U.S. Loses Its Advantage In Technology Trade

Manufacturing News | April 2, 2004 | Charles W. McMillion

[Cacique]

because the margin for profits on american products is low.

[oceanview]

after aircraft, our biggest exports are agricultural products. we have a pre-industrial revolution export model. except for jobs - we export lots of jobs. and we import dollars, we use them to go into debt, government debt, and consumer debt to swap real estate at every higher prices and consume. but don't worry, its a sustainable economic model.

[Mortimer Snavely]

Who cares? We've got an economy where anyone can have lots of cheap stuff on a service job's salary so long as they make payments.

Is this a great economy or what? Of copurse, there are a lot of malcontents out there who'd rather be using their brains to make a living instead of merely being bland and affable, but, hey, who needs them anyway? All they can do is design, manufacture, and maintain complex machinery and other complicated things, so they're no fun to be around.

Let's party!!!

[dennisw]

Who cares tra la la la la... Deficits don't matter!! /sarcasm

[dennisw]

The United Sates is an importing superpower!! A superpower!!

[neutrino]

But overall, and for the long run, anyone with brains is for free trade.

My, what a remarkable blanket statement! Have you looked at the author's credentials? I would be very surprised if yours compare favorably.

You sound like a typical supporter of a dying, false religion - the religion of free trade over all. You defend your faith all the more vigorously because you must drive away the demons of doubt your perceive within yourself.

Free trade was supported by Karl Marx, and is supported by the UN. China and India have rapid growth, and trade restrictions - but they surely want the US to have no restrictions at all.

Free trade is just another global welfare scheme - with US taxpayers footing the bill.

[neutrino]

But overall, and for the long run, anyone with brains is for free trade.

My, what a remarkable blanket statement! Have you looked at the author's credentials? I would be very surprised if yours compare favorably.

You sound like a typical supporter of a dying, false religion - the religion of free trade over all. You defend your faith all the more vigorously because you must drive away the demons of doubt your perceive within yourself.

Free trade was supported by Karl Marx, and is supported by the UN. China and India have rapid growth, and trade restrictions - but they surely want the US to have no restrictions at all.

Free trade is just another global welfare scheme - with US taxpayers footing the bill.

[Euro-American Scum]

Dont worry, Im sure the free traitors will show up on this thread soon and explain how this is actually a GOOD thing, probably using a buggy-whip maker analogy.

Not to mention accusing anyone who challenges them of being socialists.

[guitfiddlist]

"Your job is essentially middle management in the US. Please explain why it will not be outsourced in the next decade before saying that I want to take away your job!

It's the old alligator syndrome. He won't get it until Indians and Chinese say, "Hey, why are we paying this middleman when we can take on the whole enterprise...we've already got the core, fer' cryin' out loud." Meanwhile, they'll smile in his idiot face and say "Oh, yes...we need you for our US presence."

[jpsb]

The raping of America continues with the "free traders" all waiting for their turn.

[Euro-American Scum]

It's going to be next to impossible to recover the lead unless the new NASA space program inspires the youth.

Last Saturday we went to the USC Trojan Huddle -- the annual spring football scrimmage at the LA Coliseum. We stopped by the concession area just outside the stadium where they had a clearance sale for last year's national championship merchadise. The sale was being overseen by students from the USC School of Engineering. Not one American student anywhere in sight. And I struck up conversations with as many as I could and asked them where they were from. Here's a short list:

India (of course), Pakistan, Bangladesh, China (mainland), Borneo, Sarawak, Sri Lanka, Iran, Egypt. I stayed a lot longer than I indended, talked to a lot of students, just to get some specific information.

It won't matter if American youth are inspired or not. They're not going to get the chance to lead America back to technological dominance, because that profession has already been shipped out lock, stock, and barrel.

[guitfiddlist]

It's going to be next to impossible to recover the lead unless the new NASA space program inspires the youth.

Hate to be the droppings in the punch bowl, but I know better. As an MIT aerospace grad, and an Air Force officer working very closely with NASA's space pig program, we're fugued in this department. The National Aerospace Plane, lame as it was, was our last attempt to achieve economical access to space, and we now don't have the time to fantasize about last-minute, marathon pipe dream efforts.

[Euro-American Scum]

So if you clowns get your way and lock down America, then there are several hundred of us probably out of a job.

Start your own business.
Quit whining.
If you can't adapt, screw you.

I'd go on, but I'm fresh out of free traitor platitudes.

