Sprint plans to send hundreds of technology jobs overseas

Kansas City Star ^ | 8/7/03 | Suzanne King

[AdamSelene235]

Three Systems of Plunder

The sincerity of those who advocate protectionism, socialism, and communism is not here questioned. Any writer who would do that must be influenced by a political spirit or a political fear. It is to be pointed out, however, that protectionism, socialism, and communism are basically the same plant in three different stages of its growth. All that can be said is that legal plunder is more visible in communism because it is complete plunder; and in protectionism because the plunder is limited to specific groups and industries.* Thus it follows that, of the three systems, socialism is the vaguest, the most indecisive, and, consequently, the most sincere stage of development.

-The Law, Frederick Bastiat

[af_vet_rr]

Just great Sprint, we need Chinese programmers working on software dealing with wireless networks, as well as the parts of the internet backbone Sprint handles (unless they already outsourced that as well).

[VadeRetro]

Arrrgghhh!

I'm starting to get really scared about this stuff. It's a 9-11 in the economic sphere.

What are Americans going to do? What do you tell a young kid to study?

[harpseal]

If the individual companies are being forced by the competition to eliminate American jobs, maybe the correct answer is to level the playing field by restoring the properly calibrated tariffs (and maybe reducing payroll tax in exchange)?

Which tax is reduced in return for the tariffs being raised is almost irrelevant. my personal choice is the Corporate income tax as that adds a benefit of reduced corporate costs that should then be passed on to the consumer in order to keep pace with competition. The payroll tax being offset by tariff revenues would put more money in people's pockets and pssibly also cut corporate expenses for labor here in the USA. Either way the tariff combined with other tax reductions is good for the American economy.

[Dr Warmoose]

If the individual companies are being forced by the competition to eliminate American jobs, maybe the correct answer is to level the playing field by restoring the properly calibrated tariffs (and maybe reducing payroll tax in exchange)?

First of all, it won't happen. The US would get hammered by international opinion if we jacked-up tarrifs. Besides, Libertarians and neo-cons would be in the front of the protest marches against any such action because they don't want to pay $10 more for a PDA but would rather see their neighbor laid off and begging for bread.

There is another problem with "tariffs". They really only apply to manufactured goods and not intellectual property, which is what IT jobs really are. Let's say that Microsoft laid off everyone of their developers in the united States and hired nothing but Russians and Indians. So this goofy-looking OS comes back, riddled with back-doors, security breaches and enough bugs to keep the Russians and Indians forever employed "correcting" the problems; they could still sell the shrink-wrapped software without tariffs. Actually, because of our stupid laws regarding the exportation of encryption technology, it would be in Microsoft's best interest to develop all of the crypto outside of the country so that the foreign made code would be exempt from the ban. Our government has placed too many laws and restrictions on domestic business to ever provide for a silver bullet solution to the outsourcing problem.

It is impossible to level the playing-field. The united States has too much infrastructure, too many dependant on entitlements, grants and aid, too many places for our military, too many economic demands around the world to ever be on the same level playing-field with nations whose idea of mutliple use technology is to use their dirt roads not only as transportation, but also as toilets and community recreation centers.

[StolarStorm]

Sprint just lost me as a customer.

[Dr Warmoose]

What are Americans going to do? What do you tell a young kid to study?

How to handle a gun.

[harpseal]

The sincerity of those who advocate protectionism, socialism, and communism is not here questioned. Any writer who would do that must be influenced by a political spirit or a political fear. It is to be pointed out, however, that protectionism, socialism, and communism are basically the same plant in three different stages of its growth. All that can be said is that legal plunder is more visible in communism because it is complete plunder; and in protectionism because the plunder is limited to specific groups and industries.* Thus it follows that, of the three systems, socialism is the vaguest, the most indecisive, and, consequently, the most sincere stage of development.

Your citation of Batiat lying about protective tariffs does not advance your case. If you would care to discuss factual cases we can discuss factual cases if you care to merely use this forum to advance your religous belief in the current trade envirornment which is only called Free Trade by those who have a lack of knowledge about the cuurrent trade envirornment expect to be completely refuted with facts not fairy stories or lies like most Free Traders put forth.

[RaceBannon]

Tell him to go into the trades, or medicine, or teaching

Everything else is outsourced, and these arent outsourced yet

Unless you consider the increase in Indian Doctors...

