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Posted on 07/16/2003 10:42:49 AM PDT by IonInsights
LAS VEGAS: When a former US secretary of state of the stature of Dr Henry Kissinger walks into a technology conference, 10,000 techies filling up the Ballroom at Mandarin Bay stand and applaud, even before he says anything. When he answers a question about outsourcing of economic activity, his reply draws a bigger applause from the largely American audience.
“If outsourcing would continue to the point of stripping the United States of its industrial base, and of the act of getting out its own technology, then it requires really careful thought of national policy and probably create incentives to prevent it from happening.”
It was Mr Sanjay Kumar, chairman and CEO of Computer Associates (CA) who put the question to him. Mr Kumar mentioned the increased outsourcing of technology related work, from insurance claims, airline reservations, computer programming to countries like India and China and asked Dr Kissinger whether this would erode middle class power bases in Europe and the US.
Dr Kissinger’s answer: “I don’t look at this from an economic point of view but the political and social points of view. The question really is whether America can remain a great power or a dominant power if it becomes a primarily service economy, and I doubt that. A country has to have an industrial base in order to play a significant role in the world. And I am concerned from that point of view.” The mood was unambiguous — American jobs must not be lost.
Mr Kumar also reminded him about his acceptance speech after winning the Nobel Peace prize where he had voiced concerns about the rise of technology, and asked whether he had changed his mind about technology since then. Dr Kissinger said, “My concerns have mounted since then. I am of a generation that grew up on books. It helps you develop concepts. With computers, you don’t have to remember things because the information is all there.” He worries that despite the fact that there is an explosion of information, the problem is how to transform information into knowledge and knowledge into wisdom.
“I worked with leaders who had an intuitive sense of the future although they didn’t have so much information. Statesmen have progressively more information but they have progressively more insecurity because they have no sense of the evolution of the system,” he said. The role of technology should be to bridge the gap between availability of information and the ability to use it, Dr Kissinger said. An idea that the IT industry will have to mull over.
Sounds reasonable.
I'm 56, BSEE, built nuclear plants, built space launch platforms, launched space shuttles from the front row, can design AND build just about anything in any field, but find myself out of tune with post-industrial America. Nobody is hiring people like you and me who actually know how to do things.
I predict that Bush will be a one-term President if he doesn't wake up pretty soon.
I've got this feeling that I'm not exactly alone in terms my circumstances and outlook.
Roger that.
You mean the way American products are thwarted from being sold overseas by other nations high import duties?
Exactly what fundamental freedoms are you talking about?
Freedeom From Tariffs? The Constitution says otherwise.
Freedom to take money from me and my business and hand it over to my competitor? That's not in the Constitution.
What fundamental freedom did you lose by Reagans bike tariff?
I thought we were talking about free trade. I don't condone protectionism. By anyone.
Exactly what fundamental freedoms are you talking about?
I was talking about the fundamental right of human beings to conduct their own affairs and make their own arrangements. It is no ones legitimate business what I buy from whom and at what price.
Freedeom From Tariffs? The Constitution says otherwise.
You debating yourself? I never made any assertion remotely like that.
Freedom to take money from me and my business and hand it over to my competitor? That's not in the Constitution.
Huh? Bizarre comment. Unrelated to anything I have said.
What fundamental freedom did you lose by Reagans bike tariff?
The one I just mentioned.
Founding Fathers used these - the tariffs.
I agree with your post, but not with your quote. There are things in life, very valuable, which are not tangible and which will go away when you stop believing in them. Descartes was wrong.
Yes. For example fixing your teeth is expensive. For a family to have more than one room is also expensive. Taking bath everyday is expensive. Driving a car instead of a crowded bus or bicycle is expensive.
This is almost unbelievable. The idea of Henry Kissinger supporting nationalistic trade policy so undercuts the free-traders that the political debate may be over. Just like his sending Nixon to China instantly ended the debate about keeping Taiwan on the U.N. Security Council. Kissinger was the only one who could get us into China, he may now be the one who can get us out.
Main Entry: free trade
Function: noun
Date: 1823
: trade based on the unrestricted international exchange of goods with tariffs used only as a source of revenue
I'm talking about free trade. You?
I was talking about the fundamental right of human beings to conduct their own affairs and make their own arrangements. It is no ones legitimate business what I buy from whom and at what price.
I'm glad you see the WOD as anti liberty. Still, the Constitution usurps your emanating, penumbral right to purchase imported goods sans tariff. Sorry.
Freedeom From Tariffs? The Constitution says otherwise.
You debating yourself? I never made any assertion remotely like that.
But that's what I'm advocating as a means of maintaining, higher standards of living. Not as an entitlement, but as a self protective function of our government. Tariffs. So, to clarify, we don't have a right to a high standard of living, but we do have a right to demand that our government put in place Constitutionally enumerated tariffs in our own interest, or else suffer the wrath in '04.
Freedom to take money from me and my business and hand it over to my competitor? That's not in the Constitution.
Huh? Bizarre comment. Unrelated to anything I have said.
Not as bizarre as you saying: "I was talking about the fundamental right of human beings to conduct their own affairs and make their own arrangements. It is no ones legitimate business what I buy from whom and at what price." Which, if it includes imported goods, is not a right you have under our Constitutional Republic. And in light of the IRS, BATF and DEA, it's not a right you have at all.
What fundamental freedom did you lose by Reagans bike tariff?
The one I just mentioned.
You don't have that emanating penumbral Constitutional right to buy Jap bikes sold on the cheap.
I think I'm gonna cry. Why is this not what every American politician holds true? Fair Trade, NOT Free Trade.
P.S. Glad you're still around the forum. Good luck on finding a job. I'm starting to find that "guerilla employment" may be the way to go.
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