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Builder.com Writers Outsourced to India
An anonymous reader writes "Builder.com, which is part of CNet.com, is now outsourcing some of their writing to India. The funny thing is, the editor claims it's not as much about money as because he's 'getting a better interface with producers of the content.' He claims CNet isn't giving up control, but if they're the publisher, and he's the editor, and they can't hire and manage their own writers, why shouldn't the Indians just put up their own website to replace CNet, and we can all read what they write direct? I mean, we're all going to be buying software direct from Indian companies soon, so why not?" Newsforge and Slashdot are both part of OSDN. OSDN also runs sites like devchannel.org which are more-or-less direct competitors of builder.com.
OSDN also supports Indian outsourcing.
Do you even lift?
These aren't the 'roids you're looking for.
They would outsource Mr. Fancy Pants Editor and his bosses. Clearly the big bucks are going to these guys. If the writers can live on $1.00 per day in Bangalore, surely then can management live there on $2.00.
What happened to that free markets thing?
"I think this line is mostly filler"
Where are the new jobs going to come from?
What should people train/retrain for?
You also forget to point out that most of the new jobs being created in the US to replace the outsourced jobs do not pay nearly as much nor do the have near the same level of benifits.
People who support offshoring of everything need to realize that it can not continue. The USA can not survive if most of our high paying jobs go away. Cut peoples incomes enought and they go from being tax payers to tax consumers (and they will elect people who will keep the money coming).
I can understand the frustration, but that statement is quite misinformed, it seems.
From what I have seen, it seems that Indian companies, not just in the computer software/IT industry, but in almost every industry, has always been and for the forseeable future will always be sub-contracting for US and European companies.
Of coure, there will always be exceptions, but that would be a very small minority.
This means that the profits will stay in the US/Europe.
It is a lot like Chevy trucks being made in Mexico. Does anyone say we will be buying trucks direct from Mexican companies soon.
Or say, Chinese products, I have seen a lot of product 'Made in China', but very few from Chinese companies.
I am by no means supporting outsourcing or anything, I am just pointing out that it will only benefit US companies.
If you're in highschool, here's a serious suggestion from someone who's about to enter the workforce from college-
Find some skills other than computing.
No, seriously. Computing is out-sourceable, the rest of your skillset + computing is not. If you speak Hindi and Chinese AND can program C++, you might be a great project leader for one of these overseas projects. If you have a great handle on economics and business AND can code perl, you might be the person who they need to run their software division, because you'll have an eye for both the cash and the technical. If you're a science dork (like I am), you've got an instant-in with any professor that runs his lab using any sort of technology, because not only did you get an A in Genetics, but you can really understand how the PCR Sequencer works.
If Software Geeks in highschool would turn their computing prowess into A marketable skill instead of their only marketable skill, they'll have a much better time on the job market.
Just the way it's worked out for me.
By the way: Perl for the Perseus Project (http://www.perseus.tufts.edu), since I'm a Greek / Latin Major, and Visual Basic in the Avian Cognition Lab, (http://pigeon.psy.tufts.edu), where I do research on Avian Cognition and Concept formation (coz I'm a Psych Major too).
Soon, you too can look forward to your industry being taken over by a bunch of Indian carpetbaggers. And we foolish, idiotic, Americans are f*cking letting it happen!
Car salesmen... they don't need to be *here* to sell a car do they? Hell Indian actors are FAR cheaper than paying those f*ckers in Hollywood, we should outsource all actor jobs to india as well. While we're at it why don't we just get rid of every job that doesn't involve being an idiot manager and outsource it to india.
People seem to forget that the economy is dependent on the average earning potential of the American worker. If this is cut to zero by all of this outsourcing no one will be able to buy the products of the f*ckers doing the outsourcing in the first place.
Goddamn it.
GJC
GJC
Gregory Casamento
## Chief Maintainer for GNUstep
Now I know that Indians get an excellent education, and that includes English. But do they know the language well enough to be efficient writers? I truly don't know, so I'm asking if anyone has had experience in this area. My first reaction to this story is to think that editor is going to have a LOT more red lining to do.
