Disposable People: Obama, the TPP, and the Betrayal of Human Rights

[HomerRamone]

http://sandiegofreepress.org/2015/08/disposable-people-obama-the-tpp-and-the-betrayal-of-human-rights/

As we know, Obama defeated labor and the progressive wing of the Democratic Party and, in concert with Republicans and just enough New Democrats like San Diego’s own Scott Peters and Susan Davis, he succeeded in forwarding the multinational corporate agenda...

Indeed, after scolding critics and pooh-poohing concerns about human rights, it appears that the proponents of “the most progressive trade deal in history” aren’t so politically correct that they would stand in the way of slavery in the name of ideological purity if it might sink the TPP...

By ignoring modern day slavery to advance the TPP, Obama has given the lie to the rhetoric of TPP advocates with all their bluster about how this trade deal was somehow about a more progressive world order with regard to labor and human rights. As the Citizens Trade Campaign noted in their statement on the matter, “The administration’s alleged willingness to turn a blind eye to trafficking abuses in Malaysia in order to get the TPP done also does not bode well for the hope of any enforcement of labor and environmental provisions were the TPP actually enacted. If the administration were serious about using the TPP to enforce basic rights, they would make such enforcement a prerequisite to joining.”...

Thus despite all the stories we like to tell ourselves about human dignity, at present we live in a world where the market is the final measure of all things and anything that stands in the way of profit is ultimately disposable.