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

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