Um... sure... and what should be done exactly? Protectionism doesn't work. Period. And why do you assume that it's a rightious thing to do? A techie in the Philippines makes about ten times less than an American doing the same job. Do you think that this is equitable? I personally think that Filipinos/Indians are being used. Basic economic theory states that as more job opportunies open up in those countries, the higher the median salaries will be. That means a *lot* of people in the world are going to have much better lives. At some point equilibrium will be reached and the outsourcing will wane significantly. As an American techie, I'm not at all worried about my career. There will always be work here for people like me who are creative, resourceful and motivated. Hopefully that means that much of the chaff in IT will be eliminated; I'll be working with more knowledgable people in my field--the opportunists who got into IT for the quick buck will be off chasing their next white rabbit. All in all, seems like a win-win situation.
Entrepreneur : (noun), French for "unemployed"
It seems to me that when the music and film industries complain about prirating, we often cry out that they are just refusing to deal with changing technology. They ought to adapt. If they can't adapt, they ought to go out of buisiness.
Funny that when the topic is the American industry and not technology, everyone refuses to adapt. Well, surprise! The economy and the industries of the world change, but Americans refuse to adapt. Instead, we'll see more anti-trade and anti-captitalist legislation such as tariffs or requirements for employing Americans citizens only. Not too different from anti-piracy legislation. What hipocracy!
OK, enough ranting from a non-American point of view. Have a nice day.
** Sig-a-licious **
Since most of the world lives at a level FAR below the level of the US what leads you to believe that the US can keep it's standard of living intact?
Get a trade. They can't outsource your plumbing.
Forget thrust, drag, lift and weight. Airplanes fly because of money.
Then how are third worlders supposed to get a modern economy if not competing?
Here in South America we are hard pressed to sign the ALCA and open our markets, but USA won't open the markets were we could be competing. It's a one way openess. And we are democratic countries, but we are poor.
"I think this line is mostly filler"
It also *equalizes* prosperity. And seeing as Americans are at the tip top of the wealth pyramid, where do you think we'll go?
I'm not saying that such equalization is not appropriate. But no matter what, it will be painful.
Linux IT Consulting and Domino Development in Michigan
It seems that too often we're for lower tariffs on anime, imported gadgets, etc., without fully realising that economic liberalism must be mutual. Look at President Bush's ill-advised tariffs on foreign steel -- he talked up freer trade, and then undermined it.
If we can't bring ourselves to buy Indian software, why should they buy anything from us? Maybe they won't. Maybe it'll start a trade war, and everyone will lose.
Just my thoughts.
free speach
Did you mean: free speech
Why is it that everytime *another* corporate decides to ditch their bonafide american employee and jump in to bed with an indian firm so that he can save 20% and earn 50% more bonus for the Senior staff, all of the slashdot crowd and rest of the civilized society starts bad mouthing the people across the ocean who does their job for a fraction of the original cost?
Why is it that your Indian counterparts end up the bad apple, while you safely chose to ignore the people who made the decision to outsource and the govt who chose to standby and watch. Is it because that its easier to do so?
What happened to the path of civil disobedience? What happened to when people disagreed with the policies of the Govt chose to clog the streets with political rallies, shoulder to shoulder with thousands of others and march in unison?
What happened to "lets start a campaign against firm "A" who has decided to ditch loyalty for quick cash" and actually follow through with it by actively campaigning against the corporations who chose to fire its employees, stash their millions in Cayman Islands by withholding tax and reward their CXO's with millions in bonus and stocks.
Nope, its far too easier to just blame the Indians!
Rapid Nirvana
Oh no. Some nameless, faceless person that I have never met in my fucking life is gonna take my job. And it is my god-given fucking right to earn a living so I can have obese children that listen to too much Justin Timberlake and I won't be able to have a perfectly manicured yard enclosed with a white fuckin' picket fence for their fat asses to play in.
