The economic opportunities for most of our people are going to diminish.

[KlatooBNikto]

This realization has not yet dawned on most of us.As our well paid professions go offshore to India, China wherever, it is either going to be reduced opportunities or taking paycuts even in highly paid professions.That writing on the wall was driven home to me when one of my daughters who started working at a major legal firm said that most of the work in her firm is now moving to India.Apparently,the Indian lawyers are evry bit as well trained as our own and can work for a lot less. The legal firms in this country are salivating at the opportunity to perform first rate work from India with its limitless supply of lawyers trained in the U.S., Britain and several European countries.

It seems to me only a matter of time this kind of thing happens in the Medical professions too.The ironic thing from my perspective is the more wars we fight for oil and other resources, the ground keeps shifting under our feet because the diversion of our resources to war makes conducting normal everyday activities more expensive in this country and most professions will fly the coop ,so to speak.

Is there anybody wise in the Bush administration who can see the gradual erosion of our economic power that will ultimately kill our military power too?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. They are out for getting

everything they can get, and everyone else be damned. You've seen this mentality in CEOs like Ken Lay. Bush Adminstration people are cut from the same cloth, imho.

[madison2000]

2. Is there anybody wise in the Bush Administration?

No. The last one resigned last week.

My economic opportunities are already diminished. This administration has brought me 18 months of unemployment, 3 years without health insurance, a decline in the income from my technical job when I am lucky enough to have a job, and the loss of my savings and retirement accounts. From what I am reading on these and other messageboards, I have a lot of company. It matters not that I have good skills and am well educated- the number of jobs in my field (and this is my 3rd career)- are seriously depleted, and they are not coming back.

Computing, accounting, publishing, law- its not just the manufacturing jobs that are being lost any more. And what does Bush say? We need to prepare for the jobs of the 21st century by going to technical college. Who is he kidding? I have technical skills and experience and its very hard to find something permanent with benefits.

Bush will be the end of our status as a superpower. How ironic that this should happen because of the actions of the supposedly "fiscally conservative" political party and not the "tax and spend liberals".

[NJCher]

9. bush didn't say "technical college"

He said "community college."

Cher

[madison2000]

13. oh that's right

but I was working at a tech/community college at the time so that's how I remembered it. But it still pissed off millions who have good skills and can't find a decent job any where.

[Wright Patman]

3. The Pentagon's New Map

http://www.thomaspmbarnett.com/index.htm

I don't know that I would call this man wise. But he makes clear that the U.S. military no longer works for the American people. They are the shock troops of the much-ballyhooed New World Order and the consequences for the American way of life and standard of living be damned.

I don't know if he has ever addressed your point, which is a good one. How does the U.S. military sustain itself as it goes on its global rampage as its economic base (i.e., U.S. taxpayers) continues to shrink?

[KlatooBNikto]

6. There are only two ways out of our miserable condition brought on

by the warmongers among us. One would be to give up the mirage of world hegemony. The second would be defalation of mammoth proportions. The first alternative would be fair and less painful to the people who will suffer as always. The second would create monumental suffering. I will not hold my breath that the first alternative will come to pass. The disease of imperialism has affected us so deeply it is incurable.

[Coyote_Bandit]

4. Left Unabated

globalization will ultimately lead to a standardized worldwide class system. For that to happen rich countries must get poorer and poor countries must get richer.

My economic opportunites diminished when I was laid off nearly 2 years ago. Still jobless here in crazy red f*cking JOklahoma. And willing to relocate and work anywhere in the world. Labor is, after all, now a global commodity.

[Th1onein]

14. Are you any good at sales?

It's a telemarketing job, but it pays like a full-time job, at only 27 hours a week. No nights, no weekends, and half a day off on Friday. Plus, you'd have a very liberal boss. :)

[Coyote_Bandit]

17. A Liberal Boss? Really?!?

The thought of that just makes my little ole heart melt! Thank you, Th1onein.

