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One way or another, anti-outsourcing legislation seems likely to pass both houses of the U.S. Congress relatively soon. Whether this comes about through the House initiative led by Bernard Sanders or through other routes isn't important. What is important is that most of the proposals being discussed have bipartisan support and outlaw the use of government dollars to support foreign jobs at the expense of American workers. From the long-run economic and military perspectives, this kind of reflex protectionism is counterproductive.
Re: Congress and Protectionism: Outsourcing Your Job
Posted by: GetGoer 2004-03-27 08:51:15 In reply to: Paul Murphy
I think this trend is here to stay in a free economy. I experienced the pain when I was let go in 2002 from a large multinational and my job was outsourced to Germany. I had to train my German counterpart on how to do what I am doing. However things were not that bad I started a small industrial equipment company and have been pretty sucessful. I have seen my income jump by 150% in last year and a half. Had I not been laid off I would still be living in a protected environment of a large corporation with biweekly bag of peanuts.
Re: Congress and Protectionism: Outsourcing Your Job
Posted by: beaner 2004-03-18 11:46:18 In reply to: Paul Murphy
You're logic seems flawed to me basically because you assume that somewhere in the future, something will certainly come to replace the jobs that have been exported.
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You go tell that to the guy who just came out of college with a computer engeneering degree and 50000$ in debt.
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"sorry kid. 3 years too late. You'll have to wait for the next trend and go back to school, in the meantime you can work at starBucks..."
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You tell that to the guy in the suburbs with a wife, 2 kids and a new home.
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"Sorry sir, maybe you could go sell carpet untill you figure out what you want to do next..."
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There is a time when corporate greed has to be stopped for the good of all. The time is right now. You call it protectionism, I call it putting your money back into the hands of the people who gave it to you in the first place. I'm sorry but I cant bare to see lives and families ruined here so that company execs can keep getting their Xmas bonuses and so that investors can make a quick buck.
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The money vacuum has to be stopped because this country is going nowhere very fast.
.
You go tell that to the guy who just came out of college with a computer engeneering degree and 50000$ in debt.
.
"sorry kid. 3 years too late. You'll have to wait for the next trend and go back to school, in the meantime you can work at starBucks..."
.
You tell that to the guy in the suburbs with a wife, 2 kids and a new home.
.
"Sorry sir, maybe you could go sell carpet untill you figure out what you want to do next..."
.
There is a time when corporate greed has to be stopped for the good of all. The time is right now. You call it protectionism, I call it putting your money back into the hands of the people who gave it to you in the first place. I'm sorry but I cant bare to see lives and families ruined here so that company execs can keep getting their Xmas bonuses and so that investors can make a quick buck.
.
The money vacuum has to be stopped because this country is going nowhere very fast.
Re: Congress and Protectionism: Outsourcing Your Job
Posted by: Paul_Murphy 2004-03-18 14:10:33 In reply to: beaner
Oops! I think my title confused you. This article is supposed to incite you to phone every elected representative you can find - including those just running for election- and tell them to support immediate action.
Please understand, there are difficult issues here. In the long run protectionism isn't effective; but right now - in the short term- it's the only answer because the Chinese communists aren't playing by the rules.
Personally I think a trade mirroring act, something that enabled the US to treat imports from countries like China they way they treat imports from the US would be both more fair and more effective - but congress is unlikely to pass something like that. A short term ban on sending taxpayer dollars offshore may be less fair and less effective, but its do-able. So please, don't misunderstand - and get out there to help get it done!
Please understand, there are difficult issues here. In the long run protectionism isn't effective; but right now - in the short term- it's the only answer because the Chinese communists aren't playing by the rules.
Personally I think a trade mirroring act, something that enabled the US to treat imports from countries like China they way they treat imports from the US would be both more fair and more effective - but congress is unlikely to pass something like that. A short term ban on sending taxpayer dollars offshore may be less fair and less effective, but its do-able. So please, don't misunderstand - and get out there to help get it done!