You don't have a job? Acquire some goals. It won't cost you a cent. Get off of your fucking ass. Your job got shipped overseas? Get yourself a big-assed crate and fill it with all the fucking negativety, self-pity, and loathing and ship that the fuck out of here too.
Take the easy way out and mod me as flamebait. Or reply with your plan to improve the situation for yourself and the people around you that you care about.
Prosperity is there for anyone that desires it. The breadcrumbs are for the losers.
That sir, is the gauntlet. It is go time.
I know I'll be flamed to death and modded down, but the government should have nothing to do with outsourcing and restricting those companies who do.
The government already does have everything to do with "the outsourcing problem".
The amount of taxes our government levies, and the restrictions placed on companies (environmental regulations, labor laws, etc), are why it's cheaper to outsource jobs overseas.
Nobody in America could possibly afford to work for $0.80 an hour. But, even if they could, it's illegal to pay people less than $5.65 or so (whatever minimum wage is now).
I am not sure whether or not I would say we have too many restrictions of this nature or whatever. But the fact remains that it is literally impossible for US workers to compete with the workers of other countries. And it is impossible because our government makes it illegal to compete on even ground.
I hate to burst a long running bubble around these parts, but producers, managers, marketers, and publishers actually do a job that is necessary to make a decent product, whether that is music, web content, software, or apples (the edible kind). I won't get elaborate, but I think you know what I mean. There are those that suck at their job and there are those that are good. Those that suck do not automatically disqualify the purpose of the position they are in, they disqualify themselves for being in said position.
Just like selling software, an ephemeral--and in most cases intangible--object, these people do unseen work to make a product happen that brings the bacon home--for all of us.
Though you meant it as a joke ... it should be pointed out that the sacred prohibition against the slaughter of cows applies to "Hindus" (however one might want to construe that term) and not to other sizeable populations within India, such as Muslims.
Jains are not to kill cattle or consume beef, either, but not because cows possess inherent sanctity. Then there's the Buddhist population...
Whether the "Hindu" prohibition is long-standing is itself a contentious view.
Adherents to movements like the BJP may not be too thrilled about it, but there are plenty of Indians who don't think cows sacred. Indians aren't all Hindus.
Where do you think the new job will come from and what field should displaced US workers retrain in?
China and India have much greater tarrifs on our imports then we have on theirs.
Hell, why don't we just pass a law that says that our trade policy with a country is the exact mirror image of their trade policy with us?
I reproduce below a response to the original article that sums up the reality of the situation. Do not underestimate the quality of Bangaloreans/Indians just because they are not American. Most urban Indians have a far better education than many Americans.Underestimating your rival (economic) is the easiest way to lose a deal/war/empire
From the responses to the article cited:
Subject: Who made you a Director? first question that came to my mind,cauz atleast the Directors whom I know about will never dare to insult anybody.What makes people great is not their position or the number of degrees that they have,but their character,their humility.You are pathetic at that.To introduce myself,I am a cyber coolie,according to your description,but a coolie whos passionate about what he does,who takes pride in what he does.Clients come to us with problems that haunt their business, problems which could be solved technically.We work with them to identify the actual issue and then architect a solution for them.Now throughout my career what I have found challenging is not the technology,but the task of translating the complex business scenarios into code.Our clients are very much appreciative of this and mind you,I am talking about millions of dollars here(if you can understand the magnitude). This list includes Fortune 500 companies and military institutions.All I think about you is somebody whos frustrated with his career life,doesnt understand the word passion or pride,and taking out his frustration on something.Agree with what good things you said abt silicon valley. -- I am not from Bangalore Posted by Swaroop on 10-MAR-04
I'm 41. I grew up in a small town about 30 miles outside Detroit, and I remember well the fuel crisis of the 70's, and the Detroit response to the growing stream of imports that followed. I also vividly remember the Polish coal miner's strike and proudly wearing my red "Solidarnosc" t-shirt. I was - and am - a punk. I come from a blue collar home, and I share many of my father's ideals - a man who worked thirty years as a union pipe fitter. I am definitely no corporate apologist.
