Thomas Sowell: Guests or Gate Crashers?

Creator's Syndicate ^ | March 28, 2006 | Dr. Thomas Sowell

[maine-iac7]

LOLLOFLHHO (_{lil old lady laying on the floor laughing her heiny off}

[Jaysun]

Definitely written for Jaysun's benefit as I believe that I have argued with him on the trade topic on a different occasion.

I don't remember Joe, but I'm a free trade fanatic. I don't see offshoring as a problem and I believe the fear of losing jobs is unfounded and based on misconceptions (much like the trade deficit). Trading in services is no different than trading in goods.

Increasing profits and productivity (by offshoring) enables companies to:
-lower prices
-offer new and better types of services
-invest, resulting in more US jobs

Lastly, I think it's absurd to compare US workers to foreign workers. That is to say, employing 1,000 people in India doesn't mean that there should be 1,000 more jobs in the US. We can afford to hire 1,000 Indians where the same amount of money might only pay for 200 in the US.

Profits are good. More profits are better. As Ben Franklin once said, "trade never destroyed a nation."

[Jaysun]

When I have found myself in disagreement I know it is time to review what information it was that caused me to be in disagreement.

Good policy. Another one that I like to promote is this:

Disagreeing with me is a strong indication that you're wrong.

[LibertarianInExile]

BTTT!

[GOPJ]

If Mexican journalists were flooding into the United States and taking jobs as reporters and editors at half the pay being earned by American reporters and editors, maybe people in the media would understand why the argument about "taking jobs that Americans don't want" is such nonsense.

BINGO