|
Fw: Coming Out for Outsourcing
|
Julian Goh
|
Dec 01, 2004 23:05 PST
|
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
------=3D_NextPart_000_0042_01C4D84C.5A881B80
Content-Type: text/plain;
charset=3D"iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
Fortune.com - Email Newsletters
=20=20
=B7 Try 3 Issues Free
=B7 Magazine Customer Service
=B7 Renew Your Subscription=20
=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20
=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20
=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20
=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20
=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20
=20=20=20=20=20
=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20
FORTUNE 500=20
Global 500=20
100 Best to Work For=20
America's Most Admired=20
100 Fastest-Growing=20
=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20
=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20
FORTUNE 1000=20
Best to Work For 1998-2003=20
Global Most Admired=20
FORTUNE Asia=20
FORTUNE Europe=20
=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20
DAVID KIRKPATRICK=20
Coming Out for Outsourcing
Despite the outrage over U.S. corporations sending jobs o=
verseas, many readers agreed with me that Americans must accept that we liv=
e-and do business-in a global marketplace.
Dec 01 2004
By David Kirkpatrick
Fortune.com
My 10/29 column entitled "Why Outsourcing Isn't Really th=
e Issue" engendered a surprising and gratifying new strand of reader sentim=
ent. Unlike the anti-outsourcing zealots who called me names, like "arrogan=
t puke," for expressing an opinion with which they disagree, many of you se=
emed to want to reassure me that I have readers who aren't so mean and vind=
ictive. You turn out to be both thoughtful and pleasant! And some of you ac=
tually agree with me!=20
Readers enumerated a variety of reasons why outsourcing, =
while painful for displaced workers, is not the death knell for the U.S. ec=
onomy. You also suggested a variety of interesting ways to think about the =
challenges that outsourcing poses. I'd like to share them with the rest of =
our readers. Here are a few excerpts:=20
Tech company COO: "Ask any of your negative commentators =
to take a hard look at the labels of the clothing they wear, or the cars th=
ey drive.... Ever since ships began to steam between continents, the U.S. h=
as shipped labor overseas. Had this early example of outsourcing not taken =
place, the U.S. would continue to be clogged with textile manufacturing pla=
nts. However, as that work migrated to the East, Americans innovated and de=
veloped technologies and resources that pioneered industries and created hi=
gher-paying, more meaningful jobs.... When companies that decide not to out=
source offshore go belly-up... very few patriots will offer their condolenc=
es."=20
Retired HP general manager: He suggests an exercise to fr=
iends concerned about outsourcing. "I ask them to [imagine] they are the CE=
O of a 500-person company that competes all over the world, with competitor=
s based in Germany, Brazil, China and India. They have a 20-person in-house=
customer support organization and are paying those people $30/hour. Their =
competitors utilize an Indian company and are paying $3/hour. Their profit =
margins are shrinking and their prices too high, so their total business is=
also shrinking. What are they going to do to compete and preserve employee=
s' jobs? What if they were prevented by our government from utilizing other=
countries' workers?"=20
Steve, GM for Asia-Pacific business unit of a privately h=
eld software company: "I see and hear firsthand the argument for and agains=
t outsourcing. I see new companies springing to life in the PRC [People's R=
epublic of China] and elsewhere to fill the demand for their expertise and =
