Free Trade's Great, but Offshoring Rattles Me

The Washington Post ^ | Sunday, May 6, 2007; Page B04 | Alan S. Blinder

[mom4kittys]

I realize that the labelling would be problematic. (It would be a brochure! lol)
A few of us concerned about this have emailed different companies about where they get ingredients and whatnot and some have not been very cooperative. That is not fair to the consumer. If we wanted to make a statement against chinese products, we don’t have the knowledge to work with.

[Toddsterpatriot]

China is now the world’s leading exporter of apple juice and, in 2004, had a 56-percent share of the U.S. import market.

Oops, I read that as 56% of the entire juice market, instead of just the import market.

More info here (PDF file)

[Toddsterpatriot]

I wonder if they would try something like “some ingredients are imported from foreign markets”......

Too vague to be of any use.

Imagine how many labels would include that - we’d probably be stunned by the sheer numbers..

Probably most of them. It's a global food market.

[Toddsterpatriot]

A few of us concerned about this have emailed different companies about where they get ingredients and whatnot and some have not been very cooperative.

Bug your Congressman instead.

[mom4kittys]

Will do!

[1rudeboy]

I bought some tomatoes (still on the vine) just a few days ago. I’m assuming they are from California or Mexico, given the season. Thing is, each tomato has a neat little sticker advertising a Disney DVD. Go figure.

[Toddsterpatriot]

Exported from Never Never Land?

[tcrlaf]

It’s a WHOLE lot more than a “Few” bucks...

Outforcing has been happening sincew the 70’s, but it seems only lately that folks are beginning to care...

The article is flawed in that it doesn’t touch on the main reasons for outforcing, but why it’s become simpler.

Over-Taxation, Over-Unionization, Inane Enviro Regs, and UNLIMITED CIVIL LIABILITY are the primary culprits for Outforced jobs.

The guy in Bangalore doesn’t dare call off for a sunshine holiday. He doesn’t sue because he was slighted by some percieved racial remark, or because his but wasn’t in a $1,200 ergonomic chair for 3 months.

He lives a pretty good lifestyle on the salary, and doesn’t spend 120 hours a year in sensitivity training, Gender diversity training, women in the workplace, conflict resolution, and sexual harassment avoidance training....

In short, the bill for Liberalism has been pushed off onto later generations for decades, and now it’s due in full.

[itsahoot]

Problem is, they can’t get over their fear of competition itself enough to agree with him.

You could be replaced with a goof headache. Noone here would miss you.

[Kevmo]

That title sums up the way I view things pretty well. Bump for later reading.

[Toddsterpatriot]

You could be replaced with a goof headache.

Is that what you get when you drink your Slurpee too fast?

[Kevmo]

Forgot to include one of the more compelling voices on this issue, which has kind of been with us for a while now.

Debunking the Myth of a Desperate Software Labor Shortage
Testimony to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Immigration ^ | April 21, 1998 | Dr. Norman Matloff

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/705954/posts

[SE Mom]

His final statement:

That is why I am going public with my concerns now. If we economists stubbornly insist on chanting “Free trade is good for you” to people who know that it is not, we will quickly become irrelevant to the public debate. Compared with that, a little apostasy should be welcome.

[Fishrrman]

Don't outsource you!
Don't outsource me!
Outsource that guy behind the tree!

What will be left for Americans?

- John

[1rudeboy]

I will check to see if you appeared on that Hershey layoff thread. If you did, you are a hypocrite.

[Ultra Sonic 007]

Ping of interest.

[SE Mom]

Well- given some of the nonsense Disney has associated itself with latterly...just be sure it’s not a rotten mater;)

[AuntB]

Problem is, they can’t get over their fear of competition itself enough to agree with him.

Fear of competition? Since when is cheap imported or outsourced labor 'competition'?

I don't know what you do for a living, rudeboy, but I bet we can find someone to do it cheaper, even if we have to do it illegally....that's what you're all about after all.

[1rudeboy]

I don't know what you do for a living, rudeboy, but I bet we can find someone to do it cheaper, even if we have to do it illegally . . . .

Then do it. I'm not afraid. You are.

[grey_whiskers]

Like, *PING*, dude.