In the real world there are huge disparities in cost of goods and services too. Somehow this is not taken into account by proponents of free trade. They are talking about competion and level playing field which does not exist in real world. I cannot speak of India but in Russia they have subsidized housing, subsidized medical health, subsidized agriculture, subsidized public transportation, subsidized utilities like gas, electricity etc. How do you compete with that? Of course they are happy to make $5hr or $10k per year cause: - they have free medical care and even if they have to pay a doctor - its 10% of what we pay in US. Mind you they do not have to pay north of $100 for prescription drugs either. - They do not need to have a car - public transportation is very well developed and almost free - They do not pay for their houses/appartment - They pay pennies for utilities - They do not pay $2 for a loaf of bread. More like $0.2. Same goes for other goods and services. Same china made camera is 50% cheaper over there, cause they know they can get away with charging twice as much in US. - They do not pay anything even close to what we pay in taxes. Governments of all countries are actively involved (as they should be) in protecting businesses from unfair foreign competition. Protecting labor force from unfair competition would be a logical next step. Of course it'll never happen, be it republican or democrat.
Sounds great we should all live like that. It's just that Joe Doe would have to give up the HDTVs, PS2s, Gameboys, cool camera phones, MP3 players, DVDs, expensive dinner outs few times a week, etc. The standards of living are not comparable and Americans are used to what really is lavish spending. Americans are spoiled and their spending patterns are starting to divert funds from the necessities to luxuries.
1. How do YOU know? Spoken to them recently? 2. I suspect they would prefer to be paid and live as the average American It's amazing how some people say others prefer poverty in order to justify protectionism!
What's so hard to understand? Where did I talk about poverty? The whole point is that they live almost like royalty if they are making $5hr. And of course in USA it's way below poverty level. Their living standard at $5hr is similar to American living standard at $50hr. That's exactly why the playing field isn't level and with all the rest equal (i.e. education and experience) Americans have no chance competing. Why are you so concerned with American labor policies anyway? You're not in this country are you, what's your problem? One of those America-hating Europeans, who'd be ecstatic if American unemployment doubled and living standard plummeted, are you not? People discussing here may have different opinions but they at least have best American interests at heart. You obviously do not.
from the Fortune Magazine interview, posted here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1051078/posts
So 5000 engineers laid off from IBM fall into his "low-skill, low-paying jobs" category. Yeah, right. He's also claiming that there was not recession in this country. He obviously does not let the facts get in a way of good story No statistics regarding job import/export ratio either, just a blanket statement that we import twice as much jobs. An interesting fact I heard on TV - neither labor department nor any other organization maintain statistics regarding the number of jobs exported overseas. So they cannot possibly have an accurate number even if the wanted to. P.S. Here is a little info about Siemens hiring practices: http://www.outsourcecongress.org/USA/tata/MyStory_20020918.html "Indians from India now dominate my work group at Siemens ICN Lake Mary, FL. Theyâre in the USA on work visas, specifically here to replace American workers. My job has now changed from working on the e-Business applications that I developed, enhanced and supported for the past 6 years to training these Indians so they can take over my position and support the products I developed. My scheduled displacement date is December 2002. Others have already been replaced. We will all be displaced by December 2002. "
right-o. 'TV' is most definitely more credible than someone who's 90 years old and has been a teacher of and leader in the study of sound business practices. ooooh, yeah. wanna buy a bridge?
Just because it's coming from TV does not necessarily make it false, and just because it's coming from a 90 year old leader (who may well be out of touch with current realities) does not necessarily make it right. If you disagree with the fact I got from TV - prove it and find the statisics. If you can't - shut up. In both cases it's a good idea for you to grow some brain.
Thank you for posting our story of replacement. We have worked extremely hard to notify America of the gross injustice our Congress has inflicted on American citizens. In our Business Week article our replacement company Tata Consulting India reported having 5000 L-1 visa holders http://www.outsourcecongress.org/USA/BusinessWeek/Business_Week_Siemens.html The replacement of well educated high-tech American workers is epidemic across America. The companies replacing Americans with visa holders is a who's who of the fortune 1000. CIO magazine 9/1/04 http://www.outsourcecongress.org/USA/CIO_20030901.html Over the past 18 months I have learned alot about the crooks in DC. They do not care for you nor I nor the economy nor our children. They care about getting re-elected and corporate campaign donations are their ticket. When we contacted our representative John L. Mica, 20 days later he was banging on the doors of Siemens. 20 days later he was cashing campaign checks from Siemens. At the same time he was lying to us that he would help his constituents. In fact he called me at my house and told me he would help us; of course that was before the '02 election He never did; he only wanted to shut us up so he could get re-elected. John Mica(R) is status quo in DC. Democrats want to flood this country with poor people(illegal or legal) because poor people vote democratic. Republicans just want cheap labor for the corporations. Of course, Flooding the supply of workers suppresses wages. http://www.OutsourceCongress.org/ News videos regarding replacement of American workers http://www.OutsourceCongress.org/video/ My 9 month diary with John Mica's office http://www.OutsourceCongress.org/mica/ http://www.OutsourceCongress.org/mica/Mica_L1.html http://www.OutsourceCongress.org/mica/Mica_Contributions.html The only member of Congress actively speaking out for American workers. CO Rep. Tom Tancredo(R) http://www.OutsourceCongress/rep/tancredo/ http://www.OutsourceCongress.org/rep/ 140+ Congressional members supporting the best interests of India http://www.OutsourceCongress.org/rep/indiapac/ WA Rep Jay Inslee tells the India press "We will not stop giving you jobs" http://www.OutsourceCongress.org/rep/inslee/ http://www.OutsourceCongress.org/rep/mcdermott/ http://www.OutsourceCongress.org/rep/kirk/ http://www.OutsourceCongress.org/rep/adamsmith/ http://www.OutsourceCongress.org/rep/stearns/ http://www.OutsourceCongress.org/rep/crane/ http://www.OutsourceCongress.org/senator/lautenberg/ http://www.OutsourceCongress.org/senator/clinton/ http://www.OutsourceCongress.org/rep/eshoo/ India PAC(Political Action Committee) Chairman; a democrat supporting the interests of India's business community. http://www.OutsourceCongress.org/rep/crowley/ I suggest you tune into CNN Lou Dobbs, his "Exporting America" series is right on target. Watch some recorded videos online http://www.OutsourceCongress.org/video/