yes, lower cost structure. I see a growing consumer class emerging... I see=
opportunities for U.S. companies... This country and its citizens do need =
to wake up and accept that the U.S. is not an island and is rapidly losing =
its leadership in the global economy."=20
Larry: "Outsourcing outside the borders of the U.S. is a =
natural extension of the common business practice of moving operations to l=
ess expensive areas within the U.S... So why all the outcry now? I think it=
's because the work is going to India and people are prejudiced... I haven'=
t heard anyone say that they're willing to pay higher prices so that the jo=
bs can stay in the U.S.... There's a big disconnect between people's ideals=
and their pocketbooks."=20
Deb, a software company executive: "The real issue to me =
is... the level of anger that we are willing to direct at another human bei=
ng has grown dramatically. Perhaps it's because we interact more at a dista=
nce, due to the Internet, e-mail, cell phones, etc., so we can dehumanize t=
he person receiving our anger. As a country, we can no longer have a civili=
zed discussion about many issues-economic, religious, or political. We've b=
ecome a nation of extremists, starting at the top... Thank you for attempti=
ng to hold a civilized discussion."=20
A reader from Canada: "I admire your ongoing attempt to b=
ring intelligence to bear on the outsourcing question, but I fear you are d=
oomed to failure... The responses which you have received... are bigotry, p=
ure and simple.... It is strange that a technology writer has become such a=
lightning rod on this issue when many blue-collar, non-tech jobs have alre=
ady been lost.... The bottom line is-globalization is not something that wi=
ll happen-it has happened. The world's greatest capitalist nation can whine=
about it or adapt."=20
A reader from Hong Kong: "Outsourcing jobs to more compet=
itive India represents not merely America's generosity to the less-well-off=
, it actually benefits Americans overall. This is the clear conclusion of e=
very serious economic analysis... from [19th-century British economist Davi=
d] Ricardo to [Columbia University economics professor Jagdish] Bhagwati. O=
f course, I live in a place where such understanding is the lifeblood of ou=
r prosperity. Perhaps the U.S. electorate should travel more."=20
Patricia from San Diego: "To think that other countries i=
n the world would not want to capitalize on technology and provide jobs for=
their own citizens smacks of hubris... Having worked for a company that su=
ddenly closed its doors and put 70 people out of work, I understand the ang=
er about being laid off... My only hope is that as these growing economies =
really begin to flourish, the wages, health care and standards of living wi=
ll improve and eventually it will all even out. Our bigger-is-better lifest=
yle may be lowered a bit, but won't we all be better off in the long run?"=
=20
Another reader from HP: "I've trained my replacement once=
and may be forced to do it again. The first time I found work in another s=
ection of the company. This time I may not be so lucky. And yet... protecti=
onism is not the answer. See how well it served Japan. We now live in a glo=
bal economy. To think anything different is suicide."=20
Koushik, who runs an investment advisory firm in India: H=
e notes that Singapore's prime minister was recently quoted in FORTUNE Asia=
worrying aloud that smart people elsewhere are willing to work harder and =
at lower wages than people in Singapore, and admitting that is a big proble=
m for his country. "The U.S. political leadership... doesn't want to give t=
his same bad news to their people... If [people in the U.S. understood that=
] they would be saving like crazy rather than buying huge mansions, SUVs, a=
nd going deep into debt."=20
