicate the administration's efforts to streamline the TPP through FastTrack powers.
What is the FastTrack provision mentioned in the script?
-FastTrack is a trade negotiation authority that allows the U.S. Congress to give the President the power to negotiate international agreements that Congress can approve or disapprove but cannot amend or filibuster. The script suggests that the administration is seeking FastTrack powers to facilitate the TPP agreement.
Why is Malaysia a point of contention in the TPP discussions according to the script?
-Malaysia is a point of contention because it has been identified by the U.S. State Department as having serious human trafficking violations, including forced labor and sex slavery, particularly in its electronics industry. The Senate's amendment to bar trade deals with such countries puts Malaysia at risk of being excluded from the TPP.
What is the Obama Administration's awkward position as described in the script?
-The awkward position of the Obama Administration is that they are in a situation where they may have to oppose or strip out an anti-slavery provision from the FastTrack Bill in order to keep Malaysia in the TPP, which could be seen as prioritizing corporate interests over human rights.
What is the connection made in the script between the TPP and other controversial countries?
-The script connects the TPP to other controversial countries by mentioning Brunei, which recently implemented Sharia law, and questions why the U.S. is willing to do business with countries that have implemented such laws, despite opposing them in other contexts like Afghanistan.
What is the script's stance on the moral implications of trade deals with countries that have poor human rights records?
-The script criticizes the moral implications of engaging in trade deals with countries that have poor human rights records, such as those practicing slavery or implementing Sharia law, suggesting that the U.S. should not tolerate such practices for the sake of business.
What is the script's view on the role of corporations in shaping U.S. trade policy?
-The script suggests that U.S. trade policy, including the TPP, is heavily influenced by corporate interests, to the extent that it questions the moral integrity of the administration in its approach to human rights issues in trade agreements.
How does the script characterize the Democratic and Republican parties' approach to trade deals?
-The script characterizes both parties as being largely sold out to corporations and the rich, with the Democrats occasionally appearing more reasonable on social issues but ultimately also prioritizing corporate interests over the welfare of the American middle class in trade deals.
What is the script's perspective on the U.S. government's moral arguments for overseas interventions?
-The script is highly skeptical of the U.S. government's moral arguments for overseas interventions, suggesting that they are often hypocritical and motivated more by geopolitical power, control, and economic interests rather than genuine concern for freedom and democracy.
What is the script's final message regarding the importance of scrutinizing government actions and rhetoric?
-The script's final message emphasizes the importance of scrutinizing government actions and rhetoric, particularly in the context of trade deals and overseas interventions, to hold them accountable for their moral inconsistencies and to challenge the narratives they present to the public.
Outlines
😨 TPP and Human Trafficking Concerns
The video script discusses a report by Zack Carter from the Washington Post, which highlights a conflict between President Obama's support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and a human rights issue. The TPP is a proposed trade agreement that critics argue could lead to job outsourcing. However, an amendment to a bill granting the President 'FastTrack' powers to streamline the TPP process could exclude countries that tolerate human trafficking, such as Malaysia, which has a record of serious violations including forced labor in the electronics industry. The Obama Administration is in a difficult position, as it must decide whether to support an anti-slavery provision that could exclude Malaysia from the TPP, thus potentially disrupting the trade deal. The script also criticizes the inclusion of Brunei in the TPP, a country that recently implemented Sharia law, suggesting a double standard in U.S. foreign policy.
🤔 The Moral Dilemma of Trade Deals
This paragraph delves into the moral and ethical implications of trade deals, particularly the TPP, in light of human rights concerns. It criticizes the Obama Administration's approach to the anti-slavery provision, suggesting that political and corporate interests may be prioritizing economic gains over ethical considerations. The speaker questions the sincerity of the U.S. government's stance on freedom and democracy, given its alliances and trade agreements with countries that have poor human rights records, such as Saudi Arabia. The paragraph argues that the true motivations behind foreign policy decisions are geopolitical power, control, and economic interests, rather than the promotion of freedom and democracy.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)
💡FastTrack Powers
💡Human Trafficking
💡Malaysia
💡State Department
💡Amendment
💡Anti-Slavery Provision
💡Sharia Law
💡Corporatocracy
💡Moral Backbone
💡Progressive Administration
Highlights
Report from Zack Carter of the Washington Post discusses the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and its potential impact on American jobs.