[searchandrecovery]

1. Big corporations are in business to MAKE MONEY (as much as possible) - this is what they do.
2. Big corporations hate employees of all kinds (they're expenses - the opposite of profits), but given a choice, will go with a lower cost employee who can do the same work.
3. They would be STUPID not to outsource if it makes their product or service cheaper.
4. By outsourcing, bidnesses are kind of saying - "Hey America, f you and all your expensive environmental laws, your labor unions, your socialist taxes, your failed public school system & NEA, your eeoc, your osha, your healthcare requirements, your fica, your disability scams, etc., etc.." I agree with them.

That having been said - Kerry's wpa plan sucks, and Bush's lassie faire (you lookup the spelling) free market "plan" sucks. The only plan I can see working is a personal plan to get off the teet of big corporate job entitlement, by taking personal responsibility for one's own job prospects - hopefully by starting my own bidness someday.

[backtothestreets]

Yes, there are many treaties in place that address intellectual properties. The only ones that count are those that are honored. Countries that DO NOT honor our right to intellectual property, as stated in Our Constitution should be denied trade.

[sixmil]

Corporations are conspiring to lower wages across the board. In the short term this is a good strategy, but in the long term, how are they going to be able to charge higher or even current prices for their products? Long term I think they lose business. Sad they want to relearn a lesson that was learned long ago.

[searchandrecovery]

...in the long term, how are they going to be able to charge higher or even current prices for their products? Long term I think they lose business.

I didn't say it wasn't suicidal. I actually don't know (surprise), and I don't think any economist knows for sure how this will turn out overall. This outsourcing of office and professional jobs is so new and such a big change, I don't think anyone has a handle or clue about it's effect 5-10 years down the road. Maybe the old models don't apply.

My own personal plan at this point it to be aware of the bad possibilities at the macro level, and to make career plans appropriately (fear globally, plan personally). Beware job interviews where you feel you have to suck up. Empower oneself by taking responsibility. No, this is not an ad for Tony Robbins motivation tapes.

[Sam the Sham]

Whine, whine, whine.

Like all this hasn't happened before

This is precisely the sort of blind complacency and wishful thinking you always see in the ruling elites of rotting empires who refuse to face that the good old days are gone.

[Sam the Sham]

The end result will be a weaker dollar, lower GDP in America, depressed wages, and the end of American dominance. We are not the New Rome. We are a new British Empire, except that we are already saddled with high debt.

Or maybe new Spanish Empire. Or new Polish Commonwealth of XVIIIc

Your analogy is well founded. On the map the Spanish empire was enormous right up to the mid 19th century but around 1650 it stopped being a European great power. And the Polish Commonwealth was huge but with a pitiful excuse for a central government. A great power can become a termite eaten palace that will just one day collapse to the ground. That is what these massive technology transfers are doing to this country.

What are the free trade fools waiting for ? The day when American carrier pilots are slaughtered in a one sided turkey shoot by superior Chinese planes ?

[Havoc]

Rape is a fitting term. Most of the people I work with don't have and cannot afford degrees. They're doing what they can to feed their families and pay the bills on a lower middle class income. There are no jobs here. Many, including myself, have recently bought homes. Any homeowner can appreciate the loss incurred by selling before term. Not too many can afford that kind of loss.

Delphi automotive locally is our client. They too are shutting up shop and moving to Mexico and they are in part responsible for the move of my job to Mexico. This isn't just a few hundred IT workers, this is thousands of middle class jobs our economy is losing and cannot replace. We've been losing these jobs to mexico for years now. And the abandoned facilities have been dozed - nothing has moved in to replace them. But we've got restaraunts, thank goodness.. From 30-100k a year to hamburger flipping.. ah the American dream.

I don't know whether to scream, dump the tea bags or charge the fort. But I can tell you I've had enough of ivory tower free traders telling me how good this is for the lives of myself, my family, my coworkers and my friends to have their lives put on the edge of ruin. And the first one of them that wants to run his yap at me at this point, needs to show up in person and be prepared to defend himself. You ain't screwin with 1% of my income in some nonsense tax - I just lost 30k a year and benefits that I can't replace. And I'm ready to take it out of someone's hide. And I ain't the only one.

Bush has managed to unify my town. Republicans and Democrats alike detest my political party. I've voted Republican since I was old enough to vote. I'd put on a modern version of star crossed bars before I'll vote democrat. And from my seat, that appears preferable. If my american dream and inheritance can be so easily robbed and handed to foreigners, it isn't an inheritance. And this is tyranny. The more I think about it, the madder I get. So I'm going to bed. I may do an open letter to the president in the coming days. And I'm sure those that dislike me now will hate me when I'm done. I've had it.

For those of you cowering behind catchphrases thinking to protect your stock margins, look at the precipice. Take a long look. If you want a woodshed event this century, this is one pissed, disenfranchised American ready to give it to ya. This government won't protect our borders, won't handle the illegals, and is handing our jobs to slave labor as fast as they can. That is economic Tyranny. And I've had it.