My perspective: Time to look at ourselves

Rockdoc Franz wrote:

towermonkey wrote:

Moving jobs overseas is OUR doing, not the companies'. How badly do you want a job? Are you competitive for the work you do? I think the answer to that is a NO. Too many with run-of the mill skills feel they are worth a whole lot more than they really are. We demand top dollar for our services, even when a million others out there can do the same and are willing and happy to do it for less. The rest of the world validates that point. That is why jobs go overseas.

This statement shows a remarkable lack of understanding as to what's really going on in our world today. Free Trade agreements and globalization are two of the main causes of jobs leaving here (permanently). Our leaders have sold us out to the highest bidder - contributor. Do you really think that we should have to accept a dollar a day as compensation just to compete with China? Sounds as if you want us to live in a third world country content with the table scraps thrown out by the rich. I can only hope that you or someone like you never achieves any power to ruin our country any further than it already is.

You are very confused. This is not something I wish for or want, but something I anticipate will happen. You can believe what you want and keep pointing at who is to blame. You can rail against the rich tossing you scraps. What you fail to do is think and analyze it for yourself. What is happening is a process just like it does in nature. That (nature) is what I use as my model (specifically community ecology), not some desire to see people live like they do in third world countries. Nor do I look for talking points from leadership. Those are all lies anyway.

The problem is the world economies and job markets will readjust to the lowest common denominator whether you like it or not. No longer will there be artificial propping up of wages. No longer is it possible to force companies to remain in one country or another. And it sounds like forcing companies to do your bidding is what you think should happen. That at best is naive. Do you really believe companies depend on the US customer to survive the same way they once did? Their customer base is global now as is their employee pool. The competition for jobs comes from everywhere. And it's been my observation that you either become competitive or suffer from competitive exclusion. So it is not a matter of thinking about what should or should not be accepted. You can play your worn out cliches but they are thoughtless prattle. And, you can also rest assured I have no interest in achieving power. What I do try to serve as is an early warning system based on my comparison with what I see in community ecology. You may not like what I have to say. That is OK with me. It is after all only a theory and I put this out there to be tested. TIme will show if it has merit or not. But, I'll be prepared for the worst if things work out according to principles I've applied. Just remember I have no interest or motivation in political action. I'm simply a scientist seeing patterns developing that I've seen elsewhere before.

So you don't think that free trade agreements had any effect on our employment and wages? Just keep waving your degree around and telling everyone how smart you are while everyone else laughs behind you back.

towermonkey wrote: So you don't think that free trade agreements had any effect on our employment and wages? Just keep waving your degree around and telling everyone how smart you are while everyone else laughs behind you back.

Oh my, when intellect fails, return to your strength. Attack and regurgitate what little you understand. I suppose if I am accused of waiving my degree, I better start doing it. How stupid and Lilliputian. You and everyone on here can laugh all you want and you don't even need to do it behind my back. lol I reserve the laughing until later.

It seems you have a problem comprehending. Not once do I address the affect of fee trade agreements. That is what is going on now. I could care less about that. It's not even relevant to what I'm saying. What I am saying is that what will happen is a natural response beyond trade agreements and the control of governments. Wasting my breath.

Free Trade Agreements? They aren't the bugaboos the extreme left and ironically the extreme right make them out to be.

Suppose we go back to the old ways and slap a 50% tariff on Chinese goods. Think China will stop buying our Buicks? And who will pay that 50% tariff? The poor who shop at Wal-Mart.
Or Vietnam will take the place of China and start selling their wares instead. Want to put a tariff on all developing countries? And what if you are a manufacturer like my employer who buys electronic parts from China, assembles them and then tries to sell meters overseas. First we will have to pay more for our parts, making us less competitive with Europe and then the Chinese won't want to buy our US made meters and we will lose 10% in sales.
There are many products the US can still manufacture at a competitive price. The products we can't? Let another country do it.

Sorry Rockdoc, I broke one of my own rules and posted while pissed off. You have my apologies. I will simply agree to disagree with you on this.

Ok, that is mighty kind of you. I too got a little riled and apologize for my cutting remarks. Yes, we can agree to disagree. No problem. Thanks.

Doc:

Aramco just called --- they found a Pakastani geologist who works 12 hour days for a third of your salary.

Welcome home......

(grin)

For better or worse (I don't happen to like the fact) - we're disposable. Perhaps we're valued for a time (I was once - it felt great) --- but most of us will at some point in time get that dreaded memo/e-mail/phone call --- that says, "don't come to the office, tomorrow....."

bailey bud wrote: Doc:

Aramco just called --- they found a Pakastani geologist who works 12 hour days for a third of your salary.

Welcome home......

(grin)

For better or worse (I don't happen to like the fact) - we're disposable. Perhaps we're valued for a time (I was once - it felt great) --- but most of us will at some point in time get that dreaded memo/e-mail/phone call --- that says, "don't come to the office, tomorrow....."

And if you happen to get that call...(and I have gotten at least TWO in my life)... and you still happen to owe 10 years on a 30-year mortgage, then I guess it's your own fault for buying "more house than you could afford"? At least that seems to be the "compassionate conservative" mindset these days....

LJ -

Have had that call twice in my lifetime --- and figured out how to deal with it, both times.
(was fortunate enough to have savings and friends both times).

LadyJazzer wrote:

bailey bud wrote: Doc:

Aramco just called --- they found a Pakastani geologist who works 12 hour days for a third of your salary.

Welcome home......

(grin)

For better or worse (I don't happen to like the fact) - we're disposable. Perhaps we're valued for a time (I was once - it felt great) --- but most of us will at some point in time get that dreaded memo/e-mail/phone call --- that says, "don't come to the office, tomorrow....."

And if you happen to get that call...(and I have gotten at least TWO in my life)... and you still happen to owe 10 years on a 30-year mortgage, then I guess it's your own fault for buying "more house than you could afford"? At least that seems to be the "compassionate conservative" mindset these days....

So you don't blame the person at all for buying a house that costs them 70% of their take home pay and choosing to not have any rainy day funds?

Some of the people I know earn much more than I do but have little financial sense, buying a home they really can't afford and living on credit card debt.
And they never seem to understand paying 20% interest every month cuts into that take home pay really quick. :bash Why do we never have any money?

And you pulled that "70%" number out of which body orifice?

Your sociopathic hypocrisy still knows no bounds...