Concerns raised about the TPP potentially outsourcing more American jobs.
A plan to fight human trafficking could disrupt the TPP, particularly with regards to Malaysia's involvement.
The Senate is preparing to vote on a bill granting President Obama FastTrack powers for the TPP.
An amendment barring fast-tracking trade deals with countries tolerating human trafficking was approved by the Senate Finance Committee.
Malaysia, known for serious human trafficking violations, could be excluded from the TPP if the amendment passes.
The Obama Administration is in a difficult position, trying to remove an anti-slavery provision to maintain the TPP.
Criticism of the Administration's stance on slavery in the context of the TPP negotiations.
Inclusion of Brunei in the TPP despite its recent implementation of Sharia law raises questions about the U.S.'s moral stance.
The U.S.'s contradictory approach to countries implementing Sharia law in trade deals versus war efforts.
The debate over the moral implications of the TPP and the U.S.'s willingness to overlook human rights abuses for economic gain.
Critique of the Democratic party's record on social and economic issues, suggesting they often side with corporations.
The impact of past 'free trade' deals like NAFTA on the American middle class and factory jobs.
A call for a stronger moral stance from the U.S. government in international trade negotiations.
Skepticism towards the U.S.'s stated reasons for military intervention overseas, suggesting ulterior motives.
The hypocrisy of the U.S. maintaining alliances with countries that have poor human rights records, such as Saudi Arabia.
Transcripts
today we have a fascinating report out
from Zack Carter of the hington post and
I think this basically proves who Obama
is working for on the issue of the
trans-pacific partnership which is of
course the new so-called free trade deal
that will Outsource more American jobs
they say the following quote the biggest
threat to President Barack Obama's trade
agenda may be a plan to fight human
trafficking which threatens to reshuffle
a major trade pact that includes
Malaysia a nation with a troubling human
rights record the Senate is gearing up
to vote on a bill granting Obama's
so-called FastTrack powers to streamline
the trans-pacific partnership but a
seemingly uncontroversial human rights
provision is giving the administration
serious headaches last month the Senate
finance committee approved an amendment
that would bar the administration from
fast-tracking trade deals with countries
that tolerate human trafficking sounds
like a common sense provision to me does
it to you but the state department has
long included Malaysia on its list of
countries with serious human trafficking
violations as its government effectively
tolerates slavery including sex slavery
Force labor is particularly prevalent in
the Malaysian electronics Industry
Malaysia is one of the 11 Nations
involved in the TPP talks if the
amendment makes the final bill Malaysia
would have to be exiled from the TPP now
here is the stunning part of the article
quote that puts the Obama Administration
in the awkward position of figuring out
how to strip out an anti-slavery
provision from the FastTrack
Bill
what yes you heard that right I'm going
to read the sentence one more time this
is directly from the article on the
hington post this isn't from me this is
from them they say quote that puts the
administration in the awkward position
of fight figuring out how to strip out
an anti-slave ay provision from the
FasTrack
bill so in order
for business as usual to continue and in
order to serve his own corporate donors
President Obama is not totally sure that
slavery is
wrong you know anybody who's been
following the real in an ounce of the
transpacific partnership all this time
you might actually not be surprised
about this I know I said at the
beginning this is so stunning but if if
you really have known the ins and outs
of the TPP for the longest time this is
just like a oh yeah I could see that
because as we discussed before we did a
whole segment on it and I didn't hear
anybody else talk about this they just
recently allowed I don't know how to
pronounce it so forgive me either brune
or brunai that country into the
transpacific partnership deal they just
allowed them recently okay there were
articles from about a year ago which
spoke about how that country just
officially implemented Sharia law as
their official
system so we have a government that
looked at a country that just
implemented Sharia law and they go that
can be our business partner we can work
with them no problem but wait you guys
said that the one of the main reasons
you're fighting in Afghanistan is that
the Taliban can't take over more
territory because the Taliban implement
sharel La no we can't allow that freedom