[Dr Warmoose]

and in protectionism because the plunder is limited to specific groups and industries.

Funny, the founders of the united States chose tariffs, aka "protectionism".

[rocky88]

something needs to be done about this soon. if the president wants to be reelected he better address it - I would say that companies doing this should be subjected to some sort of penalty, personally handed to them by Mr. Bush - it would at least be a sign that he actually cares about the jobs we are losing and will make other companies think twice.

If you can't be competitive because of what you pay your employees, find other ways to cut costs, like marketing and advertising.

I can accept losing manufacturing jobs, due to union infiltration over the years that has literally been the cause of those jobs "pricing themselves out of the market" but when you start losing white collar jobs that people in this country have spent money to educate themselves for, where does it end???

My husband's in IT and we're counting our blessings today.

[harpseal]

There is another problem with "tariffs". They really only apply to manufactured goods and not intellectual property, which is what IT jobs really are. Let's say that Microsoft laid off everyone of their developers in the united States and hired nothing but Russians and Indians. So this goofy-looking OS comes back, riddled with back-doors, security breaches and enough bugs to keep the Russians and Indians forever employed "correcting" the problems; they could still sell the shrink-wrapped software without tariffs. Actually, because of our stupid laws regarding the exportation of encryption technology, it would be in Microsoft's best interest to develop all of the crypto outside of the country so that the foreign made code would be exempt from the ban. Our government has placed too many laws and restrictions on domestic business to ever provide for a silver bullet solution to the outsourcing problem.

There is nothing about the importation of software that inherently makes it immune from tariffs.

[Dr Warmoose]

There is nothing about the importation of software that inherently makes it immune from tariffs.

So you say.

Why don't you write a potential tariff law that would cover software. I would like to see the language and how it would be defined and enforced.

[harpseal]

I can accept losing manufacturing jobs, due to union infiltration over the years that has literally been the cause of those jobs "pricing themselves out of the market" but when you start losing white collar jobs that people in this country have spent money to educate themselves for, where does it end???

I would suggest that you reconsider some of your stand on Manufacturing jobs as it is not merely Union jobs being exported mostly to China it is a whole bunch of other jobs when the Chinese maintain 50% tariffs on Americna consumer products (at least some consumer products I ahve not reasearched all of them). Harley Davidson Motorcycles have one fifthe of teh worldwide market share yet they are barred from China by non tariff barriers. They would perhaps be an ideal export to that nation but they are barred.

[Lazamataz]

It is to be pointed out, however, that protectionism, socialism, and communism are basically the same plant in three different stages of its growth.

Why, yes.

Much in the same manner as "sports automobiles, apples and oranges" being basically the same thing.

[LibertyAndJusticeForAll]

You're so right!

After listening to Arnold say he was going to clean house in Sacramento and represent the people, it made me wonder if from this growing pool of educated, highly intelligent, unemployed engineers there might not be be a few interested in running for political office. Or, maybe a retired well-off engineer?
Without a responsive and uncorrupt majority in Congress the solutions to this economic mess will not be implemented. And, I'm not sure how much time we have left to fix it.

[ex-snook]

Thanks for the ping. This needs the same message.
========

OPEN ASSIGNMENT
MISSION TO SAVE AMERICAN JOBS

President Bush:

Mr. President your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to recover the 3+ million jobs lost on your watch. You are to find where they went, recover them, and prevent this from happening again.

You have until November 2004 to complete this mission.

If you choose not to accept this mission, or are incapable of performing, don't run in the GOP Primary so another Republican can accept this important mission for America.

American Citizen Voter

PS Ronald Reagan was the last Republican to understand. Ross Perot sent a warning to your Dad but since then all we hear is the mantra, 'Perot gave us Clinton'. Actually your Dad gave us Perot.

[null and void]

Jobs being sent off shore? I'm shocked, just SHOCKED I tell ya!

[VadeRetro]

Not exactly the Land of Opportunity, anymore. Not the America I grew up in.

[VadeRetro]

Without a responsive and uncorrupt majority in Congress the solutions to this economic mess will not be implemented. And, I'm not sure how much time we have left to fix it.

I keep expecting someone to start demagoguing this issue, but so far even the Democrats are looking the wrong way, pretending to be blindsided. I don't know what's scarier, if a Dem challenger sees it before Bush does, or if nobody sees it.