This is not a message that will be well received in the U=
.S.=20
Finally, perhaps my favorite letter came from Cindy in No=
rth Carolina. In total, it read: "Good column. I love your spunk!" Thank yo=
u, Cindy.=20
Sorry I can't respond personally to all your great letter=
s.=20
--------------------------------------------------------------
By the way, if you're not a subscriber to the email versi=
on of this column, just go to www.fortune.com/fortune/sub-unsub/subscribe a=
nd sign up. It's free. And then don't hesitate to let me know what you thin=
k.=20
Questions? Comments? E-mail them to me at dkirkpatrick@fo=
rtunemail.=20
Visit FORTUNE.com=20=20
=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20
--------------------------------------------------------------------
TO UNSUBSCRIBE:
You have received this email because you are a Fortune.com emai=
l newsletter subscriber. To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please visit =
www.fortune.com/fortune/sub-unsub/unsubscribe=20
E-MAIL OPT-OUTS:
Check here for information on how to opt-out of marketing commu=
nications from us and our partners, or copy and paste this link into your b=
rowser: http://www.fortune.com/web/privacy=20
PRIVACY POLICY:
Please read our Privacy Policy, or copy and paste this link int=
o your browser: http://www.fortune.com/privacy=20
FOR FURTHER COMMUNICATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
FORTUNE CUSTOMER SERVICE
ATTENTION: CONSUMER AFFAIRS=20
3000 University Center Drive
Tampa, FL 33612-6408=20=20
Note: If you stop receiving this e-mail and have not unsubscrib=
ed, it may be necessary to adjust your spam-filter settings, or to contact =
your Internet Service Provider or e-mail administrator. In an effort to rem=
ove unwanted spam, some ISPs may inadvertently filter out opt-in e-mail new=
sletters such as this one.=20
=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20=20
=20=20=20=20=20
=20
----
------=3D_NextPart_000_0042_01C4D84C.5A881B80
Content-Type: text/html;
charset=3D"iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>Fortune.com - Email Newsletters</TITLE>
<META http-equiv=3DContent-Type content=3D"text/html; charset=3Diso-8859-1"=
<SCRIPT language=3DJavaScript1.1=20
src=3D"http://ar.atwola.com/file/adsWrapper.js"></SCRIPT>
<STYLE type=3Dtext/css>.RubricHead {
FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #996600; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Hel=
vetica
}
BlueTitle {
FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14px; COLOR: #000066; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Hel=
vetica
}
RedSubhead {
FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 11px; COLOR: #990000; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Hel=
vetica
}
DarkBlueLinkBold {
FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: #000066; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Hel=
vetica
}
DarkBlueLinkSmall {
FONT-SIZE: 11px; COLOR: #000066; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica
}
BodyText {
FONT-SIZE: 13px; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica
}
BodyTextSmall {
FONT-SIZE: 10px; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica
}
RegText {
FONT-SIZE: 11px; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica
}
RelatedLinkSmall {
FONT-SIZE: 11px; COLOR: #0066cc; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica
}
Caption {
FONT-SIZE: 11px; COLOR: #666666; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica
}
ListGray {
BACKGROUND-COLOR: #eaeaea
}
ListDarkGray {
BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cccccc
}
</STYLE>
<SCRIPT language=3DJavaScript src=3D"http://www.fortune.com/js/common.js"=
=20
type=3Dtext/javascript></SCRIPT>
<META content=3D"MSHTML 6.00.2800.1458" name=3DGENERATOR></HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>
<DIV><BR></DIV><IMG height=3D1=20
