News

Outsourcing will let too many drown in a flood of greed

Letters to the Editor
Published May 9, 2005

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Re: Outsourcing hurts many, but benefits more, by Kenneth Swift, May 4.

This piece illustrates what might be called the "fog of content." In the Age of Spin, you can find someone to applaud anything, up to and including cannibalism.

The author, Kenneth Swift, acknowledges benefiting personally from managing the outsourcing of U.S.-based jobs. Yet he argues it's just some inevitable and merciless "Darwinian" capitalism at work when "American" businesses - mostly multinationals without national connection or loyalty - replace Americans with cheap Indian and Chinese sweatshop labor.

What nonsense to claim that hiring desperate Asians with advanced degrees to perform work done by American high school grads "professionalizes" that menial work. Moreover, the only "investment" in "other initiatives" produced by outsourcing-induced increases in short-term corporate profitability will be the funding of other ways to strip jobs out of the American economy. The most salient effect of these profits is outrageous pay levels and benefits for a few corporate executives, presumably including Mr. Swift.

The author is disingenuous in claiming this "natural" predatory mind-set will "lift all boats," but spot-on in admitting that what he calls "the least seaworthy" will drown in this flood of greed. The Chinese and Indian leaderships believe the world economy is a jungle and a battlefield, and they intend to come out on top. For U.S. leaders to let the cannibalization of our economy continue, out of self-interest in personal wealth without respect for their fellow citizens, is a gross breach of the social contract.

-- Jon McPhee, St. Petersburg

Re: Outsourcing hurts many, but benefits more.

Bravo to Kenneth Smith for demystifying outsourcing. It is, after all, just free enterprise at its best.

America has forever proclaimed free enterprise as the bastion of good economics. America has risen to world prominence on free enterprise and comparative advantage. It is obvious American businesses want outsourcing and cheap immigrant labor. And the system dictates they'll pass the savings on to consumers.

So, as employees, Americans are just going to have to adjust to world realities. Countries all over the world adjust to such hurdles. America needs to stop blaming others for trends that it is reluctant to face. Adjust to world reality, instead of trying to bully others into practices that only benefit America.

After all, Americans don't want to pay $15 for lettuce, or equally high prices for other necessities, which is the by-product of a protectionist society.

-- David Knowles, Indian Shores

Leaving no millionaires behind

Re: Outsourcing hurts many, but benefits more.

How is it that Kenneth Swift contrives this profound economic philosophy in which all the world's "boats get floated" in a rising tide, yet fails to mention the premise of George W. Bush's tax cuts for the rich was to generate hundreds of thousands of jobs for the American workers? Swift obviously missed the boat (swiftboat, perhaps) on that one!

But, hey, no millionaire has been left behind! They're getting more tax cuts, more profits with cheaper labor overseas and illegal alien migrant workers. It's a great time to be wealthy!

-- Jeff Radley, Lithia

Countering Cuban confiscation

The May 4 editorial, Getting together for a drink, omits critical facts regarding legislation upholding property rights of legal trademark owners. Technical corrections are necessary to current U.S. law which ensures courts not recognize trademark claims used in businesses whose properties were confiscated in Cuba - unless the original owners consented. This law is founded on the basic principle of nonrecognition of foreign confiscations, which is accepted worldwide.

In 1997, Bacardi purchased the legal rights to the Havana Club trademark from the legitimate owner, Jose Arechabala International Ltd., creators of the brand. In 1960, the Cuban government confiscated - without compensation - the Havana Club trademark from the Arechabala family company. When the Castro government found itself financially strapped after losing a $6-billion annual subsidy from the Soviet Union, the Cuban government raised money by forming joint ventures with foreign companies to exploit businesses and properties it illegally seized in 1960, including Havana Club. Despite objections from the Arechabala family, in 1994, French-based Pernod-Ricard paid the Cuban government to enter into a joint venture to own the mark and distribute its version of Havana Club rum internationally.

U.S. courts have determined the joint venture between the Cuban government and Pernod-Ricard has "no rights" to the Havana Club brand in the United States.

-- Eduardo Sardina, president and CEO, Bacardi U.S.A., Miami

Racial decisions?

Re: Ex-Broward elections chief to sue Gov. Bush, May 5.

What could ever have convinced Miriam Oliphant, the former elections supervisor in Broward county, that her removal was racially inspired? Of course, that question was put to rest when I read on and learned Ellis Ruben is her lawyer.

I mean, she went almost $1-million over budget, misplaced absentee ballots, some polling places opened late or closed early. And the black woman was replaced with another black woman. Yeah, race was really a factor.

On the other hand, we ought to be more concerned about the seven state senators who voted ("along racial lines") not to uphold the governor's decision to remove Oliphant. Those are the real racists in our society, and they have a lot of power.

-- Ernest Lane, Trinity

Parental responsibility

I was interested in your April 30 Page 1 story Ire aimed at handcuffed girl's mother, with reference to Inga Akins. Actually, parents should be responsible for their children.

I recall being in Shijazhuang, China, and going to an elementary school of 1,800 students. We were in a classroom with about 75 students, and there was one teacher. All the students were attentive and doing their work. I thought this might be a setup, so I slipped out and went into several other classrooms. The situation was the same.

I asked the teacher what she does with an unruly child and she said, "We call the parents and that is the end of it."

Too bad in our society there is not the parental responsibility that we saw in China.

-- John Q. Huey, Oldsmar

[Last modified May 9, 2005, 01:54:14]