Yet I'm saddened to see the same nonsense being repeated in this field that happened nearly three decades ago in the auto industry. Only this time it's doubly embarassing to me, because Japan in the 70's was already a very developed, affluent nation (remember when they were taking all that heat for buying up US properties?). This time, however, it's India - a nation brutally overpopulated where people regularly die needless deaths from ailments like burst appendices and dysentary.
I had an appendicitis attack a few years ago. I didn't have a job and I had no money in the bank. Yet I showed up at the hospital and they asked zero questions when it came time to resolve the issue. Total cost was several thousand dollars and the fact I couldn't pay for any of it at the time meant essentially nothing: I got my treatment. If I hadn't, I likely would have died a slow, painful death from paretenitis.
We live in a nation where no one HAS to starve. Where no one HAS to sleep on the street. Where no one HAS to die from common little ailments simply because they can't get basic medical attention or clean drinking water.
Isolationism is cowardice. Isn't this that same community of folks who routinely chant "evolve or die" when it comes to issues like RIAA protectionism, proprietary software protectionism, and absurdly overblown patent laws? Yet I've not seen ONE comment from anyone here of that sort.
I'm ashamed for the lot of you.
And I'm sure that there's nothing imported in your house... oh, it's okay when you benefited from it, of course.
Did you get out and picket when they started closing factories because of foreign importers? Do you practise an exclusive policy of "Buy American"? Heck, do you even make sure that the petrol you put in your car was pumped out of Texas, and not the Gulf of Arabia?
Didn't think so...
"Software is too expensive to build cheaply"
Hey, You think only guys from US can write great s/w? why cann't u have a broad view of the world? Do u think knowledge is u r OWN property? In few years India might be no.1 in s/w. U need to compete with good spirit, don't run away like cowards. REAL hackers talk about OPEN SOURCE code and projects. Then whats wrong if you have to use s/w MADE in INDIA or other countries. See for u r self how much Indians and other foreigners have contributed to USA. They are in every phase of life here. See how many Indian professors in universities, techies in various industry, research labs and government organizations like NASA are contibuting to the s/w and other stuff MADE in USA. U are already using s/w made by Indians and other country men, doesn't mind if u use linux/BSD/Windows, or other stuff, Indian contribution is everywhere. If you want to boycott Indian s/w, better shut down ur pc's & laptops. Let common sense prevail in us. -- The world is a global village, don't try to insert walls.
---- The world is becoming a global village, don't try to insert walls.
did you let him know that his job is cheaper outsourced as well?
litigious bastards
suck it sco!
It's encouraging to see unemployeed techs finally taking advantage of all that time they spent fixing friends computers for free. I know I'm usually the first one several of my friends and family call when their computer starts acting weird, and all they want to do is send email.
Now if somebody was really smart, they'd find a way to get partnered with the local Best Buy and could probably turn it into a full time job. You'd be amazed at how much people are willing to pay if you can bring some sanity to their assorted home electronics. My mom loves the 3 page FAQ I made for her that goes step by step how to do everything with the home theatre system my Dad has. She used to not watch any DVDs just because she was scared to touch anything.
litigious bastards
suck it sco!
Let's be realistic about this news item -- basically the editor of a failing website got a dictum that he needs to slash the content budget (because the business model was a failure). In such a case one's options are very limited, and basically include significantly reducing the amount of content, or finding cheaper labour. He chose the latter. The alternative of those options was basically to fold the failure which obviously wouldn't help anyone's jobs out.
Personally I find this whole offshoring paranoia (it's a paranoia because it's a short term trend - already there has been a huge equalization, with savings now being quoted in the 30-50% range. Just a few short years ago the savings were quote at between 90-95%) in these parts fascinating -- I remember having a frank discussion with a Slashdot/Linux enthusiast peer probably 4 years ago, at which point he assured me that in a few short years all software would be open source, and there would be very few professional programmers left (yes of course there'd still be a few, but the idea was that there is such overlapped effort in the industry because of closed source, that the shared effort would dramatically reduce the gross number of man hours), and we'd all be consultants and support. How fascinating to see what is largely the same group of people advocating this utopian world so up in arms about Indians taking software jobs that aren't even supposed to exist anymore.