src=3D"http://tm0.com/smom.cgi?e=3D52664&;i=3D418196&f=3DHTML" width=
=3D1>=20
<TABLE cellSpacing=3D0 cellPadding=3D0 width=3D585 align=3Dleft border=3D0>=
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
<TABLE cellSpacing=3D0 cellPadding=3D0 width=3D585 border=3D0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
<TABLE cellSpacing=3D0 cellPadding=3D0 width=3D767 border=3D0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD colSpan=3D11><IMG height=3D1=20
src=3D"http://www.fortune.com/fortune/images/ui_images/bl=
ue_px.gif"=20
width=3D767 border=3D0></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dtop width=3D380>
<TABLE cellSpacing=3D0 cellPadding=3D0 width=3D380 border=
=3D0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dcenter width=3D221><IMG height=3D36 hspa=
ce=3D2=20
src=3D"http://www.fortune.com/fortune/images/ui_ima=
ges/fortune_logo_221x36.gif"=20
width=3D221 vspace=3D3></TD>
<TD><IMG height=3D5=20
src=3D"http://www.fortune.com/fortune/images/ui_ima=
ges/white_px.gif"=20
width=3D5 border=3D0></TD>
<TD vAlign=3Dtop><A class=3DDarkBlueLinkSmall=20
href=3D"http://ltrack.timeinc.net/r0/fastforward_12=
-01-2004/h_subslink/in?https://subs.timeinc.net/CampaignHandler/foab?source=
_id=3D7">=B7=20
Try 3 Issues Free</A><BR><A class=3DDarkBlueLinkSma=
ll=20
href=3D"https://secure.customersvc.com/servlet/Show=
?WESPAGE=3Dam/home.jsp&MSRSMAG=3DFO">=B7=20
Magazine Customer Service</A><BR><A=20
class=3DDarkBlueLinkSmall=20
href=3D"https://secure.customersvc.com/servlet/Show=
?WESPAGE=3Dam/home.jsp&MSRSMAG=3DFO">=B7=20
Renew Your=20
Subscription</A></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY><=
/TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=3D0 cellPadding=3D0 width=3D767 border=3D0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD colSpan=3D7><IMG height=3D1=20
src=3D"http://www.fortune.com/fortune/images/ui_images/bl=
ue_px.gif"=20
width=3D767></TD></TR>
<TR vAlign=3Dbottom>
<TD><A=20
href=3D"http://ltrack.timeinc.net/r0/fastforward_12-01-20=
04/h_fortune_com/in?http://www.fortune.com/fortune"=20
target=3D_top><IMG height=3D15 alt=3Dhome=20
src=3D"http://www.fortune.com/fortune/images/ui_images/ho=
me_tab.gif"=20
width=3D68 border=3D0 name=3Dhome></A></TD>
<TD><A=20
href=3D"http://ltrack.timeinc.net/r0/fastforward_12-01-20=
04/h_companies/in?http://www.fortune.com/fortune/companies"=20
target=3D_top><IMG height=3D15 alt=3Dcompanies=20
src=3D"http://www.fortune.com/fortune/images/ui_images/co=
mpanies_tab.gif"=20
width=3D122 border=3D0 name=3Dcompanies></A></TD>
<TD><A=20
href=3D"http://ltrack.timeinc.net/r0/fastforward_12-01-20=
04/h_ceo/in?http://www.fortune.com/fortune/ceo"=20
target=3D_top><IMG height=3D15 alt=3Dceos=20
src=3D"http://www.fortune.com/fortune/images/ui_images/ce=
os_tab.gif"=20
width=3D75 border=3D0 name=3Dceos></A></TD>
<TD><A=20
href=3D"http://ltrack.timeinc.net/r0/fastforward_12-01-20=
04/h_investing/in?http://www.fortune.com/fortune/investing"=20
target=3D_top><IMG height=3D15 alt=3Dinvestor=20
src=3D"http://www.fortune.com/fortune/images/ui_images/in=
vesting_tab.gif"=20
width=3D109 border=3D0 name=3Dinvesting></A></TD>
<TD><A=20
href=3D"http://ltrack.timeinc.net/r0/fastforward_12-01-20=
04/h_careers/in?http://www.fortune.com/fortune/careers"=20
target=3D_top><IMG height=3D15 alt=3Dcareers=20
src=3D"http://www.fortune.com/fortune/images/ui_images/ca=
reers_tab.gif"=20
width=3D107 border=3D0 name=3Dcareers></A></TD>
<TD><A=20
href=3D"http://ltrack.timeinc.net/r0/fastforward_12-01-20=
04/h_technology/in?http://www.fortune.com/fortune/technology"=20
target=3D_top><IMG height=3D15 alt=3Dtech=20
src=3D"http://www.fortune.com/fortune/images/ui_images/te=
chnology_tab.gif"=20
width=3D133 border=3D0 name=3Dtechnology></A></TD>
<TD><A=20
href=3D"http://ltrack.timeinc.net/r0/fastforward_12-01-20=
04/h_smallbus/in?http://www.fortune.com/fortune/smallbusiness"=20
