Why I Outsource Offshore

Friday, July 18, 2003 | Me

[narby]

"The Capitalists will sell us the rope with which we will hang them."

But we're not selling, we're buying.

I think the old days of large industrial countries fighting one another is dead and gone. The more interlinking of economic systems the better.

Some will bleat that "it didn't stop WWII". Yup. And there wasn't nearly the level of magnitude of international economy as today either. We wouldn't dream of going to war with France or Germany today. Even if they are jerks. But we certianly did go after Germany 60 years ago.

[FoxPro]

If the retailer knew they could get software for $15/hr, then that's what they'll pay.

Bingo, you have won the cigar. I did this to make contacts and avoid boredom. I am really not making much money on this. Not enough to pay my mortgage certainly. I suppose I could join the Peace Corp. And I actually looked into this.

[unixfox]

I thought it was a kitten?

Get with the program (no pun intended) it's PUPPY, PUPPY man.

[meadsjn]

The answer to America's high tech unemployment problems are hidden right here in FoxPro's post, if folks will just stop and think about it.

It might take some legal help, nasty confrontations and court cases, but it can be done and won.

I've got to be on the road for a few hours, but will check this thread later.

[StolarStorm]

Don't beat yourself up. You have to do what you have to do. I'm very much opposed to outsourcing, but I'm not going to lie to myself about what I would do in your shoes. Hell, I've already decided if I get laid off and the job market is really as bad as it seems, that I will pursue opportunities overseas (Ireland maybe) as a PM for coders. I would still vote for candidates that worked to limit outsourcing.

[meadsjn]

Just for you, my friend, I found a couple of Indian and Pakistani programmers who happen to keep PO boxes right here in the states. Let us know when you get another hot American project.

[sarasmom]

OK
I decide you suck.
Not for outsourcing, but for actually believing my memory is so short that the whole Y2K panic, and frantic search for IT professionals, and the obscene wages the IT world commanded for the industry should be maintained indefinately, for your personal benefit.
IIRC, H1Bs were strictly controlled in the years leading up to the dreaded end of the computerised world,2000.
Bet "you", as in your type, paid an illegal immigrant slave wages to clean your house/pool/lawn and perhaps babysit your children while the big money was flowing.
"You" justified your skirting of labor laws by saying it is unfair for you to have to pay legally for an employee, all the unfair taxes the government charges employers.It didnt bother you a bit that many honest and "legal" citizens could not compete financially at the level you were willing to pay for labor.
After all, it was your hard earned money...
Now it is your horse that is being gored.Hard to step down from the elite position? Should I sympathise with you?LOL!
Yes, I decide you suck.

[Elliott Jackalope]

Guys, guys, settle down. You're ALL right.

Yes, it's true. Every time you outsource a job, God kills a puppy, a kitty, a baby lamb AND a baby seal.

I hope that settles the matter.

[Gorzaloon]

To survive, we are all going to have to get tougher, faster, smarter, and bolder. Bitching about all the little yellow people who will work for less than us is probably a big waste of time.

Having worked with a few Hi-B's, I must comment on a very likable fellow I know from India. While listening to him talk may make me dizzy at times, he writes proposals and technical reports in absolutely the most beautiful English I have ever seen. His mastery of the language is far better than mine, and of most people posting here. My wife told me not to feel too badly about it..."After all, they were part of the Empire for a long time! Of COURSE Ravi would be good at it!"

[FoxPro]

Yes, I decide you suck.

Everything you said in your post is completely true. I do suck, and quite frankly it would be nice to be sucked again (I do remember those days fondly). But all of your points are well taken. See how confusing this is? Lets go out and have a beer sometime, eh?

The Internet, the great equalizer.

[Gorzaloon]

I dont have a security clearence. If you dont have one it is almost imposible to get one. If you do have a security clearence, it is very easy to get one. See how that works?

Clinton got one. I would think after that, anyone could send a quarter and a ceral boxtop to DISCO or DoE and get one.

[livius]

the world was so starved for industrial capacity that we could do low-quality work for big bucks...

Very true. It's going to be hard for some folks to adapt to the new reality, but I think we can do it. In my mind, adaptability is the key word for us all.

[RockyMtnMan]

If trade freedom is good between the states, then obviously it's good between countries.

Apparently you didn't take economics in college. The kind of "trade" we're talking about does not help the American economy. Unless American businesses reinvest their capital in the local ecomomy or lower their prices the only people who benefit is the corporation and someone from China/India/etc.

Joe corporate executive that does the outsourcing might spend some personal income in the economy but that's nickle and dime stuff compared to 1000's of white collar workers.

[Cyber Liberty]

You ever head out in the back yard, look at an anthill, and just stir that sucker up?

;^)

[FoxPro]

You ever head out in the back yard, look at an anthill, and just stir that sucker up?

Been known to do that in my yute, yep yep.

[Cyber Liberty]

Yer doin' it in yer old age...yup yup yup!

[sarasmom]

I dont see anything confusing in our respective posts.
Why are you confused?
You chose your path.
Many men, and a few women, died to give you that choice.
Can you understand how insulting it is to the society these people fought for, and are fighting for now, even as we "speak" that you would dare ask for justification over the bodies of dead soliders,that you get an extra 50K a year reward for screwing your fellow citizens for an additional 2% profit?
I am certain you would not enjoy a "talk over drinks" experience with me.I do not enjoy watching grown men cry.

[bvw]

Happy to see you followed up on writing about this. You had brought it up on a prior thread, and that had some interesting stuff in ... I was wondering where that more personal stuff took place in this story?

[Monty22]

This country still has not recovered from 911. The job market is still in shambles. The economy is barely keeping up.. It's scary how much of a paper tiger it actually is.

And I have a feeling the pause between 911 and whatever future attack they do will be timed to hit just when we do start to recover. Then we'll get knocked down again hard.

That's why I think D5's should've flown that day.

[RockyMtnMan]

First let me start by congratulating you. Every man should do what it takes to ensure he can provide for his family. Let me also congratulate you on expanding your skill set to include softer skills.

Please don't confuse sound economic decisions for you personally and that of the nation as a whole. Globalisation is relatively new on the economic scene and has many unknown pitfalls. The question is how will it unfold and how will it support the domestic economy? It is improbable at best that we will sustain the tax base our government has grown accustomed to if unemployment continues to rise in the middle class ranks.