Posted on 04/17/2007 5:48:48 PM PDT by A. Pole
The master plan, it seems, is to move perhaps 40 million high-skill American jobs to other countries. U.S. workers have not been consulted.
Princeton economist Alan Blinder predicts that these choice jobs could be lost in a mere decade or two. We speak of computer programming, bookkeeping, graphic design and other careers once thought firmly planted in American soil. For perspective, 40 million is more than twice the total number of people now employed in manufacturing.
Blinder was taken aback when, sitting in at the business summit in Davos, Switzerland, he heard U.S. executives talk enthusiastically about all the professional jobs they could outsource to lower-wage countries. And he's a free trader.
[...]
Ron Hira has studied the dark side of the H-1B program. A professor of public policy at the Rochester Institute of Technology, he notes that the top applicants for visas are outsourcing companies, such as Wipro Technologies of India and Bermuda-based Accenture.
The companies bring recruits in from, say, India to learn about American business. After three years here, the workers go home better able to interact with their U.S. customers.
In other cases, companies ask their U.S. employees to train H-1B workers who then replace them at lower pay. "This is euphemistically called, 'knowledge transfer,' " Hira says. "I call it, 'knowledge extraction.' "
[...]
The companies fret that not enough young Americans are studying science and technology. Well, cutting the pay in those fields isn't much of an incentive, is it?
[...]
This vision for a competitive America seems to be a few rich U.S. executives commandeering armies of foreign workers. They don't have to train their domestic workforce. They don't have to raise pay to American standards.
[...]
(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...
Cod’s wallop! There isn’t 40 million skilled workers offshore. And, before 40 million could be trained to take existing jobs, the jobs themselves would have changed.
I believe $8-10 an hour depending on experience plus tips.
With my broad brush, I’d junk Capital Gains taxes, sales taxes on plant and equipment, and the minimum wage.
The idea is to draw foreign capital here. If skilled immigrants land here, so be it.
Nice catch.
It's always easier to FReak out, however, than to think out.
Good points - but I think it can be argued that there are a number of entities, public and private, that prefer a dull, slow and never-taught-to-think populace. I see this every day, and I’m certainly not immune.
The ability to think clearly and logically especially under stress and probably more importantly, determining the right question(s) to ask, can certainly change things dramatically. What’s really criminal about this general state of educational affairs, it’s not like logical fallacies or critical thinking is a new area of study.
...and a Hillary "advisor".
If they raise their starting salaries high enough they won’t have any problems filling the positions. I can bemoan the fact that I’ve got $25K in my pocket and none of the Toyota dealers in the state want to sell me a new 4x4 Tundra for that price. Perhaps it’s due to a truck shortage or something. Maybe the government could help me out? Or just maybe I could cough up the full 35 grand that the market says it’s worth. When your employers decide to do the same thing they’ll find they have no problem filling positions.
It’s like that in India too. Highly skilled guys have discovered they can name their salary. Even mediocre college gradutates will take a job, work there for six months, and move across the street for 50% more.
Of course, there are a large number of not-very-skilled people available in India at low rates. Many outsourcing projects are hiring them.
If the sales rep offers you a fantastic bargain, or two for the price of one, watch out!
There most certainly are ... they are in the EU, Australia and Great Britain. God luck saving labor on those wage scales.
"At least for some time yet"
Oh. That's nice.
BTW, I would like to see your list of reasons, to be sure you're not just another professional whistling in the dark.
Hopefully all those jobs lost to the outer world will come from the hinterlands West of the Rockies. Get those scum out of their placid little Commie loving havens into the true America, then shine a light on them! Just a bunch of cucaraches!
I guess we’ll all get jobs cleaning each others’ houses and delivering each others’ pizzas.
Actually, after we run out of money, we'll sell our homes to rich foreigners, and deliver pizza to them.
Actually, after we run out of money, we'll sell our homes to rich foreigners, and deliver pizza to them.
Between other people doing the jobs Americans don't want to do and the jobs U.S. Executives don't want us to do, What's Left?
It's amazing how much those top executives make.
But I guess they're the only people too smart to be replaced by foreign workers.
Losing our jobs to offshoring is only for us ordinary mortals.
You'll be paying for one person working and 5 more observing. It's a different culture and work ethic.
$20K a year translates to about $9.50 an hour. I once worked for less, but there’s no way I would call that a “really good salary”.
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