target=3D_top><IMG height=3D15 alt=3Dsmallbiz=20
src=3D"http://www.fortune.com/fortune/images/ui_images/sm=
allbus_tab.gif"=20
width=3D153 border=3D0 name=3Dsmallbus></A></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD colSpan=3D7><IMG height=3D1=20
src=3D"http://www.fortune.com/fortune/images/ui_images/bl=
ue_px.gif"=20
width=3D767></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY><=
/TABLE></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dtop>
<TABLE cellSpacing=3D0 cellPadding=3D0 width=3D585 border=3D0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dtop width=3D160 rowSpan=3D3>
<TABLE cellSpacing=3D0 cellPadding=3D0 width=3D160 border=3D0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dtop><IMG height=3D19=20
src=3D"http://i.timeinc.net/fortune/images/ui_images/rank=
ing_tab.gif"=20
width=3D160 border=3D0></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dtop>
<TABLE cellSpacing=3D0 cellPadding=3D2 width=3D158 border=
=3D0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD><A class=3DDarkBlueLinkBold=20
href=3D"http://ltrack.timeinc.net/r0/fastforward_12=
-01-2004/h_fortune500/in?http://www.fortune.com/fortune/fortune500">FORTUNE=
=20
500</A></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD><A class=3DDarkBlueLinkBold=20
href=3D"http://ltrack.timeinc.net/r0/fastforward_12=
-01-2004/h_global500/in?http://www.fortune.com/fortune/global500">Global=
=20
500</A></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD><A class=3DDarkBlueLinkBold=20
href=3D"http://ltrack.timeinc.net/r0/fastforward_12=
-01-2004/h_best_companies/in?http://www.fortune.com/fortune/bestcompanies">=
100=20
Best to Work For</A></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD><A class=3DDarkBlueLinkBold=20
href=3D"http://ltrack.timeinc.net/r0/fastforward_12=
-01-2004/h_most_admired/in?http://www.fortune.com/fortune/mostadmired">Amer=
ica's=20
Most Admired</A></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD><A class=3DDarkBlueLinkBold=20
href=3D"http://ltrack.timeinc.net/r0/fastforward_12=
-01-2004/h_fastest_growing/in?http://www.fortune.com/fortune/fastest">100=
=20
Fastest-Growing</A></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD><=
/TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dtop><BR><IMG height=3D19=20
src=3D"http://i.timeinc.net/fortune/images/ui_images/onli=
ne_tab.gif"=20
width=3D160 border=3D0></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dtop>
<TABLE cellSpacing=3D0 cellPadding=3D2 width=3D158 border=
=3D0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD><A class=3DDarkBlueLinkBold=20
href=3D"http://ltrack.timeinc.net/r0/fastforward_12=
-01-2004/h_fortune1000/in?http://www.fortune.com/fortune/fortune1000">FORTU=
NE=20
1000</A></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD><A class=3DDarkBlueLinkBold=20
href=3D"http://ltrack.timeinc.net/r0/fastforward_12=
-01-2004/h_best_archives/in?http://www.fortune.com/fortune/bestcompanies/ar=
chives">Best=20
to Work For <SPAN class=3DDarkBlueLinkSmallBold><FO=
NT=20
color=3D#990000>1998-2003</FONT></SPAN></A></TD></T=
R>
<TR>
<TD><A class=3DDarkBlueLinkBold=20
href=3D"http://ltrack.timeinc.net/r0/fastforward_12=
-01-2004/h_global_admired/in?http://www.fortune.com/fortune/globaladmired">=
Global=20
Most Admired</A></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD><A class=3DDarkBlueLinkBold=20
href=3D"http://ltrack.timeinc.net/r0/fastforward_12=
-01-2004/h_asia_current/in?http://www.fortune.com/fortune/information/asia_=
currentissue">FORTUNE=20
Asia</A></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD><A class=3DDarkBlueLinkBold=20
href=3D"http://ltrack.timeinc.net/r0/fastforward_12=
-01-2004/h_europe_current/in?http://www.fortune.com/fortune/information/eur=
ope_currentissue">FORTUNE=20
Europe</A></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TD></TR>=
