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I read Thomas Friedman's book The World Is Flat and concluded that it was mostly big talk, targeted at people who are, or who desire to be Masters of the Universe (borrowing a label from the movie Titanic). While broadband communications are truly flattening the world, outsourcing is making it more hierarchical, creating wider distinctions between corporate moguls and the poor people who serve them. IBM recently announced plans for expanding their "investment" in India from $2 billion to $6 billion. If you listen to the Webcast of IBM's kickoff event in Bangalore, which is available at www.ibm.com, you might be left with the same impression as me, of Masters of the Universe congratulating one another for their successes, while skirting the issue of labor arbitrage. While Joe Pluta's arguments about limited resources may not apply precisely to intellectual capital, which globalization is mostly about, he is right about the destruction of a middle class in North America, and perhaps even more so in Western Europe. India, having a heritage, culture, and religion based on class distinction is ripe for exploitation. ----- Original Message ---- From: Trevor Perry <tperry@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Thursday, June 8, 2006 7:41:48 AM Subject: Re: [CPF0000] The globalization of COMMON, or is this the right direction? Steve, Welcome to the new world - the one that is global. Your narrow perspective is disappointing. I encourage you to read Thomas Friedman's book The World is Flat. IMHO, it is designed to educate people with the same perspective you have. If you get one thing out of the book, it would be that for every dollar invested in India - whether technology, jobs, infrastructure, etc - the returns TO the US are tenfold. With your inability to see beyond the borders of the US, your perspective can only be a detriment to the US of now and the future - the one that plays ~well~ in the global economy, and leads the way. Your narrow view would have the US as an economic follower - not the rightful place, according to recent history. To add to that, your one-man personal view of the world does not sit well in regard to COMMON. Not being an active member, your view of COMMON is simply that of an outsider. The current incarnation of COMMON is a global user group. People come from all over the world to be educated, to be updated with the latest technologies, to talk to the leaders in the System i world. By your assessment, it would be best for COMMON to ignore these people. With someone like Rajan on the board, COMMON will have a first hand understanding of the new global economy, the place that System i has in that new global economy, and how COMMON can attract people from all over the world to attend conferences and be part of the user community. I am disappointed in your narrowmindedness in this regard. A personal hot button of a non-active member should not have an impact on a vote for a board member. Slinging mud from the sidelines does nothing but stir the pot of ignorance (and by that I mean, lack of knowledge, not stupidity). Steve, if you want this to change, I encourage you to become an ACTIVE COMMON member, and if you think the board needs a change of direction, then run for a board seat. This would at least be a pro-active stance, and you would be someone who would be an activist for change and growth. At the same time, you would not be making personal attacks on a prospective board member who brings real System i and management experience to the table, and who appears committed to adding value to the board. I would hate to think your narrow perspective and personal attack would result in a the election of a nominee who is running for personal glory and has little to contribute. I encourage you to read Thomas Friedman. I encourage you to become active in the COMMON community. Yours, Trevor tperry@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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