BA, MA, MBA, JD. Able to assist in operations, planning, training, management. Experience in insurance management, investment portfolio management, publications. Strong communication skills, results oriented, creative.

Would you seriously hire somebody with three graduate and professional degrees and two professional licenses to do telemarketing sales?

Do you really want to hire someone who would continue to look for other work that might better utilize their training and experience?

If it were your choice would you choose to:
(A) Live where you wanted and do whatever kind of work you found necessary to survive and pay the bills; or
(B) Do the kind of work you wanted to do and live wherever you had to in order to do that work; or
(C) Do whatever kind of work you found necessary to survive and pay the bills and live wherever you had to in order to do that work.

Assuming of course that you could not do the work you wanted and live where you wanted.

I prefer either A (live near my family and friends which, incidentally, is not in JOklahoma) or B (do the work I want to do and am trained to do and do it anywhere in the world). If I cannot find work that is intrinsically meaningful and challenging to me then I prefer that my work provide something desirable to me - the ability to live near family and friends.

Lest you think I am being too picky you should know that last week I applied and interviewed for a part-time minimum wage position working in the thrift store of one of our local animal rescue charities. It would not pay the bills and it has no benefits or health insurance. It also has no relocation costs. But it just might make it a little easier to bide my time.

I feel trapped. I am living in limbo. There simply are no good alternatives.

My time is my own. I'm working on a book debunking the christian agenda from a faith based perspective. It is something that I would not be doing if I had a job. Can you find me a publisher and sell that book?

[Th1onein]

18. I would hire anyone who wants the job and keep them if they can do the job

I understand your position, completely. We all make our choices in life, and in the end, it is those choices that define us.

The kind of work I make my living at is not something that I would CHOOSE to do, either, given my level of education, and interests. I make a decent amount of money, though, and my job leaves me a lot of time to pursue my research in biochemistry. I sell the "skills" for which there is a market, and I use my time and unmarketable skills to pursue those goals which I think will make life better for others in this world. Fortunately, for me, using my "unmarketable" skills is soon going to make it possible for me to "quit my day job," and begin to pursue my ideal goals, full-time.

I think that, if we are to become truly free of this system, we are all going to have to begin thinking in a more "out-of-the-box" fashion. While it is true that corporations that have made their billions out of American's sweat and labor are moving their jobs overseas, and that is inherently wrong, it is also true that we, ourselves, have grown too dependent on these corporations, while given ample time to both see the inherent danger in doing so, and to also do something about it. We should have known better, and now that we do, we should do something about it.

I've seen a lot of talk on DU, recently, about what companies to buy from, during the coming Christmas season. "This company is employee/union friendly; gives to the Democratic Party.......this one does not, etc., etc...." Something is wrong with our thinking here, I believe. We have the inherent ability, simply because of our numbers, and certainly because of our passion for our cause, on DU, to STOP buying from the engineers of the demise of our dream for a truly free and Democratic society, and start buying from those who support our cause and are a part of it. Simply put: Why don't we just buy from each other?

I know that, in the newspaper business, people pay dearly for an ad that just reaches 30,000 people. And, on DU, you have over 500,000 members. It is like turning the tables on outsourcing. "Insourcing," so to speak. Big corporations outsource their work, and still sell to Americans. Why don't we put a stop, at least, to their getting 500,000 members of their market? We can "insource" our market. To each other. A lot better than a boycott, I think.

You have all kinds of people here, on DU, with all kinds of skills. If you are an attorney, then you have a lot more power to make positive changes in this world than I do, I think. I envy you.

I am also a part of your "market." Having said that: Would you be interested in an eighth amendment case? I realize that it might not be in your particular area of expertise, but as you and I both know, a knowledge of procedural law is more important and more difficult to gain than a knowledge of the black letter and case law, regarding any particular case. And, of course, I will pay. :)

[Coyote_Bandit]

19. Congratulations

Eighth amendment? I assume you are referring to a case of cruel and unusual punishment rather than the less common cases involving excessive bail or fines?

