Monday May 28, 2012

JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

Tens of thousands more layoffs announced in U.S.

World Jan. 27, 2009 - 06:07AM JST ( 20 )

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20 Comments

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adaydreamJan. 27, 2009 - 08:19AM JST

We've got to try to get those jobs that were shipped overseas and bring a portion of them back here to the US.

I can't imagine someone graduating from high school or college this year or knowing that they have to find a job in this market right now. < :-)
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pointofviewJan. 27, 2009 - 09:18AM JST

No layoffs should occur until these 3 steps have been exhausted:

A. Company savings have been used.
B. Liquidate unnecessary goods. C. Workshare. Decrease the salary of those who were not going to be affected (including all management)and disperse the money to those who were supposed to be out.
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realistJan. 27, 2009 - 09:52AM JST

These companies are cutting their own throats in the long term. Its one big downward spiral. Cutting jobs means fewer people able to pay bills, and fewer people with disposable income, which in turn leads to less spending, which in turn leads to the closure of more shops and more factories. Its just down, down, down, into the mire.
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yosunJan. 27, 2009 - 09:52AM JST
1. Companies have to survive first therefore they can avoid more layoffs in the future.
2. The US have to stick by free trade policy for the rest of the world to follow to keep the whole world moving normally.
3. Only the whole world can function well then the US can take time to recover for himself and all others.
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SushiSake3Jan. 27, 2009 - 10:10AM JST

The last president of the U.S. has book-ended his 8 years in office with two historic events -

1/ he let in the biggest terrorist attack on U.S. soil in history after ignoring specific evidence an attack was in the pipeline, and

2/ he closed his presidency with the worst recession in 80 years.

Oh yeah, and he threw a cool $350 billion at banks and other financial organizations that now, nobody knows where it went.
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TatankaJan. 27, 2009 - 10:49AM JST

Americans don't believe in sharing the pain. Japan has the right idea--when things get tough cut everyone's salary. Gov. Arnold is trying to get Cal State employees to accept a two-day furlough in lieu of layoffs, but has so far met strong resistance from the unions. The all-or-nothing mentality is what's the problem in America.
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skipthesongJan. 27, 2009 - 11:03AM JST

The all-or-nothing mentality is what's the problem in America." I believe that is absolutely correct!
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SezWho2Jan. 27, 2009 - 11:39AM JST

skipthesong,

I think there is an "all-or-nothing" mentality in America. However, I don't think that is the whole story. Americans, like most other people, have always been willing to lend a helping hand and--if you had come from the midwest--I think you'd find that although we seldom do barnraisings these days, we are willing to share in labor and resources.

However, I think that before most people (including non-Americans) can share, they need to be convinced that there will be a sufficiency. You can't expect people to jobshare and give up income that their families need unless not only labor, but capital and investors are willing to share the pain. If banks are not willing to renegotiate loans and creditors are not willing to relax terms of credit, calling on individuals to share is not going to work.

As for the capital and investors, the banks, creditors and so on, I think they all have an interest in surviving. However, they have been guided by the competitive model and have no expertise in how to do differently. They, too, need assurances that there is a sufficiency for their survival.

I think the question is: who does have the expertise to cobble together a solution to this dilemma. I think the answer is "no one". However, in a time of crisis, when a quick solution is needed, people must look to the government rather than waiting for the market to "work its magic".

It seems to me that Bush's mistake was that he relied on market magic. That's one philosophical extreme. Whether Obama is a socialist or not, on account of big spending he will be accused of it by those who believe in market magic. Obama's plans may fail and they may fail spectacularly. However, I doubt there is a serious alternative.
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GJDailleultJan. 27, 2009 - 12:02PM JST

We've got to try to get those jobs that were shipped overseas and bring a portion of them back here to the US.

You are exactly right, and that applies to other countries as well, ie.the U.K. And I think we are going to start seeing more people make the connection between globalization and the financial crisis / credit bubble. If you ship your jobs, industrial base, and (real) economic growth overseas, sure you get cheaper prices and bigger corporate profits, but what do you do about the jobs and growth you lost? The obvious solution (with hindsight) was to create fake jobs and fake growth funded with debt. Seems like cause and effect, to me anyways.
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BetzeeJan. 27, 2009 - 12:16PM JST

The Indian government has become nervous that the number of jobs which have gone to India may produce some type of backlash in America as the unemployment rate continues to climb. In fact it's not that many, it's just Indians have direct contact with Americans, like every time you need to speak to a real person as opposed to an automated response robot, whereas most jobs are outsourced to people who do not.
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wuzzademcratJan. 27, 2009 - 12:50PM JST

"The Indian government has become nervous that the number of jobs which have gone to India may produce some type of backlash in America as the unemployment rate continues to climb."

Have they?I haven't come across reports of such fears. No, I think it's far more likely that Mexico, with millions of its citizens illegally squatting in the US and a drug war tearing their country apart, stands to face a 'backlash', and one that is loooong overdue.
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BetzeeJan. 27, 2009 - 01:16PM JST

Have they?I haven't come across reports of such fears. No, I think it's far more likely that Mexico, with millions of its citizens illegally squatting in the US and a drug war tearing their country apart, stands to face a 'backlash', and one that is loooong overdue.

The unemployed person calling their credit card company trying to address an unpaid balance will be connected to someone in India and think, "I could do that job, why did the company who's charging me a usurious interest rate have to send it overseas?"

There are far fewer takers for long hours spent toiling in the hot sun picking cash crops for an hourly wage and no benefits. Moreover, unless you've done agricultural work all your life you're unlikely to be fast enough, at least that's what those pleading for guest worker visas claim.
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wuzzademcratJan. 27, 2009 - 01:19PM JST

"The Indian government has become nervous that the number of jobs which have gone to India may produce some type of backlash in America as the unemployment rate continues to climb."

I'd be interested in reading articles about this. Can you link to any current ones?
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wuzzademcratJan. 27, 2009 - 01:52PM JST

"The American press covered it back in 2004"

It's 2009.

Surely you can link to something a little more recent? I couldn't find anything like what you write in your initial post. My Indian friends and acquaintances have never raised the topic. Maybe they are too polite.
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SezWho2Jan. 27, 2009 - 03:02PM JST

Here's a more current link, if two days ago will help. It doesn't indicate any concern from government leaders, but I would certainly be surprised if business was concerned but government was not.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Infotech/ITeS/IndiasoutsourcingsectorfacesbleakoutlookAnalysts/rssarticleshow/4029267.cms

or if that doesn't work,

http://tinyurl.com/apebfd

Moderator: The purpose of the discussion board is for readers to post their opinions, not post links to other publications. Furthermore, India is not relevant to this discussion.
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SuperLibJan. 27, 2009 - 07:46PM JST

Saying that you want jobs shipped back to the US sounds nice, but it brings up realities that never seem to be included in the discussion, such as an increase in expenses. It's also a "solution" that only works if everyone does it. If everyone doesn't do it then the companies who do outsource will end up being more profitable overall when competing against companies who don't. I think everyone wants jobs to be kept in the US but only if they know every other company and country will follow the same rules, which they won't. There really is no easy solution.
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wuzzademcratJan. 27, 2009 - 10:42PM JST

The Left is happy - proud even - to deny hundreds of thousands of Americans jobs exploring for, drilling for, refining and transporting domestic crude oil. Instead, they'd rather we give our money to the Saudis and to thugs like Hugo Chavez. A few call centers jobs lost to India don't even rate.