Can America Compete?

Fortune ^ | July 25, 2005 | Geoffrey Colvin

[A. Pole]

Management is always trying to find the cheapest materials and machinery which meets their needs. Why not labor? [...] we could kick China's and India's butts til the cows came home.

Why the Americans workers should give a hoot about somene "kicking China's and India's butts" if they will share the standing of China's and India's workers and will be treated like a commodity?

[Realism]

Management is always trying to find the cheapest materials and machinery which meets their needs. Why not labor?

So slash 20,000 employees, rehire as needed at greatly reduced wages and benefits.
Easy no MBA in business, skill, competitiveness or innovation required.

[Realism]

Oops, almost forgot, to get around those pesky unions who get in the way of your plan, you'll need to outsource those jobs.

[Realism]

Oops, almost forgot, to get around those pesky unions who get in the way of your plan, you'll need to outsource those jobs.

[Last Dakotan]

Why do they allow labor to continue to do the same?

Because one political party is bought and paid for by the Unions and the other is gutless and timid.

Most, if not all of the growth in industrial America has been in the open-shop states where you cannot be forced to join a union. I have worked in manufacturing my entire career in both open and closed shop states. The difference is night vs. day in worker attitude and productivity.

We need a "Compete America" program in the model of the Sputnik program. Changing labor laws should be a first item in that program. Most people don't know that for instance you need a simple majority to vote a union in and two-thirds to get rid of one.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

Why the Americans workers should give a hoot about somene "kicking China's and India's butts" if they will share the standing of China's and India's workers and will be treated like a commodity?

Thanks for expressing your touchy-feely ignorance of free enterprise. Successful companies treat their employees well just as they would an expensive piece of equipment and for the same reason. They want to keep a good asset performing properly as long as they can. Companies that don't go out of business. It is called the free market and it works beautifully and the most beautiful thing is it is self-correcting.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

So slash 20,000 employees, rehire as needed at greatly reduced wages and benefits. Easy no MBA in business, skill, competitiveness or innovation required.

If ignorance is bliss you must be at total peace with the world.

Why would a company hire people who couldn't perform the job, no matter what they cost? If they could get the same talent cheaper they should, but that is not likely. However, that is exactly what outsourcing and moving plants offshore is all about. That is the point I am making.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

I totally agree with you and I think I said part of that. Keep up the educating of the kool aiders.

[Realism]

If ignorance is bliss you must be at total peace with the world.

Hardly. I take it that your nic pretty much explains why you are the way you are.

[Last Dakotan]

If you want to see the worst in human nature - employ them.

[BureaucratusMaximus]

Easy answer.

First we voluntarily slash rents or the sale price of our homes and a lot of other things by 90%.

Then American workers can afford to slash their salaries by 90%.

Then we can compete.

Simple.

Bullshit. All of it.

American businesses would be competitive with our current standard of living (and I argue...would actually improve immensely) if we:

Slash government taxes on corporations. Abolish Unions. Abolish %80 of environmental regulations. Abolish %80 of personal income taxes delegated to entitlements. Abolish %80 of government regulations and intrusiveness on healthcare. Slash taxes on pension funds. Slash %99.9 of the BS that produces frivolous lawsuits.

There, I feel better.

[GOP_1900AD]

Corporations only think they have transcended nationality, but in reality, are in way, way over their heads. Nationality is going to bite them on the ass.

[A. Pole]

Successful companies treat their employees well just as they would an expensive piece of equipment

That is very generous of them. And why would not they get this "piece of equipment" cheaper if they could?

[A. Pole]

Nationality is going to bite them on the ass.

When their assets abroad get nationalised they will expect American nation to sacrifice lives of young men to protect profits.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

There, I feel better.

And you done good. Keep it up.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

They would and they should. I have already said that to you. Apparently you aren't paying attention.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

If you want to see the worst in human nature - employ them.

Sometimes it seems that way. That is why owners and management make the big bucks.

[Last Dakotan]

And why would not they get this "piece of equipment" cheaper if they could?

Have you ever employed anybody?

[A. Pole]

Have you ever employed anybody?

Dentist and car mechanic. So?

[bert]

Fortune is a leftist publication and nothing there can be trusted.

The man writing the article just plain doesn't understand our businesses.

If you desire to read a financial magizine read Forbes.

Forbes=truth