I congratulate you on soon being able to pursue your ideal goals full-time. I realize that you have sacrificed to do so.

I wholeheartedly agree that we need to begin thinking in a more "out-of-the-box" fashion and that we have grown too dependent on corporations. I also agree that we would be wise to support those who support our cause and are a part of it. Churches have done that for decades - often printing business directories to share among their members.

While I have taken and passed two bar exams and maintain those two state bar licenses, my legal knowledge is primarily academic. My work experience and training is financial and managerial in nature rather than legal. In the two years before I was laid-off I was responsible for managing over $800 million in various investment securities - that would include equity and bond selection, portfolio modeling and trading. Prior to that I worked in a managing general insurance agency superivising claim litigation and claim adjusters in a multi state area, filing with state agencies for various rate and form changes, responding to and resolving all complaints regarding the company, coordinating all communications with various auditors, and preparing various reinsurance accounting records and reports.

Frankly, I do not miss corporate America. And I would really prefer to work independently - something that is becoming increasingly difficult to do in all industries because the barriers to entry are rising and because those who work independently do not benefit from economies of scale.

Perhaps I am not objective but I think that ultimately my skills are analyzing challenges and communicating and implementing solutions. Something that can be done much cheaper by workers in India and China. I am a single, middle age woman in reasonably good health who should expect to be able to work for another 20 to 25 years if I so desire. Relocating to foreign soil to find suitable employment is, as far as I'm concerned, a one way ticket. It is not my preference but given the fact that I am reasonably well educated I feel it is an option I must consider. The social, economic and political trends evident in this country suggest that my earning ability here has significantly - and probably permanently - diminished. If I really want to stay here in the United States I would probably be well advised to go to welding school (or something similar - maybe bartending school) and learn a trade. Sh*t can the education - in terms of my earning capacity it is not worth the paper it is printed on. There are no good alternatives.

[Th1onein]

20. Yes, cruel and unusual punishment.......

My husband's parole was revoked several years ago and he was transported, along with other prisoners, via truck, non-stop, from PA to TX under very horrible conditions. These prisoners were required to sleep sitting down, for days on end, and were not allowed a bath. My husband told me that, by the time they reached their destination, they stunk so bad that they threw up on themselves when they pulled their shirts over their heads, while undressing for a shower. This was all paid for by taxpayers to a private firm.

Are you interested? You could do so much good, here.

[Coyote_Bandit]

21. Call a Lawyer ASAP

I am not licensed in PA or in TX or in federal court and, thus, would be prohibited from undertaking representation or giving legal advice in this matter.

Your husband may have a valid claim for cruel and unusual punishment against the state. He might also have the right to bring a civil suit against the private contractor.

Please seek legal counsel ASAP. Legal claims are sometimes barred by the passage of time. Because this occurred several years ago you may no longer be able to pursue the matter in the court system. These prohibitions do vary considerably.

You need an attorney who is versed in the law of the applicable jurisdiction - and licensed to practice in that jurisdiction - to evaluate the feasibility of proceeding with your claim.

[Th1onein]

22. Too late--the SOL here is two years.

What concerns me is that this type of thing is STILL going on. I want it stopped.

[Nikia]

5. We will always need medical people where people are

It isn't like they are closing hospitals or anything. In fact, the semi rural county I grew up in is building a second hospital. A lot of medical stuff is hands on.

[KlatooBNikto]

8. I do not doubt that.But wherever off site services can be performed, such

as Radiological diagnosis, elective surgeries ( including plastic surgery, transplants, eye, ear surgeries and the like) you will see them moving to India or similar countries which have extremely well trained medical staffs and brand new medical centers which are now attracting patients from all over Europe and Japan and other Asian countries.

