11 Oct 13
In American business's headlong pursuit of profits profits and profits is the popular practice of job outsourcing. Cheap goods for consumers, big profits for big business. Good news for all...right? Well, maybe not. Lost are millions of manufacturing jobs the American economy could use right now, and the human tragedy abroad.
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2013/10/11/i_got_hired_at_a_bangladesh_sweatshop_meet_my_9yearold_boss.html
11 Oct 13
Originally posted by bill718Just what are you suggesting? Should businesses operate at a loss, as a public service? Look how that turned out under Lenin and Stalin, and Hitler. How's it working in Spain and Greece?
In American business's headlong pursuit of profits profits and profits is the popular practice of job outsourcing. Cheap goods for consumers, big profits for big business. Good news for all...right? Well, maybe not. Lost are millions of manufacturing jobs the American economy could use right now, and the human tragedy abroad.
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2013/10/11/i_got_hired_at_a_bangladesh_sweatshop_meet_my_9yearold_boss.html
How and why did the British Empire fall from its lofty position as world leader in commerce and production? Try the words protectionism.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protectionism You'll get both sides of the argument here.
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11 Oct 13
Originally posted by normbenignI think presenting facts about the global labor marketplace and how individual nations' labor practices, labor laws and labor law enforcement enforcement differ from one another, is useful information that citizens should have. They can form their own opinions.
Just what are you suggesting? Should businesses operate at a loss, as a public service? Look how that turned out under Lenin and Stalin, and Hitler. How's it working in Spain and Greece?
How and why did the British Empire fall from its lofty position as world leader in commerce and production? Try the words protectionism.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protectionism You'll get both sides of the argument here.
The global labor economy currently harvests benefits from the fact that some nations are decades behind others in the development of labor and workplace standards. This simple fact should be acknowledged. NYC had the Triangle Shirtwaist Building fire 102 years ago.
Where those benefits go is a related subject.
11 Oct 13
Originally posted by JS357All that is true, and why protectionist policies will not work in the long run. It is the normal progress of states to become industrial, grow capitalist ventures, and in that process the already industrialized world is going to have to compete, sometimes losing and other times winning.
I think presenting facts about the global labor marketplace and how individual nations' labor practices, labor laws and labor law enforcement enforcement differ from one another, is useful information that citizens should have. They can form their own opinions.
The global labor economy currently harvests benefits from the fact that some nations are decades ...[text shortened]... iangle Shirtwaist Building fire 102 years ago.
Where those benefits go is a related subject.
Forcing adoption of standards by other nations, has typically meant atrocities by both the governed and those governing. The industrial growth in China has created a whole new wealthy and middle class, but at a terrible ecological cost. They will figure it out, as will we, if we can avoid notions of people who already think they know the answers to everything, and are willing to throw out many of the things that made America great.
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11 Oct 13
3 edits
Originally posted by normbenignOne of the differences between the evolution of labor and workplace safety standards in American history compared to the current global situation, is that American businesses had less mobility in drawing upon labor pools, due to having less advanced transportation systems. Still they had (and have) some mobility to move jobs from one state to another; and this is why it became necessary to establish federal, nation-wide standards for certain labor and workplace safety standards. There is no equivalent global umbrella.
All that is true, and why protectionist policies will not work in the long run. It is the normal progress of states to become industrial, grow capitalist ventures, and in that process the already industrialized world is going to have to compete, sometimes losing and other times winning. Organizations that investigate and report the facts should be encour ...[text shortened]... answers to everything, and are willing to throw out many of the things that made America great.
I know even hinting at a positive effect of nation-wide regulation is anathema around here. And we are talking about the global situation. I am not lobbying for a world government; that would be jousting at a windmill. Pressure instead should come from a citizenry making personal economic decisions based on the facts, such as looking at the label to see where that shirt was made and checking against reliable information about that country's labor and workplace safety record.
11 Oct 13
3 edits
Originally posted by normbenignWhat am I suggesting?? I'm suggesting American's consider paying a bit more for their goods, and hire American's to manufacture them. We did it for 150+ years and our economy grew very nicely. I can't believe your having difficulty figuring this out!
Just what are you suggesting? Should businesses operate at a loss, as a public service? Look how that turned out under Lenin and Stalin, and Hitler. How's it working in Spain and Greece?
How and why did the British Empire fall from its lofty position as world leader in commerce and production? Try the words protectionism.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protectionism You'll get both sides of the argument here.
12 Oct 13
Originally posted by bill718The last "American" laptop I bought was a Zenith in 1990. Price was $3000+. Last laptop I bought was $299, a powerhouse machine compared to that 286 Zenith.
