Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[technomaniac_tzp]

Why do the Americans and English oppose outsourcing? Isn't outsourcing a result of "Globalisation"-a concept professed by the capitalist ideals of America. When a service is available elsewhere at a cheaper cost why would one not avail it. Third world countries can do most of the technical jobs at a fraction of the price charged by their American counterparts. And so companies vouch for them. This is just like what the American MNCs have being doing in poorer countries. They enter poorer countries and sell their products aggressively and wipe out all local business and then it is termed globalisation. But when the Americans are at the receiving end, they cry foul. What is it but hypocrisy? Americans and British threaten Indians working is those countries claiming that they steal their jobs. There have been threats of death and some have been actually attacked. But they forget that the companies outsourcing the jobs are from their very country and the people who decide to outsouce are their very own country men.

I think its time that the Americans and British accept that not everything can go their way. You can't have everything. This is the world of free makets and its time you accept it.
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The difference between insanity and genius is measured by success

[LucentShade]

I can't say that it's right or wrong--you're right that we are complaining about the effects of a process and an ideal that we support (the ideal of globalization [sorry, I'm writing it with the American zed ] ). One thing I can say is that corporations say that they need to take these steps to "stay competitive on a global level." However, CEOs and high-level executives in American companies make hundreds of times more money than the average worker, and this gap is the biggest in the world. American workers resent their jobs being cut so that the bosses can have ludicrous salaries.

[Mitchy]

I agree with technomaniac. Perhaps it's not actually a world of "free markets" we are living in. Only monopols dominate the market and there isn't a chance of competition. Globalization is the ideal of the domination of the world by monopols, not a peaceful world.

[technomaniac_tzp]

Thanks for your comments. Even if Lucent is right, why do Americans harrass their fellow Asian workers if they know that it is their CEOs at fault. Such behaviour really tarnishes the image of Americans worldwide. If they want to save their own jobs let them find some other peaceful and proper ways to do it. Using force and hurtling expletives won't work.
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The difference between insanity and genius is measured by success

[Squirt]

u forgot a 'dumb' option. listen to all the proponents of isolationism and protectionist policies. their platforms for persuading the american public are always based on patriotism and appealing to emotion. they never have any economic justification for such policies because really, there are none. i mean seriously, just listen to lou dobbs on cnn talk about outsourcing. if u listen to him carefully he never mentions the economic advantages of anti-outsourcing/globalization, and his questions for his opponents are always emotion-based, like "don't the companies care that americans are losing their jobs?". however, the answer to that is complicated enough labor economics that u can't really get into in a 5 min interview. in the end, those politicians are just doing it for votes, public support to stay in office...even if it hurts the economy and dumbs down the general population.

[Outofin]

It really depends on from which perspective you view the issue. I see no doubt that outsourcing will make global economy stronger. But those who oppose it are not laying blame on that. Their point is, I lost job because of outsourcing! Try argue with that.

You can tell him, "You lost your job because you're less competitive than your Asian peers." Isn't it unfair?

The question ultimately becomes, is economy to make more money, or is to make the people in its country have a better life? No doubt that most politicians, corporation heads, and investors believe the former, no wonder their stances are perfectly consistent.

The country is capable to keep the workers' jobs when they're less competitive than Asian workers. But it chose not to.

[technomaniac_tzp]

Outofin is right in saying that the American companies could have chosen to keep their countrymen on their jobs and sustain profit. But Americans are the champions of free market.But why are they insisting on closing their economy to outsiders. It only shows that as long as the common American was benefiting from globalisation, it was alright but now he is afraid of his own creation. Globalisation is a double-edged sword, and Americans took a little long to understand it. Moreover their ire is diected against the Asains.What's their fault? They are using nasty tactics to show the Asians in poor light.This is what I object.Their ae protests are geting violent.
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The difference between insanity and genius is measured by success

[Outofin]

I voted the poll for Right. I don�t see anything wrong with that. But obviously, violence is wrong, like technomaniac_tzp said.

I�ve explained my point clearly. But I�d like to add one more question to illustrate it. Say, in one situation, 98% of population enjoy 2% increase (income or such benefits), 2% of population suffer 90% decrease. As a whole, the economy becomes better and most people are happy.
0.98 X 1.02 + 0.02 * 0.1 = 1.0016
But is that what we�re all for? We�re talking about people and families.

I personally support globalization, because I have more connections with Asia than America. However, I really think it's unfair to those American workers and they can't even win a debate.

[pugachevV]

People hate change, but we all like to get cheaper goods and services.
If India (for example) can make something of the same quality as that made in the USA and it is much cheaper to buy, then everyone benefits, except the people in USA (or wherever) that make the expensive version.
Eventually, to use the example, India will find that someone else can make the same item cheaper than they can, because India's standard of living will have increased, and they will face the same problem as the USA faces.
But little by little, everyone's standard of living is increasing, so I'd say that is a good thing.

[Outofin]

[advoca]

[technomaniac_tzp]

I don't think my statements are overblown.many Indians working abroad on IT projects have complained of harrassment by their American or british colleagues. every attempt has been mae by the american media and the people to stop outsourcing. It even became a big election issue.Also US has cut down on the number of H1B visas. So if that's not adverse reaction, what is. Also a british newspaper covertly bribed a Indian IT worker to give out personal details(including credit card nos) of around 1000 brits. It came all over the news and people were gung-ho about non-relaibility of Indians and the security risks in outsourcing. Also useless details about the guys personal life was published to show him in poor light. Agreed,what he did was a crime but it could be commited by anybody, even a American or Brit. So why the uproar against Indians(or outsourcing) inn general? One guy's action do not reflect the whole community but the opposite was made up by the media. Do you know that many BPO employees have to hear a lot of abuses from the Americans they interact over the phone, if they come to know that the one whom they are talking to is a Indian(with a fake accent) and not an Amerian or Brit? And yes I am not narrow minded. I have high regards about American people(not their government though) and US in general.I have relatives living in Florida. But I don't think twice before calling a spade a spade
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The difference between insanity and genius is measured by success

[Bob S.]