From: Samantha Atkins (samantha@objectent.com)
Date: Sun Aug 10 2003 - 01:50:39 MDT
On Friday 08 August 2003 19:55, Spudboy100@aol.com wrote:
> I see the actions of the boards of directors of these fortune 500
> companies(since small companies are less financially able to off-shore) as
> being sufficiently removed from reality. The Russian Czars or Marie
> Antionette were realists in comparison.
It is not at all true that only large companies are able to off-shore some of
their work. I work for a company of < 100 people who uses some off-shore
labor on a contract basis occassionally. The off-shore labor is cheaper for
the tasks needed (in this case, much of the manual portion of QA testing).
The skill basis of off-shore workers is rising faster than their
compensation. So any company looking to remain competitive must consider
such options.
> A kind of protectionism, that would make Smoot-Hartley blush is on its way.
> But this will be a limit on off-shoring of jobs, not manufactured goods. On
> the other hand, getting these members of the board and stockholders to live
> where the jobs are, might be salutory. Getting rid of the greediest and
> short-sidedist would benefit the US.
>
It is amusing when supposed capitalist argue that it is greedy and
shortsighted to find the lowest costs for materials and labor that one can to
produce the products and services. It is even more ironically amusing when
pro-globalization folks decry competition in labor and goods from other
countries. It looks as if some folks are only fair-weather friends of open
markets, capitalism and globalization.
There is nothing that does or should guarantee you or I a job at or near the
same rate as we have today or had two years ago for the same or nearly the
same work. This is inherent in a period of accelerated change and rapidly
advancing technology. We can discuss whether there should be more
guarantees and safety nets but it is hypocritical as hell to decry these
outcomes for ourselves while expecting other people around the world to grin
an bear it for their own good. Who are we trying to kid?
> Have you ever noticed that those who "run" corporations have never
> developed a business from scratch? They supposedly "growned" already
> established enterprises; or maybe all they are good at is graduating from
> the right schools, memberships in the right fraternities, and making
> speeches which would make any soviet apparatchik green with envy? Almost
> none have ever been real business people, just "managers" and marketing
> schmucks.
>
Sigh. This is really juvenile.
- samantha
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