Who sets trade policy? Offshoring at EDS, IBM and HP had nothing to do with unions. It had to do with Companies deciding they didn't want to pay americans to do jobs in america. More, they didn't want to pay professionals the going rate and decided to bail on America to get a cut rate price elsewhere while re-importing their services at below market cost to undermine the rest of the market and thusly drive wages and benifits down. In short, they have used the rest of the world to their advantage in manipulating our market - subverting it for "higher" profits. Unions didn't do that, they're just one of the lame excuses the treason lobby invokes for undermining the nation for profit.
Without all the benefits and just at minimum wage, No one in this country could compete with .37 cents an hour. No one. When the least common denominator can't compete with foriegn labor, the last people you can blame any of this on is the Unions. Basic logic. If 5.53 an hour can't compete, whether 30 dollars an hour can or not is moot. Clinton and George W share blame in this along with the politicians in both parties that have been responsible for signing off on both presidential trade policies. W doesn't get a pass, sorry. I love my president; but I also left the party because of him. Some of us hold people to account for their actions - it's why we aren't democrats. But, somehow, in the minds of well-to-dos here, we're supposed to think that way with dems and then switch our brains into neutral around pubs doing the same or worst. Ain't happinin.
I completely agree. Seems to me it's all very circular. After the blue collar jobs have all been either shipped out or given to Illegals/"Guest Workers" for slave wages, we will see Unions rise again. Maybe we'll also get lot's of high tariffs on imports to pay for government run health care.
You have some interesting points, well made.
Seems like the non-union workers in the South are doing pretty good, and the cars they are producing are pretty good too.
Anybody remember that little Texan talking about a gaint sucking sound?
There are no longer American companies. The only thing American about them is they report their earnings in dollars.
My industry went thru this in the late '60's and it weren't no fun.
One thing to remember is that the only thing static about life is change. And this too shall pass. Suck it up is my advise.
Nope. You don't get it. No one on this thread has so far, so don't feel alone.
You want to blame someone for "offshoring", etc.? Blame f**king Wall Street. Everything to corporate America...........EVERYTHING...............is "quarterly results". Forget long term growth plans, forget long term strategies, forget what makes sense for the long run............ALL anyone on the Street rewards is the latest "Quarterly Results".
In this age of Information RIGHT Bloody Now, it's the way businesses have evolved: week by week, month by month, quarter by quarter. Two, five, ten years from now.......where will these companies be?
Trust me when I tell you: no one gives a flying f**k.
Cut costs; offshore your talent. Cut benefits. Piss on your employees' legs and tell them it's raining. Try to make them proud to be a force in the "world economy". Wrap up the panic in homilies and platitudes. Make them smile while they're being slowly screwed......but they don't have much choice these days to stay competitive per The Rules of the Quarter.
I should know. I'm in worldwide marketing for a very, very, very large corporation that is a household name.
You get Wall Street and their ilk to change their perceptions of what are the right moves for listed companies, what comprises sound strategies, what REALLY to look for in companies........and you'll see a change. Otherwise, deal with it.
My sympathies for those workers who are losing their jobs. It's a terrible position in which to find themselves.
What trade policies and laws would you suggest be implemented to deal with this?
Just read down to your reply #17. I'm sure by now, you've been slammed for writing the simple truth. Obviously, you aren't one of the ones making big $$$$ with the "global" agenda.