Fan Mail
Q. So you're going to be a willing accomplice in the evil practice of
outsourcing, eh? Doesn't surprise me. John Kerry berates big
corporations while married to the owner of a huge one, decries the Republicans' alleged pillaging of the environment as he drives a "family" SUV, and professes to being a Catholic while being as outspoken an advocate of abortion rights as anyone this side of Gloria Steinem.
But to the matter at hand. Actually, a number of cooler heads
(including Tom Friedman) have analyzed the outsourcing situation and concluded that America probably profits overall more from outsourcing than it loses. Specific jobs are lost, but enough others are gained to make it a winning situation for the beloved evil empire of the US of A.
Signed,
Reginald Harrumph, Republic of Irate
A. Pipe down, Reggie. When I read the daily tally of who damaged whom more on the campaign trail, and I read invective of this sort from an ordinarily constructive mind, I become envious of people in China. At least they don't have to endure elections.
Impressive as they are, Kerry's credentials as a hypocrite earn him only a chance at the top prize. The competition's stiff, and may the lesser hypocrite win.
Regarding outsourcing, I didn't really think of my rubbish recording in a rathole studio as a "yes" vote on the "do you approve of more lost American jobs" referendum. I just thought it was another great adventure. And, if anything, I saved some American jobs with my imcompetence.
Now that you mentioned it, though, I've thought a lot about what's implied. And I'd do it again, this time for free.
What's happening in Zhuzhou City and, presumably, in similar outposts throughout the Third World, is positively American, even though it may threaten American jobs. Governments, at both the national and local levels, are recognizing their strengths in this global economy, and are diligently, aggressively seeking to turn those strengths into economic opportunities. Their goal is the goal of good governments everywhere: the construction of a brighter, more hopeful future for their citizens. Contrast this model with that of the Osamans -- destruction of civilized society, a shared hopeless future for all -- and outsourcing plummets down the list of "problems" we face.
Further, it's cheap to take my curiosity on this issue -- whatever its merits -- and paint me into an ideological corner because of it. I enter neither waving red, white and blue pom-poms nor swinging a hammer and sickle with Chinese characteristics. Instead, I'm a global citizen -- and so are you, and so is everyone -- and I'm ravenously hungry to learn all I can about an issue vital to everyone's future. There are at least two sides of this story, and I happen to have the outrageous good fortune to live on the side that's rarely told.
I get to learn about the economic development plans for the next 50 years while reporters at home sift through memoranda from Aug. 2001 and medical records from Nam. Perhaps I'll learn that we have a lot to learn from the government of Zhuzhou City, that innovation and cooperation win, that hopeful eyes focused on the future beat cynical eyes trained on the past.
