The Real Cost of Offshoring

Businessweek ^ | June 2007 | Michael Mandel

[servantboy777]

Data published by the government seem to be agenda driven with a twist of lime rather than factual these days.

[HarmlessLovableFuzzball]

It is not the govt’s job to tell businesses where they can or cannot do business.

[Mr Ramsbotham]

It is not the govt’s job to tell businesses where they can or cannot do business.

That's exactly right. The cost of not offshoring, for those who care, is human freedom. Amazing that everyone's solution for providing Utopia, whether they're approaching it from the left or from the right, is the police power of the state.

[servantboy777]

“It is not the govt’s job to tell businesses where they can or cannot do business.”

Gee fellas, I don’t remember saying anything of the sort.

I merely suggested that the numbers published by the government doesn’t always tell the whole story.

[L98Fiero]

“Amazing that everyone’s solution for providing Utopia, whether they’re approaching it from the left or from the right, is the police power of the state.”

Then there is no “right”

[L98Fiero]

Only varying degrees of “left”

[servantboy777]

I have nothing against free trade. I do however have a big problem with unfair trade, dumping, manipulation, lopsided agreements, slave labor, lack of worker protections, insufficient environmental protections by foreign business.

Not sure American workers are competing on a level playing field due to the above mentioned.

[gas0linealley]

“Data published by the government seem to be agenda driven with a twist of lime rather than factual these days.”

Oh, how can you say that? Toddster’s got a graph...wait, I’ll bet he’ll show it to you himself.

[servantboy777]

“Toddster’s got a graph”

yeah, I think I’ve seen that same ol graph like 300 times.

[Weeedley]

But the government is telling companies where to do business by putting tons of onerous regulations, taxes and costs on employing domestically; whereas a offshore job is merely an accounting entry.

[Weeedley]

But the government is telling companies where to do business by putting tons of onerous regulations, taxes and costs on employing domestically; whereas a offshore job is merely an accounting entry.

[Weeedley]

But the government is telling companies where to do business by putting tons of onerous regulations, taxes and costs on employing domestically; whereas a offshore job is merely an accounting entry.

[gas0linealley]

Right! Right! Right!

[gas0linealley]

“It is not the govt’s job to tell businesses where they can or cannot do business.”

It’s our job.

I needed something recently, not insignificant, China made item immediately available, I waited to get US made, and at twice the price.

That is the only way that we can make a change.

[HarmlessLovableFuzzball]

I needed something recently, not insignificant, China made item immediately available, I waited to get US made, and at twice the price

Sure. If enough of you do that maybe the companies will notice.

[Mr Ramsbotham]

Then there is no “right”

No less a personage than William F. Buckley floated a proposal for national "voluntary" (compulsory) community service.

[Mr Ramsbotham]

Not sure American workers are competing on a level playing field due to the above mentioned.

Level it, if that's truly the case. But you level it at the point of a gun wielded by the state. If that's where you're coming from, more power to you; at least you're being honest.

[Remember_Salamis]

Some facts have to be acknowledged in light of offshoring

1. The US unemployment rate is much higher than the published rate; the published rate only counts those that are still technically in the job market, not those who stopped working more than six months ago.

2. Manufacturing jobs are declining worldwide. It is almost impossible for the US NOT to lose manufacturing jobs.

3. Excessive US regulation has decimated the US manufacturing base. We are losing far more manufacturing jobs than we would be in a truly free economy.

4. Any attempt to stem the flow by placing tariffs or regulations on producers will simply cost more jobs. The only way to end the problem is to deregulate the US economy; ending the corporate income tax is one way. Ireland cut theirs in half a few years ago and saw their export industry boom.

[servantboy777]

Huh? Your makin no sense.