</TBODY></TABLE></TD>
<TD vAlign=3Dtop width=3D5> </TD>
<TD vAlign=3Dtop width=3D435>
<TABLE cellSpacing=3D0 cellPadding=3D0 width=3D435 border=3D0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=3Dtop><A name=3D11361></A><SPAN class=3DRubricHe=
ad>DAVID=20
KIRKPATRICK</SPAN></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD colSpan=3D2><A name=3D11363></A><SPAN class=3DBlueTitle=
Out for Outsourcing</SPAN><BR><SPAN class=3DBodyText>Desp=
ite the=20
outrage over U.S. corporations sending jobs overseas, man=
y=20
readers agreed with me that Americans must accept that we=
=20
live=97and do business=97in a global marketplace.<BR>Dec =
01=20
2004<BR>By <A=20
href=3D"http://ltrack.timeinc.net/r0/fastforward_12-01-20=
04/h_author_archive/in?http://www.fortune.com/fortune/author_archive?author=
name=3DDavid%20Kirkpatrick&column_id=3D&year=3D2004">David=20
Kirkpatrick</A><BR>Fortune.com<BR><BR>
<P>My 10/29 column entitled "<A class=3DRelatedLink=20
href=3D"http://www.fortune.com/fortune/fastforward/0,1570=
4,735922,00.html">Why=20
Outsourcing Isn't Really the Issue</A>" engendered a=20
surprising and gratifying new strand of reader sentiment.=
=20
Unlike the anti-outsourcing zealots who called me names, =
like=20
"arrogant puke," for expressing an opinion with which the=
y=20
disagree, many of you seemed to want to reassure me that =
I=20
have readers who aren't so mean and vindictive. You turn =
out=20
to be both thoughtful and pleasant! And some of you actua=
lly=20
agree with me! </P>
<P>Readers enumerated a variety of reasons why outsourcin=
g,=20
while painful for displaced workers, is not the death kne=
ll=20
for the U.S. economy. You also suggested a variety of=20
interesting ways to think about the challenges that=20
outsourcing poses. I'd like to share them with the rest o=
f our=20
readers. Here are a few excerpts: </P>
<P><STRONG>Tech company COO:</STRONG> "Ask any of your=
=20
negative commentators to take a hard look at the labels o=
f the=20
clothing they wear, or the cars they drive.... Ever since=
=20
ships began to steam between continents, the U.S. has shi=
pped=20
labor overseas. Had this early example of outsourcing not=
=20
taken place, the U.S. would continue to be clogged with=
=20
textile manufacturing plants. However, as that work migra=
ted=20
to the East, Americans innovated and developed technologi=
es=20
and resources that pioneered industries and created=20
higher-paying, more meaningful jobs.... When companies th=
at=20
decide not to outsource offshore go belly-up... very few=
=20
patriots will offer their condolences." </P>
<P><STRONG>Retired HP general manager:</STRONG> He sugges=
ts an=20
exercise to friends concerned about outsourcing. "I ask t=
hem=20
to [imagine] they are the CEO of a 500-person company tha=
t=20
competes all over the world, with competitors based in=
=20
Germany, Brazil, China and India. They have a 20-person=
=20
in-house customer support organization and are paying tho=
se=20
people $30/hour. Their competitors utilize an Indian comp=
any=20
and are paying $3/hour. Their profit margins are shrinkin=
g and=20
their prices too high, so their total business is also=
=20
shrinking. What are they going to do to compete and prese=
rve=20
employees' jobs? What if they were prevented by our gover=
nment=20
from utilizing other countries' workers?" </P>
<P><STRONG>Steve, GM for Asia-Pacific business unit of a=
=20
privately held software company:</STRONG> "I see and hear=
=20
firsthand the argument for and against outsourcing. I see=
new=20
companies springing to life in the PRC [People's Republic=
of=20
China] and elsewhere to fill the demand for their experti=
se=20
and yes, lower cost structure. I see a growing consumer c=
lass=20
emerging... I see opportunities for U.S. companies... Thi=
s=20
