I’m not saying that outsourcing is necessarily a threat to us in the long run. I’m mostly addressing the fact that people complain about it and why they need to look at their own practices.

I think you are correct in the statement that eventually, once the global climate balances out and people in those countries do expect higher standards of living, the costs may, indeed balance out as well. But, that could take quite a long time.

I do feel that many consumers don’t “have to” purchase most of the things they do at the time they do it. (Lets not vilify Walmart. They simply carry what people want. I just use them as an example of where people shop). People could wait a while and buy better products by saving money. This instant-gratification thing we have going is part of the problem.

I completely agree with the points you make in your observation and I understand that you are not wanting to take sides in the argument. Personally, I have no problem taking sides. I think Lyndon’s observation is very important in this discussion – “We are either free market capitalists or we are not.”

Many people claim they want a “free market” but then support things like a minimum wage and the federal bailout of airline companies. They support these measures out the “greater good” philosopy that has no place in the marketplace. What these people fail to realize is that the more control and manipulation that the government imposes in the marketplace, the more it hurts our economy. All one needs to do is look to other countries where governments have heavily manipulated their markets (China, Russia, Mexico, Brazil) and you will find a clear correlation between government control and the health of that nation’s economy. China is a perfect example of this: The more restrictions that the Chinese government lifts from it’s market, the better the economy has become.

The same Americans who are loosing their jobs and who are working for much lower wages are the same consumers who have to shop at Walmart.

I believe that we could increase the number of jobs we lost if we just tarrif the crap out of all imports. Canada has done a pretty good job at keeping as many Canadian made items on the shelf front and center.

Also our global economy is one where it’s not as easy as it once was to find a car manufactured completely in the US, even from US Based Car Companies.

As you may have heard, the Bush Administration said each of us would get a rebate check to stimulate the economy.

If we spend that money at Wal-Mart, all the money will go to China.

If we spend it on gasoline, it will go to the Arabs.

If we purchase a computer, it will go to India.

If we purchase fruit and vegetables, it will go to Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala.

If we purchase electronics, it will go to Japan.

If we purchase useless stuff, it will go to Taiwan.

None of it will help the American economy. We need to keep that money here in America.

The only way to keep that money here at home is to spend it at yard sales, since those are the only businesses still in the United States.