What am I suggesting?? I'm suggesting American's consider paying a bit more for their goods, and hire American's to manufacture them. We did it for 150+ years and our economy grew very nicely. I can't believe your having difficulty figuring this out!
Perhaps you have followed some of the Obama administration's crony capitalistic escapades, where they subsidized infant businesses to build batteries for electric cars, and the companies folded, and the batteries are now being made in China.
Put up your own money, build a successful American company which makes competitive products. There are many examples of this, but all you want to do is whine about old companies that are leaving because they aren't competitive anymore. The golden years of American industry were not crony capitalistic years, of government support, bailouts, and low interest from the Fed.
12 Oct 13
Originally posted by bill718Many people already are seeking to buy american made goods. Problem is that it is hard to find many things made in the USA. Taxes placed on imports can help as well. Unless we are willing to have a huge drop in quality of life then tax imports that use cheap and or prison labor in its manufacturing. We used to have such taxes.
What am I suggesting?? I'm suggesting American's consider paying a bit more for their goods, and hire American's to manufacture them. We did it for 150+ years and our economy grew very nicely. I can't believe your having difficulty figuring this out!
12 Oct 13
If something can be imported cheaply, that generally means it can be produced more efficiently abroad. What's wrong with that? Isn't that the whole point of the modern economic system - specialization to increase productivity?
If it's just jobs you are worried about, it has little to do with outsourcing. The US government has decided that it wants unemployment where it is now; it is trivially remedied.
12 Oct 13
Originally posted by joe beyserImport duties and other trade barriers still exist.
Many people already are seeking to buy american made goods. Problem is that it is hard to find many things made in the USA. Taxes placed on imports can help as well. Unless we are willing to have a huge drop in quality of life then tax imports that use cheap and or prison labor in its manufacturing. We used to have such taxes.
12 Oct 13
2 edits
Originally posted by bill718As someone who isn't American, I must point out that although you are correct that exporting jobs means less jobs for Americans, but please don't paint it as harmful to other countries to give them jobs. Sure we would love to be paid more for our services, but to claim that giving us jobs is 'human tragedy' whereas selfishly keeping the jobs to yourselves is morally good is just plain wrong.
In American business's headlong pursuit of profits profits and profits is the popular practice of job outsourcing. Cheap goods for consumers, big profits for big business. Good news for all...right? Well, maybe not. Lost are millions of manufacturing jobs the American economy could use right now, and the human tragedy abroad.
I must also point out that many of your companies in the pursuit of profits, do almost all the work in other countries, but keep the profits in the US. Apple for example makes far more profit than do those they hire to make the actual phones.
12 Oct 13
Originally posted by bill718Those that run the government are globalists who wish to bring down borders and redistribute wealth to the poor. The same reason that they do nothing about illegal immigration is the same reason they will do nothing about outsourcing.
In American business's headlong pursuit of profits profits and profits is the popular practice of job outsourcing. Cheap goods for consumers, big profits for big business. Good news for all...right? Well, maybe not. Lost are millions of manufacturing jobs the American economy could use right now, and the human tragedy abroad.
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2013/10/11/i_got_hired_at_a_bangladesh_sweatshop_meet_my_9yearold_boss.html
12 Oct 13
Originally posted by KazetNagorraDream on dreamer. It is all about exploiting cheap labor.
If something can be imported cheaply, that generally means it can be produced more efficiently abroad. What's wrong with that? Isn't that the whole point of the modern economic system - specialization to increase productivity?
If it's just jobs you are worried about, it has little to do with outsourcing. The US government has decided that it wants unemployment where it is now; it is trivially remedied.
12 Oct 13
1 edit
Originally posted by joe beyserThe US' main import partners are China, Canada, Mexico, Japan and Germany. None of these countries have particularly cheap labour (compared to e.g. Bangladesh). Canada, Japan and Germany probably have higher or at least comparable labour costs. So no, it does not seem like it is "all about exploiting cheap labour" at all.
Dream on dreamer. It is all about exploiting cheap labor.
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12 Oct 13
Originally posted by KazetNagorraThe 3 Countries Stealing China's Business
The US' main import partners are China, Canada, Mexico, Japan and Germany. None of these countries have particularly cheap labour (compared to e.g. Bangladesh). Canada, Japan and Germany probably have higher or at least comparable labour costs. So no, it does not seem like it is "all about exploiting cheap labour" at all.
http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2013/06/15/the-3-countries-stealing-chinas-business.aspx