and democracy is what we're about so
you're fighting a war because they're
trying to implement Sharia in
Afghanistan but when they implement it
in brune all of a sudden you're like no
that's totally fine and let's reward
them by doing a a trade deal with them
and putting them in the transpacific
partnership and not saying buus about
hey you might want to not do Sharia in
order to get into this deal they didn't
say anything they're totally fine with
it there's
whatever so in order to continue
business as usual and in order for the
the corporatocracy to continue to
flourish all over the world they're
willing to tolerate Sharia law and
slavery
slavery it it's
so beyond
gone and what I mean by that is an
efficient good functioning democracy and
political system it's just it's it's
nowhere to be seen poof
it's this is a debate that they're
having and they're casually writing
articles about it like and the Obama
Administration is off-put by an
anti-slavery
provision time to take a moral [ __ ]
stand man and look the argument coming
from the Obama Administration goes a
little something like this but if
America gets involved in it in this then
maybe we can limit just how bad the
slavery in Malaysia
is all or you can say uh no slavery at
all and then maybe we'll consider going
to your country so clean your act up and
then maybe we'll consider going in there
or you could take the approach I would
take which is I want to have nothing to
do with your shitty [ __ ] country
because you actually have slavery going
on right now how about that one and how
about saying the same thing to brune oh
you guys are doing Sharia that's nice
take a [ __ ] hike we're not doing a a
trade deal with you [ __ ] off look at
what you're doing look how you're
treating your people get your [ __ ]
together then maybe we'll consider it
this is these are the the liberal
Democrats the so-called liberal
Democrats in America these are the
progressives the progressive
Administration is like slavery or not H
should we what should we do with this
provision involving slavery just let it
slide whatever man let's just let's
argue on on behalf of Malaysia to keep
them in the
deal make no mistake about it man in
America you have the Republicans they
political party that's 100% sold out to
corporations and the rich and to to put
sprinkles on top of that they're in
favor of a Christian theocracy so
they're backwards on social issues and
totally backwards on economic issues
they're wrong about everything and the
Democrats you have the Democrats who are
somewhat reasonable on social issues
that's one of the bones that they throw
to the American public here boy good boy
oh here you want some gay marriage oh
now shut the [ __ ] up about everything
else so they're somewhat reasonable on
social issues once in a blue moon they
they throw a bone on economic issues but
by and large 80% of the time the
Democratic party is totally sold out to
corporations as well I mean look at uh
Bill Clinton with NAFTA for example same
thing so-called free trade deal helped
destroy the American middle class got
rid of so many factory jobs all the the
so-called free trade deals from all the
administrations Democratic and
Republican they just sell out the
American middle class and then they
expect us to like oh why don't you pick
between our two parties again why would
I want to pick [ __ ] both you guys you're
both [ __ ] terrible look at what
you're doing you're supposed to be a
progressive Administration and you're
like we got to find a way to get rid of
that anti-slavery provision because we
want to do business with the country
that does slavery where's your moral
[ __ ] backbone here's what's for damn
sure man after learning about this story
and others you and I both know whenever
they make some sort of moral argument
about why we need to do war overseas
immediately call [ __ ] on it because
we know it's [ __ ] we know it's
[ __ ] I mean if you're so concerned
about we care about freedom and
democracy that's why we fight we want to
keep the world free really so why is
Saudi Arabia one of our top allies they
just beheaded their 79th person this
year yesterday for doing drugs they also
have a Sharia system set up so what are
you talking about we believe in freedom
and democracy that's why we fight
overseas no you don't you're doing deals
with people who have slavery and you're
fighting to for them to preserve the
slavery don't tell me about freedom and
democracy the reason why you fight
overseas is the same reason why every
imperialist Power ever has fought
overseas you care about uh geopolitical
Power and you care about control and you
care about natural resources and money
and any lie you have to tell in the
process in order to continue this ruse
you'll do it
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