The New Face of the Silicon Age

Wired Magazine ^ | February 2004 | Daniel H. Pink

[Snuffington]

I suppose I should at least ping this, to read it later. But having worked with real life "Aparna Jairam"s for a few years now, this seems like an article written by an idiot who doesn't know his topic. But I'll read the whole thing later and decide.

[Happy2BMe]

Are you in favor of increasing the minimum wage to, say, $12-15 an hour?

No. That will drive up the cost of goods. Neither am I in favor of reducing it to the same level as Mexico or other third world nations. That will cause a revolution.

Are you in favor of doubling the labor union participation rate in this country?

No. Neither am I in favor of killing unions in favor of the very wealthy at the expense of the average worker's rights and protections.

What does increasing the minimum wage or doubling the number of unions have to do with siphoning off of what would have otherwise been American jobs to third world nations?

[EagleMamaMT]

Great, great post!

[gipper81]

These are all labor market distortions of one form or another. They would increase unemployment among other things. I wanted to see where you drew the line.

So too with any "anti-Deporting hi tech jobs to India legislation" - costs and/or unemployment increases.

I see that you were an enthusiastic Reagan voter. Reagan started with a bad economy. Why wasn't he forced to "protect" US jobs in this way?

[hotdogjones]

I just did my taxes for 2003. My income dropped alot (26,000), so much that I paid negative taxes to the state and the feds, lol. That is correct all the money that I got was tax free. Amazing to see the swing from 2002 (136,000).

If you can live off 30K a year and you have family do it. The government will give you alot of money back. I got 7K back on my refunds.

Maybe this is the way we can fight the out sourcing to India.

I was pretty suprised when Turbotax ran the caculations.

[XBob]

22-"After a week in India, it seems clear that the white-collar jobs with any lasting potential in the US won't be classically high tech. Instead, they'll be high concept and high touch.
How do you develop "high concept and high touch" without experience and entry level jobs? How many Americans can get this "high concept and high touch"?"

Those in favor of outsourcing haven't got a clue to what it really means.

[XBob]

dennisw and clueless:

bttt 30-"My crude definition of zero sum for the USA: Since women usually have to work to have enough money to raise 2-4 children and educate them through college, we are doing no better than we did 40 years ago. When women could stay at home and raise the kids.

... We are sliding backwards into the muck despite the veneer of hi tech flash that blinds and seduces us. Actually we are doing worse than zero sum here."

[Sunnyvale CA Eng.]

"Logotec makes all its mice in China. Most of the product value comes from American made chips, optics. Almost all flat screens made, of any size, use Corning Made in USA product." Links?

American made chips - not likely. The simple optical readers in traditional mice are commodity chips - very low price and certainly available from China.
Optics in a mouse? If any - injection molded plastic made anywhere. Corning's flat screen facilities are in Korea, Japan and Taiwan (presently expanding this facility). They also have a glass facility for LCD's in Kentucky. The US has never been a player in consumer level LCD's.

[XBob]

39 - "Let's get back to your proposed economic legislation. But, before we do, let's determine some of your other ideas.

Are you in favor of increasing the minimum wage to, say, $12-15 an hour?

Are you in favor of doubling the labor union participation rate in this country? "

===
No, instead, let's increase the rent for a 2 bedroom apartment in india from $12 to $400, and the price of lunch from $0.50 to $5.00, and impose a 40% govt tax.

[dennisw]

Dittos. We are in agreement. I have no problem at all with placing nice fat tariffs on hi- tech activities that are outsourced. Enforcement might be tricky but I have nothing against the idea. Ol' Gipper thinks that because he has a child like faith in free markets, everyone else does. So did one fellow mentioned in this article .... until his job got outsourced.

I'm one person who thinks 75% of govenment work in Wash DC can be and should be outsourced just so our Mandarin class gets more in touch with the travails of "the people" in flyover country and beyond.

[WilliamofCarmichael]

RE: "face it. the better product is made overseas."

If that includes software do you have sources to back up the claim?

[isthisnickcool]

The writer may think India is the "New Face of The Silicon Age". And may be right. But there are other faces I've not seen anyone write much about.

[chimera]

I'm one person who thinks 75% of govenment work in Wash DC can be and should be outsourced just so our Mandarin class gets more in touch with the travails of "the people" in flyover country and beyond.

I'd throw into the outsourced pool corporate CEOs, VPs, and various and sundry bean counters. Then follow that up with the BoD. Well, I guess if things continue as they are, those will be outsourced eventually, anyway.

[chimera]

So what's new? Jobs, both blue and white collar, have been outsourced for years. I mean why pay high dollar, when you can have the same quality and quanity for less. Good business!

Not very good business if it ends up destroying the country and the economic system it supposedly is benefiting. Learn the lessons of history. If you ream over enough people, eventually they reach their breaking point and all hell breaks loose. Those they perceived did them wrong can end up literally losing their heads. Cake, anyone?

[Happy2BMe]

"American made chips - not likely. The simple optical readers in traditional mice are commodity chips - very low price and certainly available from China. Optics in a mouse? If any - injection molded plastic made anywhere. Corning's flat screen facilities are in Korea, Japan and Taiwan (presently expanding this facility). They also have a glass facility for LCD's in Kentucky. The US has never been a player in consumer level LCD's."

Methinks those on this thread defending overseas outsourcing are likely . . from overseas.

[expatguy]

I see it as basically an issue of morality.

There was a time when companies and people themselves had values and standards. This no longer exists.

It's now all about money today. Make all you can however you can and screw everyone else.

If there is nothing taboo for people, then what makes you think there is anything taboo for businesses? If it makes money then do it.

[RinaseaofDs]

Especially Congress. I really think that they haven't a clue about what is going on out here.

Dorgan stood up on Saturday and spewed some crap about free trade not being free.

I'm sure he's busy writing legislation that is going to take the government and unions off of the company's back.

[Leisler]

We should follow a mixture of Soviet Peoples economy and previous Indian rules requiring a licenses for any, and all, business transaction. In this way we can produce a "just" and equitable economy, not to mention fairness.

The old concept of the Venice/Dutch City states, old New England, English world trading, Japan and now China trading and doing business with the world...obviously a false road to prosperity. More rules, rigidity, slowness, increase cost of business.

[Paul Ross]

Links?

Methinks you exaggerate.

[Paul Ross]

American made chips - not likely. The simple optical readers in traditional mice are commodity chips - very low price and certainly available from China. Optics in a mouse? If any - injection molded plastic made anywhere. Corning's flat screen facilities are in Korea, Japan and Taiwan (presently expanding this facility). They also have a glass facility for LCD's in Kentucky. The US has never been a player in consumer level LCD's.

This was my understanding as well. About the only thing that still has U.S. componentry are the CPU's, and harddrives Read-write heads, but even there, we are looking at increasing offshoring.