You missed the main "equalization" -- the standards of living. Our "leaders" (of either wing of the ruling party) have sold us out. All this terrorism hysteria is being whipped up to help build a police state to protect the thieves when it hits the fan. The way they're hurrying it up last few years, suggests it won't be long.
I disagree with you (I'm an immigrant Canadian BTW.) I'm a leftist and don't subscribe the view of a nationalist (capitalist?) like Lou Dobbs. So even though I am against what is transpiring, I am nowhere near Lou Dobbs on the econopolitical spectrum. The reason against the present type of "free trade" can be summed up as follows.
First of all, I support trade. It is a way for all countries to prosper (check out 'absolute costs and comparative costs' to see why.) However, I am against what passes for "free trade". We can go into lengthy argument over this but I'll just describe where you are wrong.
Who Benefits?
What you fail to contemplate is the benefits--in particular, who is benefitting from this? Indian workers, for instance, do not benefit in the long term. What is to stop the jobs from being outsourced to another lower-cost country? In fact, it WILL happen. When that happens, India will lose jobs while another poorer country gets the jobs for a short while. Rinse and repeat. You cannot build an economy in such a manner. This is nothing more than capitalist voodoo magic (except the capitalists won't tell you that there is no such thing as real magic.)
If the outsourced workers don't benefit overall in the long-term, who does? Well, it is pretty simple. It is the capitalists. When I say capitalists I am talking about shareholders of corporations. The vast majority of the benefit accrues to the shareholders. It doesn't accrue to India or Indian workers, or American workers. This is blatantly obvious to anyone that follows these things. For instance, corporate profits go up almost in full proportion to the "free trade."
Why most leftists oppose
Another serious problem with "free trade" is that one of the major reasons corporations carry it out is to circumvent environmental regulations and working conditions. This isn't so much a problem in the tech sector but plays a big role in manufacturing, textiles, and others. In other words, there are many cases where corporations simply move to another part of the world just so that they can hire workers that they can fire at will, pay no benefits, etc.
What passes for "free trade" is coming at the expense of workers. Most leftists would not want to see all the benefits accrued by worker movements in the past to be destroyed.
US Imperialism
You are a sympathetic person. I am glad you are--we need more like you. However, what is happening isn't going to help anything even if what you are saying were true. The US economy is too small relative to the number of poor people. Even if 100% of US "jobs" were transplanted elsewhere, it probably isn't enough for 1/3 of Africa alone. If you really care about the lives of the less privledged in other countries, stop US imperialism! US imperialism has set back many countries by decades (particularly Latin America.) Get your country to stop meddling in other countries' affairs, overthrowing goverments, bribing--and hence solidifying--corrupt evil politicians/autocrats, and don't provide military "aid" to any of these countries. That will help the poor more than what "free trade" ever will.
Auto Industry and Japan (circa 80's)
The auto industry survived in the 80's because of protectionism. Basically, USA and Canada slapped on a massive tariff on imports (this happened because auto unions are stronger than anyone else, including the capitalists who own the car companies.) So Japanese companies came and built factories in USA and hence manufactured cars there. If it weren't for government intervention, the auto industry would have completely dissapeared. There is no way USA and Canada could have competed against Japan at that time. So this isn't a good example for you case. Whether this was a good thing or a bad thing depends on your ideology. Capitalists claim the intervention was bad because it jacked up car prices (cars would be cheaper if it weren't for that); socialists and most leftists would say it was good because it kept the auto industry.
Sivaram Velauthapillai
Sivaram Velauthapillai
Seeking the meaning of life... @slashdot of all places
1. The notion that free trade is good for workers in foreign countries doesn't always pan out. I know that NAFTA actually lowered Mexican wages. The larger the labor pool, the more chances of a labor surplus somewhere, and the easier it is to keep prices closer to subsistenence.
