Shawn corrects:

> You really need to follow all that news a little more closely, one of the
>  economists in the administration made the comment and Bush disavowed it,
>  but the economist is mostly misunderstood on what he was trying to
>  say.  There are some compelling argument for free trade and its ability to
>  improve the lives on both sides of it ...

Let me correct Shawn's correction a bit. Bush hasn't disavowed the comments.
The primary complainants to the comments were the Congressional Republicans
who were very concerned with the way that the comments would play with the
constituents back home. What the White House said in response to their reaction was
that "the loss of jobs, any jobs, is regrettable," but the White House still
fully understands the benefits inherent to offshoring, if for no other reason
than they are in constant contact with the CEO's and Chairmen of the major
corporations who fill their political coffers. It's said that a political gaffe
in Washington, DC occurs when someone accidentally tells the truth. That's what
happened here.

When a $50,000/year job is transferred to an equally competent $15,000/year
person, the economy as a whole is made that much more efficient. The offshoring
movement can be described not as a mechanism that is sucking jobs out of the
country but one that is removing inherent inefficiencies.

It's important to understand what I'm saying. I wish no one any harm. Rather,
just the opposite. I wish everyone enormous happiness, health and a long and
productive life. But it's just as important to understand the world as it is.
While your congressional representatives may be prone to feed you pablum,
trade protectionism won't ultimately protect anyone. We've tried it in the past --
and it brought on a world-wide depression and war. Free trade, on the other
hand, inherently makes the world safer and more prosperous for everyone.

The sense I get from many of you is that you believe that you are one-trick
ponies. If "programming" as an occupation disappears in the United States, you
will be left in poverty with nothing to do. But that's certainly a pessimistic
view of your own talents. If you can do this for a living, you should be able
to do anything you set your mind to.

Wirt Atmar

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