[RockSnake]

Wow! I didn't anticipate such response to this post...just venting. But in response to some comments, Here are my responses:

- Yes, absolutely, unions are partly to blame. Not so much for their pay-scales, but for the absolutely stupid contract clauses that make them too much of a hassle to live with. ALL workers must realize that they must add more value to the company than they cost. The fellow that stopped the production line should have been subject to severe disciplinary action...but the unions prevent it.

- The nature of business is that sometimes you make a profit, and sometimes you take a loss. Accept it and make long-term plans. Trying to please the institutional investors by making stupid short-term decisions serves no purpose other than to weaken the company.

- MOST executives are Lemmings-with-bad-attitudes. Check recent publications, you'll find that the BEST anybody can hope-for with off-shoring, is a 20% savings. My employer is hoping for a 5-7% savings...at a cost of 6,000 jobs. Employees have proposed salary restructuring of 10-30% reduction...and the execs will not consider it. All because off-shoring is the current fad.

- I love my wife's name for economists (also stock-market analysts)..."psychic accountants". They don't know $hit. If they did, they'd be independently wealthy, and we'd never hear from them because they'd want to keep their secrets to themselves.

- Greed is NOT good, or admirable...that's why it's listed as one of the seven deadly sins.

- Between us and asia, there is no way to level the playing-field. China actively "conscripts" workers to the the work that creates the most hard cash-flow (remember they're still communist). India still actively uses indentured servitude. If you owe money to somebody, they can hold all your descendants accountable until the debt is paid-off...at usury rates.

- Yes, quality is improving in Mexico, and some other 'cheap labor' markets.

- I don't propose that it is all gloom-and-doom. However, nothing I have seen (here or elsewhere) suggests that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Common laborers cannot compete based on price (as stated by others, our cost-of-living is too high). People capable of getting an education can't find a field to study that offers any security. Somebody show me the light!

One final comment. For every job that leaves our shores, there are two immediate consequences to our treasury. (1) The collected taxes are reduced (2) The "social" expenses are increased (food-stamps, welfare, etc). It is reasonable to assume that taxes for remaining workers will be raised. Please explain how this is good for America.