Barack Obama and Outsourcing

"And I will invest $15 billion a year in renewable sources of energy to create five million new energy jobs over the next decade - jobs that pay well and can't be outsourced; jobs building solar panels and wind turbines and a new electricity grid; jobs that will help us eliminate the oil we import from the Middle East in ten years and help save the planet in the bargain. That's how America can lead again." - President Barack Obama, October 30, 2008

I dont like Mr Barack Obama at all!!!

He is anti - outsourcing to Asian nations and had hugely hiked the visa fees for our job aspirants forcing many of our US and Indian multinational companies to do a rethink about outsourcing.  Quite obviously hiring Indian labour (read software engineers) is cheaper which enables the companies to position themselves better in an increasingly cost competitive environment.  Mr Obama's policies would mean that companies would have to hire more 'costly' American labour which would obviously increase the input cost of the product and thereby the selling price.  This would naturally push these companies to the wall while competing against other companies which are employing the cheaper labour.  Atleast this is what most of the companies want us to believe.

Now let us look at the real facts:-

Earlier (pre outsourcing days)

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1. The Americans were living in their own country

2. They were being paid a good salary to be able to look after their families

3. They may have worked lesser (than Asians) but they also enjoyed time with their families

4. They had dignity of labour in whatever they did

Then slowly, the outsourcing started

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1. They started losing their jobs as Asians were working longer, harder and cheaper

2. In some cases they were smarter also rising fast to the top

3. Companies that did not outsource could not compete globally and therefore there was a deluge of outsourcing

4. This led to a drastic reduction in jobs in America

5. Those who continued in their jobs had to work doubly hard to retain them

6. So, those who retained their jobs lost the time they earlier spent with their families and those who lost their jobs could not look after their families

Naturally, they are all aggreived!! But why shouldnt they be?  WE have entered into their house, taken away their jobs, taken away their livelyhood and as a result their families are suffering and they are also not able to spend enough time with their families.  They obviously are angry and this is also reflecting in the increasing attacks on Asians(read Indians in most cases) in both America and Australia. 

Why do we go to America? Well we all go to America for the standard of living, the lush green locales and the high quality of life.  But if we all go there and start working for a lower pay, then how can we keep up that quality of life?!!! Even with lesser pay, the standard/quality of life that we can afford may be far superior to what we can get in india but for the average American, lesser pay may mean reduction in quality of life from their own standards.  

They have reasons to not like us as we are driving them against the wall in terms of unemployment.  So, Mr Obama is quite right in saying No to outsourcing, in as far as his own country men are concerned.  Corporations in the US should not look for increasing their profits but to provide employment and job security for the people of America.  And Indian companies should stop crying hoarse and look for innovative solutions to the problem.  Becoz, as we see it, no right thinking politician in the US would ever be able to oppose Mr Obama on outsourcing.  The recent reports of a fall in unemployment from 9.9% to 8% is a clear indication that his policies are working.  The average Americans whom he is feeding by tightening Outsourcing and Visa norms are going to be forever grateful to him. 

As an Indian - I don't like Mr Barack Obama  at all, as he is hurting our  software companies and our people  but I definitely do not disagree with what he is doing!!! Still, I think that is the way to go if you have to look after your fellow countrymen as countrymen come first and foremost, Always!!