2. The problem is, if you make slave labor legal then the company that uses it has an advantage. Then it's just a race to the bottom as other companies have trouble competing. If we're going to have free trade, we also need certain minimum labor standards, and they need to be enforced as religiously as free trade laws are.
but don't let the government have more power to control us
While I don't like the notion of more restrictions, I'd prefer government officials over unelected officials from the WTO.
___
It's the end of my comment as I know it and I feel fine.
No NAFTA is what really took off all regulations.
Capitalism supports competition. However we can not compete with Indians so it is defeated.
http://saveie6.com/
While I've met any number of Indians in the US and India with a fine command of the English language, I'm not sure how well a two month attempt to create a writing mill from scratch will play, even run from San Jose, much less India. If the quality of written matter goes down (for a number of reasons, of which ESL writers are only one), customers aren't going to browse the site, and advertisers are going to bail.
Luke, help me take this mask off
It should be responibility of the consumer to buy American-produced products, not for the government to control whether we can decide who we hire or not, or where.
Vote with your dollar, but don't let the government have more power to control us.
I agree with that in principle. But have you ever tried looking to purchase textiles that are still made in the USA?
It is a good idea to vote with your dollars, but what do you do when all available products are made overseas?
Methinks those 15 should get together and start a startup.
It would be especially interesting if the NDA/noncompete with the Indian Outsourcing company is weak - perhaps they could by the rights to the products from the Indian co.
The biggest reason that Indians are such good programmers (and engineers) is because, at the current time, only the best and brightest in India
Indians are no better at programming than any other ethnicity. In my experience I've seen more evidence to support the argument that Indians aren't very good programmers at all, but that they are excellent at following instructions. In other words, they can't program or think out of the box. Obviously though, any such argument is severely flawed.
I'd say the specific reason why most Indian and Chinese students studying in the US are in the sciences comes from the fact that sciences, engineering, and computer science are more practical. Math is math. C++ is C++. You don't have to master English or develop a deep understanding of American culture in order to get an 'A' in any of your core classes then get a good job. I have only met a couple of Indians from India who majored in the social sciences or humanity while here. For their perspective, they understood that they wouldn't make much money, and that they were competing with at a severe disadvantage due to the cultural and linguistic differences.
That doesn't mean India's premiere school, IIT, is bad. In fact is it an excellent school, despite the limitations of resources they still have to work with.
I attended IIT. It was an excellent school then, but years later, that dump is hemoraging cash and students. It may not make it into the next decade. One thing IIT definitely doesn't have going for it is American students. There are fewer and fewer American freshmen attending that university each year; but while this is partially due to the school's poor branding effort and bad image, it's also due to the fact that there's less motivation among young Americans to enter the applied sciences and engineering fields.
I myself am not a professional programmer. I just calculate statistics and make generalizations about economics and sociology, but I can program in BASIC, C, and Java. I can even write simple Windows app without using a framework like MFC. There's a glut of tech-savvy Americans like me in the workforce. Many high-schools are realizing that in this day and age, computer expertise will not boost your resume or guarantee you the job. It's a prerequisite just for getting the interview.
Guess what, what is happening is a natural leveling out of this inequity. My bet is the US (and europe but likely to a lesser extent) will be stuck with this for a while.
Hopefully, India and China will have open enough trade that the US can export to them enough to level things out. Once they are richer, like south Korea or Japan are today, the outsourcing trend will diminish.
It's already happening, gaz prices are going up thanks to increase chinese demand. It's not going to be easy for the western world for the next 20 years.
Of course you can compete with them. Just provide a better level of service for the same (or slightly more) buck.
The problem, of course, is that the cost of living is so low in India due to the lower standard of living. But hey, that's India's competetive advantage. You need to find your own.
Protectionism, however, doesn't work in the long run.
"Software is too expensive to build cheaply"
Oh, lay off it already!
America does not have a monopoly on creativity and new ideas. Yeah, recent history has seen you guys dominate the market. But, you know what? Things are going to change.
