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But there *are* plenty of jobs that are being done with computers and are still staying in the US. Basically *every* office job requires some basic computer skills (MS Word, eMail at the least).

Remember, this lady is a clerical worker, not an HTML programmer. And she stated that she has found plenty of places that said they would hire but for her lack of PC skills. Now, she may exaggerated the amount of places that would hire her out of embarassment at being on unemployment, but you get the point nonetheless.

Also, I would say it's kind of silly to look for jobs that are being exported or have already been exported, don't you think???? I mean, what do you say to a kid in Flint Michigan who says "When I get out of high school I plan to work in an automobile plant!"

Geez, what are PC Skills?? To learn how to do Word, Excel or e-mail should take a half and hour at the most to learn even if somebody has never used a computer before. It's all a scam in order to sell computer training to people. Software should adapt to people, not the other way around. (I used to work in the usability area, can't you tell?)

My company over the past couple of years has hired -- and subsequently fired -- some older women with 'impressive' resume's (one had a Phd) -- because they just could not learn on the job how to use computers in a work environment.

I personaly spent weeks trying to help train them (it wasn't my job, I was just trying to help), but they were simply too stubborn. The one with the Phd knew how to put a pretty picture on her desktop background, but saving files to different directories? You mean like we did yesterday, and the day before, and the day before, etc. (for weeks) -- forget it.

Years ago I was training a young kid from UPenn w/ a 4.0 GPA. He was really bright, but he could never quite get the handle of scrolling. Seriously, every day he would have a problem and I'd come over and say 'remember that scroll thing we talked about?' I'm sure he's in some job now where his assistant takes care of that -- maybe he's even figured out email!

Meanwhile, my mother has been gainfully employed for decades as a nurse -- specializing in ob/gyn the past 10+ years. Now that's she's retired she's thinking about getting a computer and 'checking out this internet thing.'

There's jobs out there, people have to work on finding the right one for them. In the early 1990s I had a tough time finding a job. I did the same as you, went to the useless govt. job recruiting centers, etc.

Once, I applied for a third-shift (night) assistant accountant job at a Red Roof Inn. Thirty other people applied. I didn't get the job, but I was just looking for anything. Eventually I found a career.