I've been overwhelmed with projects, mainly of the self-induced type. Lately I've been entirely too consumed with scrapbooking (I'm an addict). There's also been the weddings, anniversaries, bachelorette parties, etc. But I've also been reading The World is Flat, by New York Times writer Thomas L. Friedman. The following is a commentary I wrote earlier about some of my thoughts on the subject of globalization, the main topic of Friedman's book. I'm sure I'll be posting more thoughts on this in the near future, but this is it for now.
And while I'm at it, I encourage you to check out http://www.jelse.com. I've been reading/posting a few things on there.
Economics courses bored me to tears in college. I sloughed my way through the basics of big business, but I only recall perking up during an intense discussion on Reaganomics and any time the great Wal-Mart debate came up. To this day, I never hesitate to jump in with my two cents worth when it comes to a good Wal-Mart wallop.
I am still not overly enthralled by certain topics of the Econ nature. Some things (like Geology), I was simply not programmed to take an interest in during this lifetime. Maybe next time around, God will let me love rocks. And math. And charts and graphs depicting the market trends of Sri Lanka.
Nonetheless, there is this little thing called globalization that really has me taking an avid interest in both American and foreign economies.
Why?
Globalization is the wave of our future that has already crashed hard into the present. It’s why we call our bank in Illinois and reach an agent in Zimbabwe; call the local Internet provider for assistance just to reach an operator in Timbuktu, or heaven forbid, call a credit card company to be put on hold for half an hour to get through to someone who scarcely speaks your language. Globalization is this wonderful idea that what we can do, they can do better…or at least, cheaper.
I suppose my professors would be ashamed to think that I don’t freely embrace this change. After all, a global economy is all about helping people get work done more efficiently. But I beg to differ…it’s not about the quality of services we’re provided, but the quantity of bucks being retained by the big businesses. Why employee an American for $8 an hour when the same job can be outsourced to a giddy little Asian woman who can assist customers for less than half of that?
The scary thing is, it isn’t just customer service being outsourced. Perhaps you’ve heard of factories packing up and shipping to Mexico or textiles being manufactured in sweatshops on a remote island. But did you know that your taxes might already be done in India? It’s true. Several accounting firms have already connected with the foreign market to save time and money. They ship your information—anonymously—to a guy in a room with a computer (but no pencils or paper, so he can’t write down your figures). He performs the basic operations of tax prep and expedites the information back to your accountant. Therefore, this frees up time for your accountant here to do work of a more complex nature. It enables him/her to spend more time with clients to discuss estates, wills, etc. It may be cheap for your accountant to do this, but keep in mind a portion of your fees are still going to the man in the little room. According to Thomas Friedman’s, The World is Flat, approximately 400,000 American tax returns were prepared in this manner last year.
It doesn’t initially sound all that bad because you’re still getting what you want out of the deal, just like when you go to Wal-Mart you’re still getting your bread and milk regardless of the fact the person selling it to you can’t afford to go to the doctor when he/she is sick. Look around and what do you see—Did a neighbor recently lose a job because his factory went elsewhere? Is there a single mother who needs a way to support her family, whether it’s providing telephone service or typing up tax returns? Are people struggling to make ends meet? Is there someone you know who has to make the decision of whether to pay for healthcare or pay for groceries? Do you see unskilled people who may not be able to potentially survive in a world where America is expected to retain only high-tech jobs in the future global market?
The discussion on globalization isn’t a matter of racial prejudice by any means. It’s a matter of adjusting to a new business culture, while also being aware that we need to preserve what we have to assure there are jobs available to support future generations—and maybe even our own.
6 comments:
Your post ring true. Globilization to me is an enemy to working people.
Interesting post... something to think about for sure. The reasons that are given for Globalization are never good ones, but I do think that it is inevitable... not that this is a good thing at all.
Economics was the only thing that kept me in college. I found most everything else boring. Ever since graduating in 1985 with a BA in Econ I have found myself many times making decisions between needs and wants.
If one sees globalization as the worst thing for the working class it is too difficult to open their eyes without the passing of time. On a micro sense globalization is nothing more then citizens in a small community doing each other's wash. It employs more and creates more wealth allowing more opportunity for the masses. And the fact there is an abundance of opportunity, freedom becomes available to more people around the world.
I try not to let other's imagination about simple concepts of globalization dictate my path in life.
Any day you want to discuss the pros and cons of Reaganomics let me know.
It's not that I find globalization to be the devil, but I don't see how it's possible for the average working class American to be able to compete. It's a way of further widening that socioeconomic gap...
Rose and I are on the same page. Thanks to WalMart my brother had to shut down his business and liquidate it--a Mom and Pop shop I grew up in. I refuse to shop there. Globalization is damaging this country. YAY LOU DOBBS! for telling it like it is!!!
I agree with you on every aspect of Globalization. We as people have to do something about this besides talk about it however. We need to come together as people. The Chinese, Mexicans, and other nationalities always stick together. They buy "their" products (cars, food, etc). Even those who live in the U.S. We as Americans are so caught up in everything else that we never see what's right in front of us. Now we have a slow housing market, a loss of jobs, and a country that has millions of immigrants who are taking American jobs. Looking for a job today, to be marketable you have to know two languages (English and Spanish). Don't get me wrong, I am not by any means prejuide. I have an ex-boyfriend who is here from Balize along with his entire family. I'm happy for them; however, before our government takes care of immigrants, they need to take care of Americans first. Our economy is not getting better any time soon. We need to write to our Congressman and Senators and spread the word that we as American people want and deserve more than a slap in the face.
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