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White-Collar Exodus
ABC News ^ | July 29, 2003 | Betsy Stark

Posted on 08/03/2003 7:42:08 AM PDT by RockyMtnMan

Michael Emmons thought he knew how to keep a job as a software programmer.

"You have to continue to keep yourself up to speed," he said. "If you don't, you'll get washed out."

Up to speed or not, Emmons wound up being "washed out" anyway. Last summer, he moved his family from California to Florida for the Siemens Co., makers of electronics and equipment for industries. Not long after, Emmons and 19 other programmers were replaced by cheaper foreign workers.

Adding insult to injury, Emmons and the others had to train their replacements.

"It was the most demoralizing thing I've ever been through," he told ABCNEWS. "After spending all this time in this industry and working to keep my skills up-to-date, I had to now teach foreign workers how to do my job so they could lay me off."

Just as millions of American manufacturing jobs were lost in the 1980s and 1990s, today white-collar American jobs are disappearing. Foreign nationals on special work visas are filling some positions but most jobs are simply contracted out overseas.

"The train has left the station, the cows have left the barn, the toothpaste is out of the tube," said John McCarthy, director of research at Forrester Research, who has studied the exodus of white-collar jobs overseas. "However you want to talk about it, you're not going to turn the tide on this in the same way we couldn't turn the tide on the manufacturing shift."

India Calling

Almost 500,000 white-collar American jobs have already found their way offshore, to the Philippines, Malaysia and China. Russia and Eastern Europe are expected to be next. But no country has captured more American jobs than India.

In Bangalore, India, reservation agents are booking flights for Delta; Indian accountants are preparing tax returns for Ernst & Young; and Indian software engineers are developing new products for Oracle.

They are all working at a fraction of the cost these companies would pay American workers.

For example, American computer programmers earn about $60,000, while their Indian counterparts only make $6,000.

"It's about cost savings," said Atul Vashistha, CEO of NeoIT, a California-based consulting company that advises American firms interested in "offshoring" jobs previously held by Americans. "They need to significantly reduce their cost of doing business and that's why they're coming to us right now."

Vivek Pal, an Indian contractor for technology consulting group Wipro, whose clients include Microsoft, GE, JP Morgan Chase, and Best Buy, is hiring 2,000 Indian workers quarterly to keep up with demand. Pal knows American workers resent the "offshoring" trend but says all Americans will benefit in the long run.

"Globalization — whether it's for products or services — may feel like it hurts, but at the end of the day, it creates economic value all around," said Pal.

At the end of the day, Emmons has a different view: "If you sit at a desk, beware," he said. "Your job is going overseas."


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Government; Philosophy; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: outsourcing
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To: Lazamataz
Tariffs sure would help that situation greatly. MFN status with China was utter insanity, and what is more insane, was at the time I was indifferent to the granting thereof.

I've come a long way in my political education.

And, JMO, it seems that you have a long way to go in economic education.

High tariffs after the stock market fall in 29, worsend the depression.

421 posted on 08/03/2003 6:21:20 PM PDT by Dane
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To: Lazamataz
"'If we don’t have a manufacturing sector, we don’t have an economy. If we don’t have manufacturing jobs, we don’t have a middle class," Johnson told the cheering crowd gathered in Welte Hall at Central Connecticut State University."

Manufacturing rally draws 1,200

Richard W.

422 posted on 08/03/2003 6:23:49 PM PDT by arete (Greenspan is a ruling class elitist and closet socialist who is destroying the economy)
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To: Lazamataz
A few of us are beginning to question his honesty, concerning his business. I don't think a lot of successful businesspeople act like he does.

I'm not so sure. My radar tells me he's on the up and up. His message may be something many don't want to hear in the coming depression.

The coming economic malaise will, or may be, due to offshoring. I just don't see how the markets, especially the real real estate market can avoid a downturn with so many having their income reduced.

423 posted on 08/03/2003 6:26:03 PM PDT by Concentrate (Unintended consequences are, well, unintended.)
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To: Dane
>>But you go ahead get yourself into a tizzy, while ignoring all the facts and machinations of modern American politics.
<<

Dane, I said nothing rude or even confrontational to you. You are the one in a tizzy, it seems to me.
424 posted on 08/03/2003 6:26:57 PM PDT by SerpentDove (Visit my profile page. Steal my graphics.)
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To: Concentrate
What has really made the US rich is the fact that we destroyed nearly all of industrial bases of competing countries during WWII, which is why jobs and retirement packages were secure

1945-1965 were great years for the US economy. The US was the only industrialized country left intact after the war.

The countries in war torn Europe bought our good to rebuild their economies and the unions got everything they wanted and the steel companies and car companies acquiesed, but there was also danger that bore itself out. The US became complacent and lazy, and when the newly rebuilt economies of Europe and Japan could compete, they did very well, and Americans flocked to their quality products.

But all good times come to an end, though some wish they could click their ruby slippers and go back to those times, while ignoring the present world all around them.

425 posted on 08/03/2003 6:28:18 PM PDT by Dane
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To: arete
Another sign said "Fair Trade, not Free Trade." Another read "Save the Middle Class."

From the article, it looks like Democrats are getting ready to reject free trade in favor of fair trade. Dodd was whipping this rally into a fever.

