Posted on 02/01/2003 11:27:51 PM PST by FightingForFreedom
Wages will not equalize between U.S. and foreign countries for a very long time, if ever. The problem is supply differences. The 100 million or so American workers are vastly outnumbered by the potential number of Chinese, Indian, and other developing nation's manufacturing and knowledge workers. The standard of living differential is also too great. The balancing act for U.S. and multi-national businesses that are outsourcing our jobs is to make sure they don't kill the golden goose (the American consumer) before they've generated an even bigger goose to take to slaughter in China, India, and other targeted markets. Remember, producing cheaply means nothing if there's nobody to buy the products. And no one has been as well-trained as the American consumer to buy, buy, buy, no matter how much in debt one becomes! As a software engineer, I've seen this problem coming for at least 5 years now, but it was well masked by the artificial high-tech bubble through March 2000. I'm not sure that there is an answer at this point -- the genie is out of the bag, so to speak. Once one company in an industry has convinced the govt to open a market in one undesirable country or other, all other companies with which it competes are forced to do the same. Bottling up the genie is notoriously difficult.
You're a great addition to FR; haven't seen you before. Welcome...this place needs more people like YOU , who think and don't " feel ". Your knowledge is refreshing; especially on this thread. :-)
That assumes that the segment of the population that purports to be 37k/yr better off does not experience immediate downward pressure on product prices because another competitor did the same thing and is ready to undercut the going rate. Static analysis fails to consider the potential of deflation, additional business failures and additional unemployment. The WalMart effect on small businesses is a continuing example in the retail space.
Not correct. This country was built on productivity and trade, but not "free trade" (especially not as "free trade" is used of late).
Tariffs and duties funded the government when it was still within its Constitutional restraints. There was none of the interference from NGOs and little from government regulators, that American businesses and workers endure today. Globalists today shun the idea of tariffs, in favor of over-taxing the productivity of American workers and further stifle homegrown ingenuity and effort with burdomsome regulation and outright prohibition.
The economic view of globalism and "free trade" is myopic because it ignores the second basic rule of Economics: "Second effects count."
Displacing employed Americans with offshore or imported labor will reduce the cost of production, but those savings will be more than offset by the lingering damage to the national economy. Any beginning economics student would be able to list the benefits and detriments of offshore and imported labor, taking into account the decline of exported manufactured goods and extracted natural resources, and trade deficits of goods and services, and would be able to project the likely resulting trends. The conclusion would be, IMO, that America is within a decade of third-world deprivation and/or a full-scale civil war.
The people making their short-term millions now had better plan for their retirement somewhere else, because America is not going to be a pretty place to live.
What damage are you talking about? What damage? Why is it lingering? Or do you mean unidentifiable?
Not as big a shame as it would be for me to have to pay you in exchange for something I don't value.
First of all, WHY are you buy nonstick pans ? Anyone who is a good cook / baker ( and yes, I am ! ) , knows that you get superior results from NONCOATED pans, which are " seasoned " by repeated use. Learn how to cook and buy something more expensive; it'll last longer.
Your sheets fall apart ? What are YOU buying ? My daughter has bought some bedding from Bed Bath and Beyond and it's still perfect... after 5 years of constant washings / being sent to the laundry. Want something that will REALLY last ? Cough up the money ( yes, they ARE expensive ) for Irish linen sheets. They'll outlast you and your chjildren and their children. Too expensive ? Okay, then buy some Wamsutta ( yes dear, an AMERICAN company )sheets, that are at least 250 count and 100% cotten percale. They need to be washed and starched and ironed; however, they'll last at least 10 years.
Your phones break after SIX months ? WHAT ARE YOU BUYING ? And here I was complaining, that our phones break after three years, or so. LOL
The problem is, that no matter how many facts we post, these people are so blinded by abject stupidity and " feelings ", that they refuse to believe the truth.
Pity the poor scribes and then the priests, who wrote books by hand, why don't you ? What about the whalers and their families and the men who built whaling vessels and whale oil lamp makers and sellers and corset makers and the people who used to manufacture those little brushed that women used to put on cake mascarra ?
Gee, I keep coming up with similarities to the old Soviet Union way of life.
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