country and its citizens do need to wake up and accept th=
at=20
the U.S. is not an island and is rapidly losing its leade=
rship=20
in the global economy." </P>
<P><STRONG>Larry:</STRONG> "Outsourcing outside the borde=
rs of=20
the U.S. is a natural extension of the common business=
=20
practice of moving operations to less expensive areas wit=
hin=20
the U.S... So why all the outcry now? I think it's becaus=
e the=20
work is going to India and people are prejudiced... I hav=
en't=20
heard anyone say that they're willing to pay higher price=
s so=20
that the jobs can stay in the U.S.... There's a big disco=
nnect=20
between people's ideals and their pocketbooks." </P>
<P><STRONG>Deb, a software company executive:</STRONG> "T=
he=20
real issue to me is... the level of anger that we are wil=
ling=20
to direct at another human being has grown dramatically.=
=20
Perhaps it's because we interact more at a distance, due =
to=20
the Internet, e-mail, cell phones, etc., so we can dehuma=
nize=20
the person receiving our anger. As a country, we can no l=
onger=20
have a civilized discussion about many issues=97economic,=
=20
religious, or political. We've become a nation of extremi=
sts,=20
starting at the top... Thank you for attempting to hold a=
=20
civilized discussion." </P>
<P><STRONG>A reader from Canada:</STRONG> "I admire your=
=20
ongoing attempt to bring intelligence to bear on the=20
outsourcing question, but I fear you are doomed to failur=
e...=20
The responses which you have received... are bigotry, pur=
e and=20
simple.... It is strange that a technology writer has bec=
ome=20
such a lightning rod on this issue when many blue-collar,=
=20
non-tech jobs have already been lost.... The bottom line=
=20
is=97globalization is not something that will happen=97it=
has=20
happened. The world's greatest capitalist nation can whin=
e=20
about it or adapt." </P>
<P><STRONG>A reader from Hong Kong:</STRONG> "Outsourcing=
jobs=20
to more competitive India represents not merely America's=
=20
generosity to the less-well-off, it actually benefits=20
Americans overall. This is the clear conclusion of every=
=20
serious economic analysis... from [19th-century British=
=20
economist David] Ricardo to [Columbia University economic=
s=20
professor Jagdish] Bhagwati. Of course, I live in a place=
=20
where such understanding is the lifeblood of our prosperi=
ty.=20
Perhaps the U.S. electorate should travel more." </P>
<P><STRONG>Patricia from San Diego:</STRONG> "To think th=
at=20
other countries in the world would not want to capitalize=
on=20
technology and provide jobs for their own citizens smacks=
of=20
hubris... Having worked for a company that suddenly close=
d its=20
doors and put 70 people out of work, I understand the ang=
er=20
about being laid off... My only hope is that as these gro=
wing=20
economies really begin to flourish, the wages, health car=
e and=20
standards of living will improve and eventually it will a=
ll=20
even out. Our bigger-is-better lifestyle may be lowered a=
bit,=20
but won't we all be better off in the long run?" </P>
<P><STRONG>Another reader from HP:</STRONG> "I've trained=
my=20
replacement once and may be forced to do it again. The fi=
rst=20
time I found work in another section of the company. This=
time=20
I may not be so lucky. And yet... protectionism is not th=
e=20
answer. See how well it served Japan. We now live in a gl=
obal=20
economy. To think anything different is suicide." </P>
<P>Koushik, who runs an investment advisory firm in India=
: He=20
notes that Singapore's prime minister was recently quoted=
in=20
FORTUNE Asia worrying aloud that smart people elsewhere a=
re=20
willing to work harder and at lower wages than people in=
=20
Singapore, and admitting that is a big problem for his=
=20
country. "The U.S. political leadership... doesn't want t=
o=20
give this same bad news to their people... If [people in =