[intheflow]

7. We'll lose jobs alright.

The only thing keeping corporations here is because their leaders grew up in the US and like the variety of culture. But I believe it will happen the second we stop corporate welfare or demand corporations adhere to pollution controls. Then they'll be outta here in a second. Might as well move the family to an estate outside a Mexican village and exploit their workers and their land. Many less hassles, over all.

No, most Americans can't see that day. But I can.

And--wise people in this administration? "Wise guys," maybe, but overall, I think they'd each sell their mothers if they thought it would boost their portfolio.

[KlatooBNikto]

10. The dilemma we are in can be put this way.Our addiction to military

solutions since WWII has made it all but impossible for our corporations to compete with efficient Japanese and German corporations ( i.e. the automotive industry).This situation is going to get infinitely worse when low wage countries like India and China start battling in the international marketplace.If, as we seem to be doing, we use military force to seize natural resources, unless we can use those resources to produce products of comparable quality that the world wants, we are still going to be at a disadvantage.

The first order of business in my opinion should be to make our corporations get back to their original job of producing high quality products that the world demands. The second is to create an environment where the world can feel safe from our intimidation and military threats. If we do not do this, our decline will be swift and as I say even our military might will not be able to save us.

[NJCher]

11. what I've been telling students

I am glad you posted about this, as I've been thinking about this issue.

I teach at a technical university where they have schools of architecture, computer science, engineering, etc. Because of the loss of technical jobs in the U.S., enrollments at such institutions are down all over the U.S. For the first time, my teaching schedule was cut in half and 11 other teachers were denied any schedule at all. Needless to say, the students who did go ahead and attend are depressed about the opportunities to find a job in the technical field and many are considering other areas of study.

It bothers me deeply that these young people may not be able to have a career working with the talents they were given.

In class this last week, I showed a tape from Bill Moyers' Now. It was an interview with the author of a book (name escapes me) about the debt we are incurring and that they will have to pay. Around election time, I had warned my students they must vote because of these financially irresponsible policies. I could see, however, that what I said didn't hit home until they watched this interview. They were astounded at the magnitude of the debt.

I told my class that they should get acquainted with other countries. I urged them to try a semester overseas in a foreign studies program. My thinking is that if they are comfortable in another country studying, it's not such a stretch to consider employment elsewhere.

I didn't say so, but my feeling is that the best thing a young person can do is get the hell out of here and now. If I weren't a baby boomer, too settled in to move, I'd go myself.


Cher

[KlatooBNikto]

12. What is simply astounding to me is that this country which is blessed

with so many talented and wise people has chosen through its elected representatives to seek military solutions to every problem, including commercial problems such as obtaining oil supplies. Such athinking makes it all but impossible for our companies to competet with foreign companies.In the short term, I believe the dollar will be devalued to make our products competitive but China whose currency is pegged to the dollar is one of our largest trading partners and that strategy will fail with China. Giving up our dreams of world hegemony looks like the sanest and easiest solution but it will not happen so long as we have the GOP Neanderthals running our country.

[NJCher]

15. the slugs of the United States are getting what they deserve

I have a slightly different take on that. The people of the United States have abdicated their responsibility toward democracy. They have not involved themselves in it and this made it very easy for crooks to steal it. Many have woken up and we are now seeing a resurgence in political activism. It may, however, be too little too late.

I have always participated in municipal, state and federal government so I do not count myself as one who has abdicated. But from my many experiences, I think the vast majority of U.S. citizens have.

I recall a moveon flyer distribution I participated in one cold, rainy day before bush attacked Iraq. "Let the Inspections Work" is what our flyers said. I was appalled and disgusted at the number of people who shrugged me off saying, "I'm not interested in things like that."

Regardless, I found your post insightful, particularly your points about China.


Cher

[Deja Q]

16. Well, what would Kerry have done? When it comes to money,

anyone can be bought and money will have more importance over life.

Our days are numbered. Our days as a country, if not a species.

A pity, but it seems that when * said "culture of life", he WAS speaking as if we are bacteria. Including those who voted for him.

Oh well.