Can someone explain to me why losing computer jobs to foreign countries is not protected under US trade laws? Steel, textiles, fishing, rice, sugar, etc. are all US industries whose jobs are protected by trade laws to prevent 'dumping' by rival countries. Why doesn't the same protection apply to IT jobs?
I'll answer my own question. There is no incentive for the government to keep IT jobs here until there is an effective, vocal IT workers union that can throttle a congressman and get his attention (in that order).
I've been looking for one too. I wore gloves with the fingertips cut off this winter because my hand was so cold. Anyway, I found this website today: www.theheatedmouse.com
Where does the outsourcing stop? It's interesting to contemplate the cost-benefits derived from outsourcing other knowledge base professions like legal services and medicine. It seems the only 'safe' professions to be in are the service sector, film and music, sports, education, governement and the military.
I did not protest when auto and chip fabrication went overseas because my job was not affected and I benefited by the lower prices. I don't see how programmers can argue that this job transfer is any different simply because it affects us personally.
And the argument about how short-sighted these companies are for moving projects offshore when eventually Americans won't be able to purchase the goods the business produces, assumes that the programmer population plays a major role in the market. How many programmers are there in the US anyway? Last figure I saw was 568,000 in 1996 with a prediction that the US would need 700,000 by 2006. But with a working population of 138.6 million we're just a tiny splat on the market windshield.
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I'll believe it when I lick it.
Bullets have not killed anyone either. It's the loss of blood that is to blame.
Check out http://www.tiddlywiki.com/.
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Can someone explain to me why losing computer jobs to foreign countries is not protected under US trade laws? Steel, textiles, fishing, rice, sugar, etc. are all US industries whose jobs are protected by trade laws to prevent 'dumping' by rival countries. Why doesn't the same protection apply to IT jobs?
I'll answer my own question. There is no incentive for the government to keep IT jobs here until there is an effective, vocal IT workers union that can throttle a congressman and get his attention (in that order).
I've been looking for one too. I wore gloves with the fingertips cut off this winter because my hand was so cold. Anyway, I found this website today: www.theheatedmouse.com
Seriously, it was research I tell you!
Where does the outsourcing stop? It's interesting to contemplate the cost-benefits derived from outsourcing other knowledge base professions like legal services and medicine. It seems the only 'safe' professions to be in are the service sector, film and music, sports, education, governement and the military.
I did not protest when auto and chip fabrication went overseas because my job was not affected and I benefited by the lower prices. I don't see how programmers can argue that this job transfer is any different simply because it affects us personally.
And the argument about how short-sighted these companies are for moving projects offshore when eventually Americans won't be able to purchase the goods the business produces, assumes that the programmer population plays a major role in the market. How many programmers are there in the US anyway? Last figure I saw was 568,000 in 1996 with a prediction that the US would need 700,000 by 2006. But with a working population of 138.6 million we're just a tiny splat on the market windshield.
I guess you were reading it in spurts.