Re: Congress and Protectionism: Outsourcing Your Job
Posted by: cahroch 2004-03-22 17:58:55 In reply to: Paul_Murphy
Hello-
Both my husband and I were laid off from IBM after being outsourced from AT&T. When we were targetted for outsourcing, we could not look elsewhere in AT&T for other opportunities, we were stuck. Once we moved to IBM in 1999, I was laid off in 2002 and my husband was laid off in 2003!!!! We cannot find suitable work because our jobs were offshored to another country, my husbands 26 weeks of unemployment has just run out. From making a decent living we are close to financial ruin. We will probably lose our home since we had purchased it based on our income. We do not have health insurance because we cannot AFFORD it.We do not qualify yet for the Trade Act Assistance because although our positions are no longer in this Country, what we did is considered "Not Tangible"?????? What's wrong with this picture??
My husband has a BA in Computer Science. He was a programmer, I a Business Analyst. I worked for AT&T for 21 years and my husband for 10 years. How can anyone that has a half a brain in their head say that these IT folks need to be retrained for other careers?? With the financial positions that most of us are in, where do they expect us to get the money to pay for retraining?? We can barely pay our mortgage!! IBM has stated that they are allocating monies to retrain certain employees whose jobs were outsourced, what about the thousands that IBM has already laid off??? What are they doing about them? Did IBM even consider that they were letting both a husband and a wife go in matter of 1 year??? Oh yes, not to mention, we also have a 6 year old son. I never in my life thought that this country is allowing this to continue. I also cannot understand how can outsourcing be beneficial for the economy in this country? Who will keep the economy going if no one has a job?? What I would propose is that if a company wishes to outsource then they must PAY for retraining of each American that lost their job. They must be accountable and responsible for once. I always thought that "Money is the root of all evil" the real meaning is "The love of money is the root of all evil". SHAME on all the companies and our government who left and are continuing to leave Americans out in the cold to DIE. They will all have to live with their conscience. My husband and I may be in dire strats right now, but at least we can put our heads on the pillow at night and go to sleep.
WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!Before it's too late tell your senators and congress that you wont stand for it anymore. Enough is Enough!
Both my husband and I were laid off from IBM after being outsourced from AT&T. When we were targetted for outsourcing, we could not look elsewhere in AT&T for other opportunities, we were stuck. Once we moved to IBM in 1999, I was laid off in 2002 and my husband was laid off in 2003!!!! We cannot find suitable work because our jobs were offshored to another country, my husbands 26 weeks of unemployment has just run out. From making a decent living we are close to financial ruin. We will probably lose our home since we had purchased it based on our income. We do not have health insurance because we cannot AFFORD it.We do not qualify yet for the Trade Act Assistance because although our positions are no longer in this Country, what we did is considered "Not Tangible"?????? What's wrong with this picture??
My husband has a BA in Computer Science. He was a programmer, I a Business Analyst. I worked for AT&T for 21 years and my husband for 10 years. How can anyone that has a half a brain in their head say that these IT folks need to be retrained for other careers?? With the financial positions that most of us are in, where do they expect us to get the money to pay for retraining?? We can barely pay our mortgage!! IBM has stated that they are allocating monies to retrain certain employees whose jobs were outsourced, what about the thousands that IBM has already laid off??? What are they doing about them? Did IBM even consider that they were letting both a husband and a wife go in matter of 1 year??? Oh yes, not to mention, we also have a 6 year old son. I never in my life thought that this country is allowing this to continue. I also cannot understand how can outsourcing be beneficial for the economy in this country? Who will keep the economy going if no one has a job?? What I would propose is that if a company wishes to outsource then they must PAY for retraining of each American that lost their job. They must be accountable and responsible for once. I always thought that "Money is the root of all evil" the real meaning is "The love of money is the root of all evil". SHAME on all the companies and our government who left and are continuing to leave Americans out in the cold to DIE. They will all have to live with their conscience. My husband and I may be in dire strats right now, but at least we can put our heads on the pillow at night and go to sleep.
WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!Before it's too late tell your senators and congress that you wont stand for it anymore. Enough is Enough!
Re: Congress and Protectionism: Outsourcing Your Job
Posted by: networld 2004-06-17 13:00:13 In reply to: cahroch
Hi Cahroch,
I find your story very intruiging. I am managing editor for a technology trade magazine. I would like to put more of a human face to the dilemma of outsourcing. Would you be willing to discuss this issue further with me outside of this forum?
I find your story very intruiging. I am managing editor for a technology trade magazine. I would like to put more of a human face to the dilemma of outsourcing. Would you be willing to discuss this issue further with me outside of this forum?