the=20
U.S. understood that] they would be saving like crazy rat=
her=20
than buying huge mansions, SUVs, and going deep into debt=
."=20
</P>
<P>This is not a message that will be well received in th=
e=20
U.S. </P>
<P>Finally, perhaps my favorite letter came from Cindy in=
=20
North Carolina. In total, it read: "Good column. I love y=
our=20
spunk!" Thank you, Cindy. </P>
<P>Sorry I can't respond personally to all your great let=
ters.=20
</P>
<P>
<HR>
By the way, if you're not a subscriber to the email versi=
on of=20
this column, just go to <A class=3DRelatedLink=20
href=3D"http://www.fortune.com/fortune/sub-unsub/subscrib=
e">www.fortune.com/fortune/sub-unsub/subscribe</A>=20
and sign up. It's free. And then don't hesitate to let me=
know=20
what you think.=20
<P></P>
<P><I>Questions? Comments? E-mail them to me at <A=20
href=3D"mailto:dkirkp-@fortunemail.com">dkirkpatrick=
@fortunemail.</A></I>=20
</P></SPAN><SPAN class=3DDarkBlueLinkSmall><A=20
href=3D"http://ltrack.timeinc.net/r0/fastforward_12-01-20=
04/h_fortune/in?http://www.fortune.com">Visit=20
FORTUNE.com</A></SPAN> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD>
<TD vAlign=3Dtop width=3D5> </TD>
<TD vAlign=3Dtop width=3D160><A=20
href=3D"http://ar.atwola.com/redir/B0/h_Y66c72Op9c_sDam2mZCV8zY=
8YdT9cY4gf-nmoRQQ1OBOiiJf_oAw$$/HTTPCOLONSLASH/tracking.iqfuel.com/a/click.=
php?id=3D1005"><IMG=20
src=3D"http://ar.atwola.com/creative/GALLERY/2004/10/27/AAAAABW=
OVF.GIF"></A></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD class=3DRegText vAlign=3Dtop colSpan=3D3><BR clear=3Dall>
<HR SIZE=3D1>
TO UNSUBSCRIBE:<BR>You have received this email because you are=
a=20
Fortune.com email newsletter subscriber. To unsubscribe from th=
is=20
newsletter, please visit <A class=3DRelatedLinkSmall=20
href=3D"http://ltrack.timeinc.net/r0/fastforward_12-01-2004/h_e=
mail_unsub/in?http://www.timeinc.net/fortune/sub-unsub/unsubscribe">www.for=
tune.com/fortune/sub-unsub/unsubscribe</A>=20
<BR><BR>E-MAIL OPT-OUTS:<BR><A=20
href=3D"http://ltrack.timeinc.net/r0/fastforward_12-01-2004/h_f=
ortune_emailprivacy/in?http://www.fortune.com/web/privacy">Check=20
here</A> for information on how to opt-out of marketing=20
communications from us and our partners, or copy and paste this=
link=20
into your browser: <A class=3DRelatedLinkSmall=20
href=3D"http://ltrack.timeinc.net/r0/fastforward_12-01-2004/h_f=
ortune_emailprivacy/in?http://www.fortune.com/web/privacy">http://www.fortu=
ne.com/web/privacy</A>=20
<BR><BR>PRIVACY POLICY:<BR>Please read our Privacy Policy, or c=
opy=20
and paste this link into your browser: <A class=3DRelatedLinkSm=
all=20
href=3D"http://ltrack.timeinc.net/r0/fastforward_12-01-2004/h_f=
ortune_privacy/in?http://www.fortune.com/privacy">http://www.fortune.com/pr=
ivacy</A>=20
<BR><BR>FOR FURTHER COMMUNICATION, PLEASE CONTACT:<BR>FORTUNE=
=20
CUSTOMER SERVICE<BR>ATTENTION: CONSUMER AFFAIRS <BR>3000 Univer=
sity=20
Center Drive<BR>Tampa, FL 33612-6408 </TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD class=3DRegText vAlign=3Dtop align=3Dleft colSpan=3D3>
<P><BR><SPAN class=3DCaption>Note: If you stop receiving this e=
-mail=20
and have not unsubscribed, it may be necessary to adjust your=
=20
spam-filter settings, or to contact your Internet Service Provi=
der=20
or e-mail administrator. In an effort to remove unwanted spam, =
some=20
ISPs may inadvertently filter out opt-in e-mail newsletters suc=
h as=20
this one. </SPAN></P></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBOD=
Y></TABLE>
<SCRIPT language=3DJavaScript1.1=20
src=3D"http://ar.atwola.com/file/adsEnd.js"></SCRIPT>
<IMG height=3D1=20
src=3D"http://ltrack.timeinc.net/shared/images/1x1/1x1.gif?list=3Dfastforwa=
rd_12-01-2004"=20
width=3D1>=20
<P>
<P>----</P></BODY></HTML>
------=3D_NextPart_000_0042_01C4D84C.5A881B80--
|
|
 |
|
