Bush Defends Outsourcing of Jobs in India

[MellowOne]

"The United States will not give into the protectionists and lose these opportunities," Bush said in a speech at Purana Qila, a historic fort here. "For the sake of workers in both our countries, America will trade with confidence."

Bush then left India after a three-day stay with a landmark nuclear deal that is the centerpiece of America's new romance with this 1 billion-strong democracy, the world's largest. He headed to Pakistan for an overnight visit under extraordinary security to a close anti-terror partner struggling with terrorism problems.

"I will meet with President Musharraf to discuss Pakistan's vital cooperation in the war on terror and our efforts to foster economic and political development so that we can reduce the appeal of radical Islam," Bush said. "I believe that a prosperous, democratic Pakistan will be a steadfast partner for America, a peaceful neighbor for India and a force for freedom and moderation in the Arab world."

Later, White House press secretary Scott McClellan told reporters that Bush meant to say Pakistan would be a force for freedom and moderation in the Muslim world. Pakistan is not an Arab country.

In India, an estimated 40 percent of Indians live on less than $1 a day. Yet the middle class has swelled to more than 300 million, a number larger than the entire U.S. population, and India's exploding economy has created millions of jobs.

The outsourcing industry -- in which Indian firms handle everything from software engineering to customer service call centers for foreign companies -- is expected to bring in $22 billion in revenue alone this fiscal year. Much of that outsourcing business is generated by U.S. companies, many that have eliminated domestic jobs for cheaper Indian labor.

more.....
http://articles.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20060301044509990001&ncid=NWS00010000000001

[Mythsaje]

1. Of course he does...

He has to do his masters' bidding, now doesn't he?

[DrRang]

8. Take the CNN poll--which is better, outsourcing or protectionism? n/t

[liveoaktx]

9. VIDEO- Protectionism (Bush and Dorgan)

That's just nuts

[aquart]

2. opportunities for whom?

[Strelnikov_]

10. For 'The Party Of Davos' Of Course

We (the 'little people') are now simply considered raw material.

The Party of Davos

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060213/faux

Americans are of course prominent members of this "Party of Davos," which relies on the financial and military might of the US superpower to support its agenda. In exchange, the American members of the Party of Davos get a privileged place for their projects--and themselves. Whether it's at Davos, at NATO headquarters or in the boardroom of the International Monetary Fund, heads turn and people listen more carefully when the American speaks.

. . .

That the global economy is developing a global ruling class should come as no shock. All markets generate economic class differences. In stable, self-contained national economies, where capital and labor need each other, political bargaining produces a social contract that allows enough wealth to trickle down from the top to keep the majority loyal. "What's good for General Motors is good for America," Dwight Eisenhower's Defense Secretary famously said in the 1950s. The United Auto Workers agreed, which at the time seemed to toss the notion of class warfare into the dustbin of history. But as domestic markets become global, investors increasingly find workers, customers and business partners almost anywhere. Not surprisingly, they have come to share more economic interests with their peers in other countries than with people who simply have the same nationality. They also share a common interest in escaping the restrictions of their domestic social contracts.

The class politics of this new world economic order is obscured by the confused language that filters the globalization debate from talk radio to Congressional hearings to university seminars. On the one hand, we are told that the flow of money and goods across borders is making nation-states obsolete. On the other, global economic competition is almost always defined as conflict among national interests. Thus, for example, the US press warns us of a dire economic threat from China. Yet much of the "Chinese" menace is a business partnership between China's commissars, who supply the cheap labor, and America's (and Japan's and Europe's) capitalists, who supply the technology and capital. "World poverty" is likewise framed as an issue of the distribution of wealth between rich and poor countries, ignoring the existence of rich people in poor countries and poor people in rich countries.

. . .

The conventional wisdom makes globalization synonymous with "free trade" among autonomous nations. Yet as Renato Ruggiero, the first director-general of the World Trade Organization, noted in a rare moment of candor, "We are no longer writing the rules of interaction among separate national economies. We are writing the constitution of a single global economy."

[Deja Q]

3. Trade? Why do we give them fish, instead of teaching them how to fish?

In other words, why do we give them our jobs, instead of our services?

REAL trade is exchanging goods and services.

We aren't trading with them. We are merely giving everything to them.

And to think we were indifferent to them 5 years ago...

And what happens when we do to India what we did to other countries throughout our history?

Work WITH people and everybody is happy in the end. It's ironic because our actions now will ultimately lead TO protectionism the likes few have seen.

Speaking of protectionism, isn't there a double-standard regarding what can be protected and what is not?

[liberal N proud]

4. And my manager supports bu$h in this all the way

I knew my manager was a bu$hbot because he has an 8 1/2 x 11 of bu$h in his coboy boots on his desk like most people have of their wife.

Our office has dwindled from 25 people 5 years ago to 7 today.
I was in a meeting today where resources was raised as an issue, immediately this guy pipes up, we can send the work to India. And he was serious.

