Re: [CPF0000] The globalization of COMMON, or is this the right direction? -- MIDRANGE-L

Paul,

It is so simple, it is obvious.

When computers were invented, they said humans would lose jobs totechnology. The unemployment rate is still the same. When outsourcingstarted, they said Americans would lose jobs. The unemployment rate is stillthe same.

Without a doubt, there are individuals in the country who have a hard timefinding a new job - when the skill set changes, they cannot change, and theyare left behind. This has been the same whether the jobs went overseas or toanother part of the country. I don't know this widow and her kids inCalifornia or the family in South Dakota who are hurting, and I don't thinkyou do, either. I think you are listening to political thetoric.Unemployment is difficult, sure, but jobs moving overseas has not created ahigher unemployment situation. The country is NOT in the bad shape you andSteve pronounce it to be.


Job skills in the US are shifting - welcome to the GLOBAL economy.
Trevor

P.S. If you think Thomas Friedman is claiming to be an economist, you missedthe point of the book. Take off your hat that allows you to only see to theborder, and read it again! :-)

----- Original Message -----From: <pnelson@xxxxxxxxxx>Subject: Re: [CPF0000] The globalization of COMMON,or is this the rightdirection?

<<for every dollar invested in India - whether technology, jobs,
infrastructure, etc - the returns TO the US are tenfold.>>

Trevor,

You know I love you man, but try telling this to that widow and her kids
in California. Try telling this to a family in South Dakota that all of a
sudden is figuring out how to supplement themselves on food stamps because
Mom's call center job went overseas and Dad's working the farm AND working
in a factory. I don't know if you've ever stared at an unemployment check,
but I have. They are not a pretty sight.

I've read Thomas Friedman. I'm not sure that a degree in Mediterranean
Studies qualifies him as an economist. I've also read Milton Friedman. I
had a double major in Business and Economics, and I can do the math just
as well as anyone. In the long run, your arguments just don't wash. If you
want to see the effects of outsourcing (of any kind), come to the south
side of Chicago. You'll see first hand the effects of NAFTA, CAFTA, and
any other combination of letters you can think of, including MBA. You'll
see factories that have shut down because it's a few pennies per share
cheaper to open a factory in (Insert name here) rather than reinvest the
profits in maintaining the building and its work force. You'll see an
entire generation of young people who will never have a meaningful job in
their lives.

I'm sorry Trevor, but this little situation for COMMON is just shining a
light on what is happening to our profession. The outsourcing started with
the factories and is moving into the white collar jobs. I've got a family
to feed, and I'm doing all I can to improve my "competitive advantage". I
just want the playing field to be level.

I'm sure this gentleman is a nice person, but I'm going to have to vote
no.
--

Paul Nelson
Arbor Solutions, Inc.
708-670-6978  Cell
pnelson@xxxxxxxxxx