It's a matter of opportunity. Indians today are getting opportunities their fathers couldn't dream of. As resources and technologies penetrate deeper into India and spread wider, you'll see great stuff coming out from there.
It's your own folly if you hold on to a false belief that nobody can topple your intellectual regime. There are smart people everywhere. Give them the right tools and time, they'll prove themselves. And your ivory tower will crash and crumble.
With today's travel technology and communication infrastructure, what ISN'T an outsourceable skill set?
Doctor
Nurse
Veterinarian
Auto Repair
Bartender
Server
Construction
Sorry if those aren't your cup of tea but no matter how grim things get, there are some jobs that will always be around. If you really think that the writing is on the wall, start reading...
Although you are correct in that it is difficult to oursource these jobs directly, outsourcing has an indirect effect on these professions. For instance, if large numbers of people in the US are out of work:
- they won't be buying very many cars,
- they won't be spending money on their pets,
- they won't be building their new dream house,
- they won't be going out to eat a lot,
- they won't have health insurance to pay all those medical bills
As you can see, even those professions which you say can't be outsourced will be affected. It's funny how interconnected the economy is.
------
www.moneybythenumbers.com
The problems is that the US has called these ideas anti-competitive for years and if they were to implement it the rest of the world would throw up a big stink and you would get the mother of all trade wars.
The skies would be black with chickens coming home to roost.
George Bush told us about people like you! You must be a member of AlQueda.
Seriously though, that's not a bad idea. I'd also like to see legislation requiring all products and goods sold in the US to be produced under acceptable labor and environmental conditions (i.e. equal to those in the US.) Let corporations outsource all they like, but let's stop them from employing slave labor and mucking up the environment overseas.
This way, everybody wins - except the sleazy executives.
Unfortunately, the first politician to raise either your or my idea would be shot faster than Dick Cheney in Pakistan.
Look at my karma - I'm bad, just like Michael Jackson!
You must be a member of AlQueda.
Ha... actually I think the effect of such legislation would be to send a message that counters their accusation that the US doesn't care about the third world (other than finding ways to exploit it). With a proper PR resource behind it, those opposing it could be appropriately accused of just wanting to exploit the third world.
Really, the outsourcing dilemna gives the US regulators one of three options:
1. keep current domestic work regulations and taxes that make US workers uncompetitive internationally, but require parity via indexing. This either raises the foreign market working conditions to match, or penalizes the business for operating in an environment that does not match domestic requirements. This is the option Congress should pursue if it believes all of its regulations should be kept and levels the playing field at the top.
2. discard domestic work regulations and taxes. Congress admits ADA, OSHA, etc. are worthless and tosses them out. (I'd disagree and doubt Congress would ever pursue this course). This levels the playing field, but at the bottom.
3. default condition: see jobs disappear to other less regulated markets due to lower costs. Current flight reflects the competitive reality of this condition - zero liability (other than instability via reliance upon shakey foreign economies) and financial upside demands all businesses pursue this approach. (I've got friends with small businesses now outsourcing operations to Asia - there is not going to be an IT market in the US in 5 years without one of the former two choices made). Through Congressional inaction (due to both parties being greased by large business), this is the present course and it'll ensure a catastrophy in the US job market and political upheaval within 20 years.
Like Ayn Rand says, you're free to choose any of the three options, but free from the consequence. #3 doesn't look so good for those in power. It'd be interesting to see a smaller party (e.g. Libertarians or Nader) pick up on this to force the largers to content with the matter.
*scoove*
confusing cause and effect. The reason why so many crappy programmers are hired in the US isn't there are more crappy programmers. It's because HR people are dip shits, who don't know how to hire. From first hand experience, bad programmers are the result of non-programmers hiring. When programmers do the interviewing and hiring, you end up with good programmers. The reason why outsourcing can have a greater percentage of good programmers is their hiring practices. At every job that had crappy programmers, it was the result of managers and HR hiring policy. Every job that had good programmers, the programmers were the one deciding who to hire.