Are U.S. companies traitors for sending jobs overseas for cheaper labor?

Answer 1

No because most US companies are publicly owned which means that the people in control answer to the shareholders (who are the true owners of the company) who want to see an increase in profits.

Americans complain about jobs going overseas, yet enjoy, if not demand very low costs on everything from food to clothing to electronics and more. All these things are cheaper because they are produced offshore. US manufacturing costs are sky high due to taxes, property values and labor costs.

We want the jobs, but don't want to work for $4 a day. We want the cheap products which come at the price of not being able to make them here as cheaply.

When you take into account inflation, most commodities are far cheaper today than they've ever been in history. It used to take 2 months salary to buy a dress (1800's), but now you can buy several for less than a day's pay. I used to sew but fabric costs more than I can buy a finished garment for.

We don't want illegal labor in the US but I promise you, no one wants the price of a new home to double because that's what will happen if the construction industry has to rely on only legal labor (if the illegals disappeared tomorrow there'd be a shortage of good construction labor that would be severe, thus driving up labor costs as contractors seek good, reliable help..very hard to find these days). Plus most commodities like steel are being produced offshore and getting them from here would greatly increase prices.

Manufacturing businesses here deal with not only high labor costs, but the effects of an employee base that doesn't always work hard, that comes to work hung over or stoned all of which means they often get less work for more money from our citizens.

So..you need to choose, jobs or low prices. In actuality, offshore labor has created many jobs here because the cash flow into the US allows for more growth. However, the number of males graduating college is dropping and we may soon have a population where few are educated and motivated enough for us to remain technological leaders. Our educational system runs behind many countries that insure their youth is equipped to be productive.

So....you want to strengthen the US? Here's what you do and encourage everyone you know to do:
1. Stop shopping at Walmart, dollar stores and other cheap merchants that offer almost exclusively offshore products (and they don't even treat their employees well, plus they compete against more "American" merchants).
2. Stop buying from companies that run tech support and customer service from India (yeah..that means Dell, HP and others).
3. Let the companies you won't do business know you won't and why. Write them.
4. Look for US produced produce and eat only that (that means no peaches in December though)
5. Educate your kids and teach them the value of a hard day's work so they will be contributors. A high quality labor pool will help keep jobs HERE.

Answer 2

The answer would definitely be a "No". But on the loyalty level, we have a suspect.

But if you look closely you will find that to a large extend US is to blame. Capitalism was started by US. Supply and demand in economics. To survive in the business world you have to protect your business. Make money or be scrap.

So if you look at Europe and US, people fighting for rights, etc are slowly killing their own livelihood in the long run. The ideology of capitalism will see greater US and European companies in Asia simply because companies are all in the business of trying to survive/outlive the competition and hopes to make the biggest possible margin while they can and they simply cannot do that with Westerners, who are not willing to work 24x7, who demands high wages, fringe benefits, no overtime, air-con environment, etc.

In retrospect maybe communism is not such a bad idea after all?

Answer 3

That would depend on how you want to view it. On one hand yes, because they are taking jobs away from the American people causing our unemployment rates to go up, in turn causeing the American people to spend less because they dont have the money to spend on goods or services which in turn hurts our economy. On the other hand, cheaper labor can mean a lower priced product, and they dont have to pay taxes on American soil. Now in my opinion, the government shouldn't let them sell their product back to dealers in the U.S. or put higher taxes on the product that the company is selling back to the U.S. , making it a waste of time moving their companies overseas. But to answer your question, in my opinion yes they are traitors.

Answer 4

No. The labor market is crazy here. Minumum wage is a starting in life wage improve yourself and make more. We all want the best product for the best price. I bet you are using a foreign built computer, cell phone, TV etc. Would you pay 6 to 8 times more for a similar product just because it was made domestically?

Answer 5

Lori spelled it out pretty good (my nod for best answer) The first thing we have to do is look in the mirror. We, after all, are the ones who are buying the off shore product because it is cheaper. I can only lay so much blame on China and Mexico, they haven't taken anything from us, we gave it to them. Corporations are not moral entities, they follow the money. If we had taken it upon ourselves to support domestic products then that would have been where they would have invested.

Answer 6

No, the traitors are the politicians for getting our county in such a bind with NAFTA, etc. and not raising tariffs for imports when other countries such as China place tariffs on the goods they import from the U.S.

Answer 7

I don't think so. I mean how else can you cultivate trade and good international relations besides you're contributing investment of resources in another country and in a sense its helping to contribute to growth of that nation. Besides you diversify to get a feel of a different culture, different people and a totally different market while allowing growth of the company itself too.

Answer 8

NO!!!...Its you Past...Present...and Future, PRESIDENTS and SENATORS for allowing it to happen when it first began!!!...

Too many "FAT POCKETS" Multiplying...Get use to it, because its not going away anytime soon.

Therefore... will eventually lead to the down fall of our economy causing, Poverty... Hunger...and Starvation!!!...We call that DEPRESSION...However FAT POCKETS call it RECESSION because they still have their Pockets Lined to survive on...So...Does anyone else think they CARE???

Answer 9

yes.

Answer 10

No.