By By William E. Todd,
U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia
I am very pleased with the continued interest in my weekly newspaper column. Thank you so much to the Cambodian readers for
your provocative questions that inspire some great dialogue. Please
continue to send me your questions at AskAMBToddPP@state.gov.
Last
Monday, the United States observed “Labor Day” to recognize the
contributions of the American worker to the strength and prosperity of
the U.S. economy. One question that I would like to answer is, “What
significance does Labor Day pose to the American people?” Americans
celebrate Labor Day as a reminder of the vital role the labor movement
has made, and will continue to make, in the continuity of the nation’s
economic prosperity, high standard of living, and growth potential for
future generations. The United States first celebrated Labor Day in
1894, a year marked by general strikes and deep social and economic
instability. In an attempt to bring recognition to the social and
economic contribution of the American laborer, the U.S. federal
government created a special day to honor all workers on the first
Monday of September. In the late 19th century, American workers faced
many challenges similar to those experienced by Cambodian workers
today: a rising cost of living, great social and technical change in
the work force, and the perception of an elite business class out of
touch with the needs of the workers. Today, Cambodia’s labor movement
focuses on improving working conditions and increasing compensation.
The
labor movement defined the new expectations of wages and working
conditions in America. Some have argued that the movement created the
vast middle class that powers the American economy today. In contrast,
others say that American industry created the middle class because as
business explored innovation to improve productivity, the ensuing
profits allowed business to pay higher wages. There is truth to both
arguments, and just as increased profits do not automatically lead to
increased wages, increased labor demands do not automatically create
more economic stability for a company. There must be a compromise and
consensus to achieve solutions. Labor and business are interdependent
and need each other to create innovative and successful businesses.
Former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, a very pro-business leader,
stated in 1955:
Organized labor and those who have gone before in
the union movement have helped make a unique contribution to the
general welfare of the Republic–the development of the American
philosophy of labor. This philosophy, if adopted globally, could bring
about a world, prosperous, at peace, sharing the fruits of the earth
with justice to all men.
American history has shown that a strong
labor movement combined with an empowered middle class is absolutely
essential to a functioning democracy. When a working population is at
or near poverty, it does not have the means to fully engage in the
democratic process. The people do not have the time, energy, or the
money to fully take part in the political and social dialogue. Without
input from a strong labor force, a nation cannot reach its creative and
economic potential.
By working towards a balance between the
needs of labor and business, the United States has achieved a degree of
social peace that many thought would not be possible. The stability
became a model for other nations around the world. This balance is not
static, but constantly changes with the evolving demands of business and
workers. Above all, social and economic peace was, and will be,
maintained through a respect for the needs of others and belief in the
rule of law.
Here’s another question I’d like to answer this
week: “What does the United States think about drug trafficking in
Cambodia?” Recent reports of drug busts and ongoing drug cases have
generated a significant amount of attention. Earlier this year, a
Cambodian provincial court convicted the former police chief of the
National Authority for Combating Drugs and his subordinate for a myriad
of drug-related crimes. Over a week ago, the Royal Government of
Cambodia took a major step towards bringing to justice the individuals
responsible for smuggling narcotics into Cambodia. This recent arrest
of some senior-level officials demonstrates an earnest determination by
Cambodian authorities to crack down on organizations that contribute to
the narcotics crisis that affects not only Cambodia, but all nations.
The Embassy of the United States of America commends these actions that
honor the rule of law.
Several years ago as Principal Deputy
Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of
International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, I oversaw global
programs to promote best practices for the rule of law, police training,
and counternarcotics efforts in some of the most volatile regions of
the world, including Iraq, Afghanistan, and Colombia. The cascading
impact of the illegal drug trade on national society, the family, and
the individual are profound and complicated – from direct criminal
activities, money laundering, use of firearms, to the impact on
families, and finally to the individual who struggles with the
addiction, shame, and other physical and emotional damage. Cambodia can
be proud of its efforts and its success in the arrest and prosecution
of drug traffickers, particularly those who took advantage of their
official positions for personal gain.
Regrettably, there are no
easy solutions. The fight against this global problem requires the
efforts of not only governments but also individual citizens and
non-governmental organizations (NGO) to support those addicted, affirm
those entrusted with anti-narcotics enforcement, and to hold accountable
those who are breaking the law. Through this coordinated effort,
people who suffer from addictions can be encouraged to seek help as a
means to improve their lives and thus cut the demand side of the trade.
Citizens and NGOs can also insist that government officials enforce the
laws, support humane addiction treatment programs, and prosecute those
who break the law. By doing so, we can all do our part to undercut the
illegal drug trade.
Once again, thank you all for reading my
column and creating a thoughtful dialogue. Keep your questions coming
in Khmer or in English at AskAMBToddPP@state.gov and follow my blog at
http://blogs.usembassy.gov/todd.
William E. Todd is U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia
No comments:
Post a Comment