This is strange, because historically, Republicans have favored tariffs. Looks like they are abandoning them, and Democrats are grabbing the issue as fast as possible.

Bush -- or if not Bush, other Republicans -- are in a world of hurt if they let this happen.

426 posted on 08/03/2003 6:29:30 PM PDT by Lazamataz (PROUDLY POSTING WITHOUT READING THE ARTICLE SINCE 1999!)
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To: SerpentDove
Dane, I said nothing rude or even confrontational to you. You are the one in a tizzy, it seems to me.

That's not confontational, it was observational.

I just pointed out the facts of what a Perot vote brought you, eight years of Clinton.

427 posted on 08/03/2003 6:30:41 PM PDT by Dane
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To: arete
Nancy Johnson on Free Trade
for 2 full quotes for background on Free Trade.
  • Voted NO on withdrawing from the WTO. (Jun 2000)
  • Voted YES on 'Fast Track' authority for trade agreements. (Sep 1998)

428 posted on 08/03/2003 6:31:38 PM PDT by sarcasm (Tancredo 2004)
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To: SerpentDove
Dane, I said nothing rude or even confrontational to you.

Welcome to Dane. He thrives on negative attention. I shall ruin his evening. I shall give him none.

429 posted on 08/03/2003 6:31:56 PM PDT by Lazamataz (PROUDLY POSTING WITHOUT READING THE ARTICLE SINCE 1999!)
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To: Lazamataz
Subject for another thread - this one is long enough already.
430 posted on 08/03/2003 6:33:13 PM PDT by garbanzo (Free people will set the course of history)
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To: Concentrate
The coming economic malaise will, or may be, due to offshoring. I just don't see how the markets, especially the real real estate market can avoid a downturn with so many having their income reduced.

Correct. So don't you think it is a good idea to discourage offshoring in every possible way?

431 posted on 08/03/2003 6:33:51 PM PDT by Lazamataz (PROUDLY POSTING WITHOUT READING THE ARTICLE SINCE 1999!)
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To: Lazamataz
This is strange, because historically, Republicans have favored tariffs. Looks like they are abandoning them, and Democrats are grabbing the issue as fast as possible.

Bush -- or if not Bush, other Republicans -- are in a world of hurt if they let this happen

Huh, Reagan wasn't for tariffs at all. He used them selctively, but he was free trader.

BTW, where was Dodd when NAFTA came up for a vote and of course Dodd did play defense for Clinton selling our military secrets to the Chi-Coms for campaign contributions.

But what the hey it looks like all is forgiven for Dodd to you, becuase he is pandering to you "the world is coming to an end types".

432 posted on 08/03/2003 6:35:04 PM PDT by Dane
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To: garbanzo
Subject for another thread - this one is long enough already.

Comon give it up garbanzo. Don't give me the excuse this thread is too long. Hobbit hole threads are 12,000 strong and they still can talk.

433 posted on 08/03/2003 6:35:16 PM PDT by Lazamataz (PROUDLY POSTING WITHOUT READING THE ARTICLE SINCE 1999!)
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To: Dane
No negative attention for you, boy.
434 posted on 08/03/2003 6:36:31 PM PDT by Lazamataz (PROUDLY POSTING WITHOUT READING THE ARTICLE SINCE 1999!)
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To: Lazamataz
I think Bush will "get it" now.

What on earth makes you think Bush has a problem with this? He is a Harvard MBA and a globalist. His Yale and Harvard classmates are at the apex of American industry, driving this very exodus.

435 posted on 08/03/2003 6:37:19 PM PDT by montag813
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To: sarcasm
How come you didn't post Dodd's vote?

Oh BTW, Dodd was the DNC chairman when Clinton sold the Chinese, miltary secrets.

Oh I forgot, Dodd is your man now, nevermind.

436 posted on 08/03/2003 6:37:52 PM PDT by Dane
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To: PatrioticAmerican
If affect, Dubya said, "Put some ice on it."

LOL!!!!!

BTW, you KNOW that this issue has legs because these posts run 200+, 300+, 400+ replies, and has been the only one where 'they' can't answer with a Clinton Era quote or story.

Yes, it started under Clinton, but a book about that, The Judas Economy came out in the late 1990's while we were all into Blue Dress Stains and Raped Nursing Home Directors.

This issue will be hung around Dubya's neck.

AOL-Time Warner-CNN have started the coordinated attack!!

437 posted on 08/03/2003 6:38:51 PM PDT by Lael (It is time to make "OUTSOURCING" the litmus test!!)
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To: Lazamataz
No negative attention for you, boy

IOW, Laz doesn't want to refute reply #432. It doesn't square with his own little world.

438 posted on 08/03/2003 6:39:38 PM PDT by Dane
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To: Lazamataz
The income tax is now trivial ($45 per year for a family of four earning $40k/yr)

Once you take 7% FICA + state income tax + sales tax + property tax + vehicle taxes and fees + dog license fees + I'll bet he still pays 30% of his income in taxes.

439 posted on 08/03/2003 6:41:49 PM PDT by AndyJackson
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To: RockyMtnMan
The major liberal media networks will play this up to make Bush look life a failure. The truth, like any other time, people must seek out new skills.
440 posted on 08/03/2003 6:42:24 PM PDT by nmh
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