Replies

He's on thin ice here.

Maybe, but I'm not so sure. Bush can surely make the case that the U.S. is a net beneficiary of world-wide outsourcing. He just has to tell the story and keep telling it.

Don't forget those 5 million or so folks who work for Toyota, BMW, Seimans, Thomson CSF et al that are the benefactors of outsourcing from other countries. They know where a Kerry isolationist policy would take them and they are not going to go down that road.

And Walmart employees are not going to be jumping up and down when they listen to Kerry. They are, I assume, mostly folks who are inclined to lean Democrat who would also not look kindly on anything that would restrict their company's ability to import the cheap chinese goods that are the fuel that runs Walmart.

I don't think that you understand how the typical Walmart employee thinks - I think he is more likely to resent being stuck in a deadend job that pays $7 bucks an hour rather than worry about where it is that Walmart imports its products.

WOW - You really don't get it. Maybe you are so distant from this issue it doesn't affect you - I don't know.

Whether the policy is sound or unsound is not the point. The reality is that many people are scared for their jobs. Theses are well educated, middle class, white collar worker. Most of them vote Republican.

If these types decide NOT to vote Republican in November; the Democrats can pull it out.

Again, the debate is not over policy - its over keeping ones jobs - it's about being secure in knowing that you can provide for your family.

Let's not start up with the typical response that they should have seen this coming, or, they should have prepared for this, or my favorite, go start your own business. Let's be clear, this is new to the white collar world, and its not very appealing.

When is the last time the US economy grew at such rates with such little job growth. It appears that we are entering a new era - one where no job is safe and expectations of changing careers multiple times should be expected.

Realistically, do you think most Americans will embrace the idea of knowing they may have to change careers 2 or 3 times during their working years? Should that excite them? In the end, is it practical and at what cost?

Not trying to give you are hard time. It just appears that a major paradigm is about to hit us full force - and most Americans are not prepared to absorb the fallout.

Don't forget those 5 million or so folks who work for Toyota, BMW, Seimans, Thomson CSF et al that are the benefactors of outsourcing from other countries.

Exactly.

Here is what the free traders don't get, almost all Americans are in favor of free trade with a nation when it is good for America (Bilateral with each nation).

Most of Europe, Australia, Canada, Japan, S. Korea, and similar nations I have no problem with outsourcing / Free trade to/from because we have as much to offer them and *THEY HAVE TO OFFER US*.

When you throw India and China into the mix we have little to offer them they do not make enough to buy our products and the low wages attract the exportation of American jobs (especially if there is no tariff to export those products back in). The net effect is cheaper goods *for those who's jobs have not been exported*. As more and more industries outsource this means more and more people can not afford cheap goods meaning more companies have to look for even cheaper labor, ....

Don't forget those 5 million or so folks who work for Toyota, BMW, Seimans, Thomson CSF et al that are the benefactors of outsourcing from other countries

How many Toyota employee's were laid off in Japan when the American factories were built?...My guess none.

There's a huge difference between business expansion and job replacement.