The Old Joel on Software Forum: Part 4 (of 5)

Lou Dobb

Hey, not only do I pay for the Microsoft tax, I also pay the CNN tax. Lately, I watched a little CNN to see what my tax money is getting me and I see Lou Dobb championing the stop of job creation in India through out-sourcing (which, according to some, is destroying jobs here).

He would invite important speakers and rip into them.

However, I find the arguments on Lou Dobb's show to be pretty low quality, compare to the the detailed arguments we see in this forum, the discussion on JOS is much more detailed and insightful. What do you think?

Li-fan Chen
Friday, February 13, 2004

Sorry Lou, mispelt you.

It's Lou Dobbs.

Li-fan Chen
Friday, February 13, 2004

I saw the show tonight. Lou gave this guy a hard time and he deserved.

The mantra in America is that Capitalism fixes everything. The USA, being a relatively young country, has never been in anything but the economic driver's seat. That is all changing now. I don't know a thing that can stop this, and the old rules may no longer apply.

Jobs are being outsourced because the work is cheaper elsewhere. There is no other explanation, don't give me this productivity baloney.

The jobs that are going away are solid middle-class jobs of educated people. As goes the middle class goes the country. There are over 50 million people in the USA with no health insurance, which means basically poor or non-existant health care. All this in supposedly the world's richest country.

I see all this and I just shake my head ...

Used to work in Flint
Friday, February 13, 2004

My post will not help much as I flunked Econ 120 when doing my eng degree ;)

All I know about outsourcing is that I can never relax - i.e. take a holiday. I have not been on a holiday for close to three years aside from public holidays - here and there.

The reason is management has outsourced a bunch of stuff overseas - and there is an unwritten rule that if you do not prove yourself - you are toast.

Aside from quality work, which I think I provide, there seems to be a perception that quantity is needed as well - hence the crazy hours. How can you prove yourself 24/7/365?

I work at a large data analysis software provider located in the north-east - it is rated as one of the best software places to work at. But that started changing three years ago.

Man - I need a break. Talk about a burn-out.

Sorry for the ranting - but,hey, it helps.

Ram Dass
Friday, February 13, 2004

Li-fan Chen, you are correct. Some of the people who post here are pretty highly qualified in relevant fields and doing research as well.

Since the backlash has become an election issue, you've just got the usual business morons spouting about free trade and so on - slip me another million, thanks - and you've got journalists and their producers trying to research what is a big new issue for them.

Some of the experts get invited to speak, but not always.

This is just the way of the world. But, yes, you're right, JOS discussion is more informed than even the best media outlets.

analyst
Friday, February 13, 2004

> I see all this and I just shake my head

Well, at least you are doing something about it.

Saturday, February 14, 2004

whats with the assumption we're all American?

i like i
Sunday, February 15, 2004

"Jobs are being outsourced because the work is cheaper elsewhere. There is no other explanation, don't give me this productivity baloney."

..and this strikes you as unfair...because??

Oh, that's right. We're supposed to expect the rest of the world to bow to our economic whims, but we want protectionist policies to protect *your* job.

Gotcha.

I Hate Whiners
Sunday, February 15, 2004

To see Lou Dobb at his biased best watch him interview a Palestinian and an Israeli.

And in case you think I'm being anti-American try and get hold of some old Kilroy videos.

A few of either and you'll become addicted to Jerry Springer for his honesty and intellectual profundity!

Stephen Jones
Monday, February 16, 2004