Immigration & Outsourcing: How do We Reconcile the Two?
Alright, now I will return to one of my favorite topics, which lies in the realm of politics. Since Bush's approval ratings are at an all time low, and this country is loosing confidence with him and his decision to invade Iraq, I will turn to another issue which is close to my heart, here in California, immigration.
It is clearly the case that California has many immigrants, some of whom are here legally, and others illegally. This state is one giant melting pot, with Mexicans, Indians, Asians, Africans, and others from the Middle East. Since we are so close to the boarder of Mexico, there is an issue about those who migrate here and stay illegally. In fact, there is talk that it would be made a felony for those who are here illegally, and most likely, deportation would result. The issue is complicated, as corporate America realizes that there are not many who would perform the jobs and India the labor that many of our immigrants do here in California.
Many of you know that I am a very deep thinker, and what has surfaced, at least for my thinking, is how corporate America has begun to out-source many of their jobs to places like India, China, Thailand, etc. In an attempt to procure cheap labor.
Is there a contradiction between our position on immigration and the outsourcing of jobs outside of America? How do you reconcile the two?
On a side note, this Saturday, April 8th., would have been my beloved Astro's 13th birthday.
Thank you for your minds.
It is clearly the case that California has many immigrants, some of whom are here legally, and others illegally. This state is one giant melting pot, with Mexicans, Indians, Asians, Africans, and others from the Middle East. Since we are so close to the boarder of Mexico, there is an issue about those who migrate here and stay illegally. In fact, there is talk that it would be made a felony for those who are here illegally, and most likely, deportation would result. The issue is complicated, as corporate America realizes that there are not many who would perform the jobs and India the labor that many of our immigrants do here in California.
Many of you know that I am a very deep thinker, and what has surfaced, at least for my thinking, is how corporate America has begun to out-source many of their jobs to places like India, China, Thailand, etc. In an attempt to procure cheap labor.
Is there a contradiction between our position on immigration and the outsourcing of jobs outside of America? How do you reconcile the two?
On a side note, this Saturday, April 8th., would have been my beloved Astro's 13th birthday.
Thank you for your minds.
13 Comments:
I don't mind outsourcing as much as illegal immigrants...
outsourcing... they are the responsibility of their own homeland
It seems so unfair to those who apply for entry to the U.S. legally, to have to wait and wait, while we just look the other way for those people who come to the U.S. illegally.
Outsourcing is a big problem also, IMHO. But it doesn't bother me as much as our leaky borders.
The question is, why is the issue coming up NOW? This has been going on for a long, long, time.
Well the kinds of jobs that are being outsourced to India is more high tech...
And the jobs that are going to China...you can't pay an imigrant (even illegal) $40 a month for working..so the outsourcing is not going to stop any time soon.
There is no contradiction.
Capitalism is based on exploiting things for fun and profit. In America, there are really no longer any cources of cheap natural resources to exploit, and labor is rather expensive too.
Natural resources have turned into commodities with a market driven price, so the only thing left to exploit is labor. This is why outsourcing is so popular today. Without something to exploit, capitalism as we know it today is dead.
Illegal immigration is not the same thing as outsourcing. The problem here is that the illegals live here. Their kids go to school here. They drive cars here. They go to hospital emergency rooms here. And so on.
So we want the cheap labor, but NOT the social costs that illegals bring. If all the illegals did was pick tomotos and strawberries then go home nobody would complain.
When we outsource, we are exploiting the cheap labor of the third world, without having to bear any social costs.
The oxymoronic positions are not even funny.. l>t is right.. this is not new..
Is the Govt turning this into a national debate.. just because they need one? What other topics are there to fight for? They already used the gay marriages? Or is this just a local issue?
Im reminded of a joke I heard Dennis Miller tell whne he was still voting Democrat... upon hearing Pat Buchanan say that if he was president he would order a fence built around the border... Dennis asked.. then, let me understand, who would build the fence?
Outsourcing is jeopardizing the jobs of Americans, illegal immigrants (I don't want to generalize but in some measure still) jeopardizes American’s jobs and their general safety.
The issue is so complex regarding immigration. I am clearly in favor of more boarder controls, but to charge those who are here with a felony, including some children, seems to be harsh. Moreover, if convicted, can you imagine how crowded our jails would be or alternatively, the high costs of deportation?
Barbara hit upon a good point. the cost. It's one of the reasons I see it as just a bunch of political claptrap.
Of course we need a solution to the problem of not being able to control our borders Or enforce our own laws once they get on the books. But, don't expect anything from this Administration.
I think they are just out garnering votes.
Then again putting (how many?)people in prison would support a whole nother industry.
Jobs need to stay in the USA.
Immigrants should be expected to enter the States legally.
Maybe if the process didn't take so long there would be less going in illegally.
Kind of ironic that US is exporting jobs while immigrants are flocking to the US to work.
This world just seems like such a board game when it comes to economics doesn't it?!
The whole immigration thing is a non-issue as far as I'm concerned. More important things need to be talked about such as health care, education, Iraq. Immigration is distracting us from what's important.
But to answer your question, I think corporations don't give a hoot one way or the other about where the labor comes as long as it's cheap. Aliens, il/legal is a non issue as they'll find new people to fill employee holes, regardless of how they got here. It's the same with outsourcing: to corporations, it doesn't matter.
I'm a catalog sales rep, and I occaisonally get the question "where are you?" or "where am I calling?". Clearly, people do care whether or not they are speaking to a USA citizen. We've had to call about both a Citibank and JC Penneys credit card problem, and both customer "care" centers were in India. It was really difficult to understand the agent, and for them to understand us. I've called up to four times until I got a person who I felt understood me (not that meant that they ACTUALLY did what they said they'd do, but that's another story...)
The outsourcing issue is based upon greed. A company (it's CEO and other executives) is compelled to turn higher and higher profits in order to maintain or raise the value of its stock. One way to do so is to disregard the hard work and history of the employees by farming the work to low cost geographies.
The argument that we live in a global economy is pure gibberish. I am in the IT business, have been to several "low cost" nations, and can tell you first hand that it is unlikely that folks there, due to their exploitation, will ever be in a position to "repay" us by purchasing our products or services.
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