When he and some of the other managers left the room, I was dumped on by people.

[liberal N proud]

5. Here is a great idea - outsource bu$h to India

Congress today announced that the office of President of the United States of America will be outsourced to India as of June 1, 2006. The move is being made to save the President's $400,000 yearly salary, and also a record $521 billion in deficit expenditures and related overhead the office has incurred during the last 5 years.

"We believe this is a wise move financially. The cost savings should be significant," stated Congressman Thomas Reynolds (R-WA). Reynolds, with the aid of the Government Accounting Office, has studied outsourcing of American jobs extensively. "We cannot expect to remain competitive on the world stage with the current level of cash outlay," Reynolds noted.

Mr. Bush was informed by e-mail this morning of his termination. Preparations for the job move have been underway for some time.
Gurvinder Singh of Indus Teleservices, Mumbai, India will be assuming the office of President as of June 1, 2006. Mr. Singh was born in the United States while his Indian parents were vacationing at Niagara Falls, thus making him eligible for the position. He will receive a salary of $320 (USD) a month but with no health coverage or other benefits.

It is believed that Mr. Singh will be able to handle his job responsibilities without a support staff. Due to the time difference between the US and India, he will be working primarily at night, when few offices of the US Government will be open. "Working nights will allow me to keep my day job at the American Express call center," stated Mr. Singh in an exclusive interview. "I am excited about this position. I always
hoped I would be President."

A Congressional spokesperson noted that while Mr. Singh may not be fully aware of all the issues involved in the office of President, this should not be a problem because Bush was not familiar with the issues either. Mr. Singh will rely upon a script tree that will enable him to respond effectively to most topics of concern. Using these canned responses, he can address common concerns without having to
understand the underlying issues at all. "We know these scripting tools work," stated the spokesperson. "President Bush has used them successfully for years."

Mr. Singh may have problems with the Texas drawl, but lately Mr. Bush has abandoned the "down home" persona in his effort to appear intelligent and on top of the Katrina situation.

Mr. Bush will receive health coverage, expenses, and salary until his final day of employment. Following a two week waiting period, he will be eligible for $240 a week unemployment for 13 weeks. Unfortunately he will not be eligible for Medicaid, as his unemployment benefits will exceed the allowed limit. Mr. Bush has been provided the out placement services of Manpower, Inc. to help him write a resumé and prepare for his upcoming job transition.

According to Manpower, Mr. Bush may have difficulties in securing a new position due to limited practical work experience. A Greeter position at Wal-Mart was suggested due to Bush's extensive experience shaking hands and phony smile. Another possibility is Bush's reenlistment in the Texas
Air National Guard. His prior records are conspicuously vague but, should he choose this option, he would likely be stationed in Waco, TX for a month before being sent to Iraq, a country he has visited.

"I've been there, I know all about Iraq," stated Mr. Bush, who gained invaluable knowledge of the country in a visit he once made to the Baghdad Airport's terminal and gift shop.

[MellowOne]

6. That's brilliant

I'm printing a copy!

[Callalily]

7. Accolades

for such a wonderful piece!

[OhioChick]

19. Hear, hear!

:toast:

[Maggie_May]

11. Companies filing bankruptcy here

Than keeping business running overseas. Listening to my Detroit radio this morning and of course we have another auto supplier filing bankruptcy but keeping their oversea operations running. WTF don't people get yet Bush is not pro American he is selling the American people out.

[mnmoderatedem]

12. Fool's gold, nothing more

Almost all of the "new jobs" created by the outsourcing enthusiasts in shrub's tenure have been low paying service sector or government jobs. Higher paying jobs, such as manufacturing industry and technology sector jobs have steadily declined.

small wonder the household incomes, adjsuted for inflation, have steadily shrank...

[Ksec]

13. It all depends on who you are

Outsourcing is great for a few owners and corporate heads.
Protectionism is good for everyone else in America..

[progressivebydesign]

14. Yeah.. free trade. Are lots of Indian women wearing American made clothes?

I didn't think so. BULLSHIT!

[TahitiNut]

15. People who want to hire Indians should move to India,

:shrug:

The notion that labor is a global commodity is the most corrupt notion born of the 20th century. Virtually no other attitude is more destructive of human rights. It's the moral equivalent of slavery without husbandry.

[Ksec]

16. Did you hear the newest trade deal?

We give India Nuclear technology. They give us mangoes.

Thats true. Not sarcasm.... Like I usually post..Mangoes for Nukes. And Bush said people in America couldnt wait to get those Indian mangoes. No shit. He really did say that.

[Stephanie]

17. Let American know that George went to India to visit our former jobs

[xxqqqzme]

18. I have been confused about

raisin brain's rhetoric on American trade, cuz we don't manufacture anything anymore - I just got that he's trading American's JOBS. The American worker is now a commodity 2 B traded - only we're running out of jobs as well.