Lawmakers Can't Arrest U.S. Job Shift to India to Lower Costs

Bloomberg ^ | 12/31/03 | Bloomberg

[A. Pole]

The final evolution may be the "robot" surgeon I was on the TV just today. It was not really a robot, but a surgical machine operated by a "remote presence", including audio, visual, and tactile feedback. A remotely-located surgeon stuck his hands into some manipulator gloves, and the machine mimicked his every move. So here is a vision of the future: for 10% of the local cost, Dr. Sanjeeb in Bangalore does your surgery by remote control. No need for domestic medical professionals. Cheaper and "better" to do it overseas.

There is a simpler method - put patients on the plane and fly them for the operation to Bombay. Even you you use the space of three or four seats the total price can be reduced four times.

Maybe patients will have to be put to sleep before. When they wake up (if they wake up) they will be back in US. :)

[RiflemanSharpe]

It has nothing to do with Bush or even a Demoncrat.

I am afraid it does. The majority of the people in this country base their votes largely on how they perceive the economy and jobs to be. If it is good they keep the party that is in power, if it is not they traditionally vote for the opposition.

[A. Pole]

In 20 years, will there be any more US citizen engineers or programmers?"

Only the selected cream of the crop will survive.

They will be old. Remember that you need entry level positions to get new good/experienced engineers.

[chris1]

You obviously never have run your own business.

[A. Pole]

An acquaintance was telling me that PC Expo was about 1/4 the space. It used to take up all of Jacob Javitz. Also there was a small booth for "jobs". Programmers were offered $5.00 to $7.00 per hour for contract programming jobs.

$5.00 to $7.00 per hour might be good for the retired or for those whose spouse is still working.

[chris1]

It has been a racket for a long time!

[FITZ]

I already do all that --- I make more than $12 an hour but I still avoid calling repairmen. The problem if too many stop spending and buying new cars it's going to look like the economy is bad because now they measure how it's doing by consumer spending.

[Ed_in_NJ]

If we all do that the economy WILL be bad.

And that's the ONLY way anyone in DC is going to do anything about it!

[FITZ]

At least India hasn't played the race card.

Since they're caucasians maybe they can't.

[FITZ]

And they won't realize that people saving money, not buying things they don't need with credit cards, a decreasing trade deficit are actually healthy signs.

[WilliamofCarmichael]

RE: racism against Indian Caucasians

Thanks for the reminder. Nevertheless economics and self-interest trumps truth. I have absolutely no doubt the "race" card will be used by some in the Indian-American hyphenated community to protect their self-interest by stirring emotions. Here is an indication.

The US India Political Action Committee (www.usinpac.com) lists six important issues. Three of them have traditionally been associated with racial issues.

Civil Rights Ensure equal protection under the law, and protection of rights

Entrepreneurship and Business Advocacy for issues such as small business and government contracting

US - India Relations Strengthen US-India bilateral relations in defense, trade, and business

Equal Opportunity Advocacy for appointments of Indian Americans in the Executive and Judicial branches of Government

Immigration Promote a fair and balanced policy on immigration

Anti Hate-Crime Measures Ensure protection from hate-crimes

USINPAC is against keeping jobs here BTW. To wit,

One of USINPAC goal's is to "Prevent any protectionist legislation on IT outsourcing at the Federal level. Protectionist moves, such as a law enacted by the state legislature of New Jersey in December 2002 that deters offshore outsourcing for state contracts, could harm the mutually beneficial US-India relationship in IT. Offshore IT outsourcing saves the United States billions of dollars annually."

Does offshore IT outsourcing really save the United States billions of dollars annually? To wit, lost consumer demand and its multiplier effects.

It's debatable and a bit disingenuous. IMO they are looking out for India like most hyphenated groups they are concerned about their own, not the U.S. of A. IMO.

[riri]

I see the issue of decent paying jobs being the one issue the rats can hurt Bush with

Except the only answer the rats seem to come up with is throwing money at the problem to "create" jobs in healthcare, government and homeland security.

I actually think the younger people are better off. They will be able to adjust, leave the country, and just won't remeber it anyother way.

It's the 40 something guy I feel for. What's he to do?

[WilliamofCarmichael]

At the risk of sounding like I'm bashing recruiters (I am not) many years ago I got a call from one looking for someone with FOCUS experience. It was not on my resume but MicroFocus was. I guess tiny experience (or the tiny version?) was better than none.

[Jhoffa_]

Engineering? HAH! We're a "Service Economy" now.


Didn't you get the memo?

[Jhoffa_]

U.S. workers who aren't designing computer chips or answering telephones will be working on the next level of high technology, such as nanotechnology, the science of manipulating atoms or molecules for commercial application, Commerce Department Undersecretary Phillip Bond said in an interview.

What gives this person the idea that the "next level of high technology" will be created here either?

In addition, Mr. Greenspan's comment, "New jobs will replace old ones, as they always have" is similar in nature..

What exactly makes him believe that these "new" jobs will be created here? Blind faith in Free Market ideology?

[hedgetrimmer]

Your mantra is get another job. People post an example, and you still insult the poster and the person who is supposedly following your advice. It is very clear, you are a nothing. A nit. You have nothing of value to add to the discussion.

[SC oops]

Who will purchase a computer when the people who build them can not afford to buy one ?

[Feldkurat_Katz]

At the risk of sounding like I'm bashing recruiters (I am not) many years ago I got a call from one looking for someone with FOCUS experience. It was not on my resume but MicroFocus was. I guess tiny experience (or the tiny version?) was better than none.

Most headhunters are salesmen by nature (my best tech headhunter was a former car salesman!) and usually don't know much about what they are selling. They know buzzwords open doors and it's really all they need to know.

Your story reminds me of how Richard Feynman got a call from a guy who tried to recruit him to head some rocket research lab, all because Feynman had his name on a patent loosely related to rockets, which he got while working for the Manhattan Project.

[FITZ]

I think once they figure out how readily we will change and invent new racial categories ---- they're a little slow being accustomed to being Caucasians and not only that --- English speaking Caucasians.

One thing I'll say for Indians --- you usually don't find them trying to be the next victim class, they haven't needed Affirmative Action to help them with college admissions or jobs. They kind of remind me more of how the Jewish people have been traditionally.

[TheFrog]

Hmm, I have to throw the BS flag. "There is new stuff, sure. But a new language or a revsion or Oracle does not obsolete the basic stuff one learns if at a decent school."

Have you used Punch Cards, tape on a "new" TI Silent 700? So you are telling me you still Oracle Forms 2.0?
Do you still write DOS batch files, ALGOL?
How many of the 200 programming languages that existed in 1960 are still in use today?
Do you even know who Grace Murray Hopper is?

Hint when I obtained my first degree Interactive System Corp. had just started selling Unix commercially.