U.S. to aid Armenia to lure computer work from American shores

[nobodyknows]

So now you want Obama to be dictator and change it by executive power. I think that's the responsibility of Congress to fix. But of course since they are bought and sold by the corporations who could give a shit about America, how do you think that's going to turn out.

Obama and Congress are Dem controlled, no? I guess it's not too much to expect for them to put the American people first is it? I mean that IS why the GOP got their asses handed to them in the last election, isn't it?

 

[daishi5]

So now you want Obama to be dictator and change it by executive power. I think that's the responsibility of Congress to fix. But of course since they are bought and sold by the corporations who could give a shit about America, how do you think that's going to turn out.

I think it was Bush who made the last big change to our foreign Aid policy. If I recall correctly he promised to increase our International Aid contributions by 50%.

 

[hal2kilo]

Obama and Congress are Dem controlled, no? I guess it's not too much to expect for them to put the American people first is it? I mean that IS why the GOP got their asses handed to them in the last election, isn't it?

You're right, whores are whores.

Which is why I think the only solution to this problem is public funding of elections, and reasonable term limits. Like 2-3 terms for Senate and 5-6 terms for the house.

 

[Orignal Earl]

Hold on to your pants, I know for a fact that the Mexicans are all over Minnesota, North Dakota, and Montana now. I'm sure you will be noticing them at a Catholic church near you in Canada soon, very soon.

When I was building cabinets there was a couple working for our door suppliers. We'd all get off the bus in the morning and walk the last couple blocks to work. One day I looked back and noticed Juan wasn't walking with us. Apparently he had heard immigration was on to him and was going to walk around the block to take a look see before he reported into work. They outfoxed him somehow and loaded him up and sent him home.

 

[JSt0rm]

its like everything they told you in school was wrong. All the logic, IT, big degrees and intelligence wont buy you job security. Interesting that only through creativity can people find ways to navigate the landscape and the schools ruthlessly beat that out of people. I feel sorry for all of you who worked hard on computer science skills. How much will you be worth in 15 years? It's a shame really.

 

[kranky]

We have a department whose job is to help other countries develop, thats why it is called the Agency for International Development. They are doing what we created the agency to do. Blaming them for doing what they are supposed to do is moronic at best.

If you want someone to create domestic jobs, look to other departments, like I don't know the Economic Development Administration.

It is almost like you walked into a hospital and then complained that a janitor was cleaning the floor instead of doing surgery. Janitors clean floors, surgeons perform surgery. The Agency for International Development does international development, and the Economic Development Administration works on domestic development, along with several other groups.

Teach them how to be better farmers. Teach them how to best exploit the natural resources in their area. Teach them how to start a tailoring business or how to do construction. Teach them how to improve their lives within their local economy. I give a big thumbs-up for that work.

Spending money to create a further drain on jobs? No, that's not right.

Do you really understand what this Sri Lanka deal is about? Our government trains 3,000 Sri Lankans in IT skills, teaches them English, then gets them jobs with Sri Lanka companies who need more programmers to do the work that American companies are outsourcing.

Of course, the USAID press release is carefully worded so it doesn't look so bad: "USAID also has successfully leveraged funding from U.S. companies to create projects that have revitalized conflict-affected areas and increased the incomes of residents."

I don't know any other way to look at this except that tax dollars are being spent to move work out of the US.

 

[HumblePie]

Teach them how to be better farmers. Teach them how to best exploit the natural resources in their area. Teach them how to start a tailoring business or how to do construction. Teach them how to improve their lives within their local economy. I give a big thumbs-up for that work.

Spending money to create a further drain on jobs? No, that's not right.

Do you really understand what this Sri Lanka deal is about? Our government trains 3,000 Sri Lankans in IT skills, teaches them English, then gets them jobs with Sri Lanka companies who need more programmers to do the work that American companies are outsourcing.

Of course, the USAID press release is carefully worded so it doesn't look so bad: "USAID also has successfully leveraged funding from U.S. companies to create projects that have revitalized conflict-affected areas and increased the incomes of residents."

I don't know any other way to look at this except that tax dollars are being spent to move work out of the US.

This^^^

There are ways to jump start another country and bring them into good relations with us without having to screw ourselves in the process. Show them how to build infrastructure, use and export natural resources, and start with the BASICS. Teaching thousands of people computer programming skills is NOT the basics. Companies are going overseas for the cheap labor, but still need some skilled labor. They are finding that where they are they can not find the skilled labor they want. Instead of bringing over Americans with the skills and having to pay them more, these companies get the government to overstep their bounds and teach advanced skills to laborers on the tax payer's dime. Now these companies can hire cheap but skilled labor and don't have to invest any of their money for training. It's a win/win situation for the companies and local laborers, but a lose/lose situation for American tax payers and workers.

 

[brandonb]

Isn't it obvious that the powers to be are just pushing globalization/globalism?

Conspiracy theories seem to becoming true these days. Sad isn't it?

 

[manimal]

This argument is an implicit straw man. The issue is not that the Agency for International Development administers foreign aid. I think we all get that this is their job. The issue is WHY is the AID administering this particular aid at this time and place, given that it is possibly taking jobs away from America? In case you hadn't noticed, the AID is not employed arbitrarily. Where it applies its resources is a matter of governmental policy, and that is what is being criticized here.

That said, the policy rationale behind a given instance of foreign aid is typically one of protecting our geo-political and/or economic interests. Accordingly, we can't really evaluate this policy without knowing why we have this partnership with Armenia. In other words, we need to know the theory of what we stand to gain from this before we go running off at the mouth about how terrible an idea it is.

- wolf

Excellent points. Helping other countries become competitive in the global marketplace does have a political and economic impact. The more they can earn the more they can spend. Now I would hope the trade agreements are in place with Armenia to take advantage of their new found economic growth. Having friends in that part of the world is very adventagious and could be vital if John Mcain has his way and the cold war comes back....