U.S. To Train 3,000 Offshore IT Workers

[Robbien]

Source: Information Week

$22 million, federally-backed program aims to help outsourcers in South Asia become more fluent in areas like Java programming—and the English language.

. . .

Following their training, the tech workers will be placed with outsourcing vendors in the region that provide offshore IT and business services to American companies looking to take advantage of the Asian subcontinent's low labor costs.

Under director Rajiv Shah, the United States Agency for International Development will partner with private outsourcers in Sri Lanka to teach workers there advanced IT skills like Enterprise Java (Java EE) programming, as well as skills in business process outsourcing and call center support. USAID will also help the trainees brush up on their English language proficiency.

"To help fill workforce gaps in BPO and IT, USAID is teaming up with leading BPO and IT/English language training companies to establish professional IT and English skills development training centers," the U.S. Embassy in Colombo, Sri Lanka, said in a statement posted Friday on its Web site.

Read more: http://www.informationweek.com/news/software/integration/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=226500202

---

Something is seriously wrong with this picture.

[Autumn]

1. WTF

our tax dollars at work? This is a fucking joke. Right?

[Wilms]

10. Nope. It's USAID.

It's not just the CIA stirrin' shit 'round the world.

[Divernan]

130. Can you say "pilot program" boys and girls?

This initial program is for only 3,000 "trainees". Can you say "pilot program" boys and girls? Absent massive, and I do mean MASSIVE, public outrage directed at Obama and the Congress, this training will become a staple of USAID offerings.

I know one mid level USAID employee. He is to the right of Dick Chaney, and absolutely adored W. It has never been clear to me how he, lacking any personal/family wealth, could afford to buy/maintain a 3/4 million dollar house in Virginia while he is usually stationed in some 3rd world country (where he always lives on some palatial estate with multiple servants). USAID employees used to get "home leave" every 2 years. Now they get it every year - at least he does.

[saigon68]

136. Its more "Change we can Believe in"

[HillbillyBob]

156. bastards

while we struggle after my partner an IT pro for 30 yrs has had to take pay cuts in the 75% range since 95 or so.

We are living on less now that when we were working pt shit jobs in restaurants in our 20s.
We need to post this far and wide and raise hell . wtf our tax dollars at work for some other son of a bitch.

Edited Posted to my fb page, we should make this go viral and target the companies to make sure they are picketed and boycotted..
Its easy for me to boycott since Im so broke now I can just keep a roof and food on hand.

We lost our home and retirements and sold almost all personal possesions after being repeatedly outsourced and downsized from about 90 on.

WE may be gay, but we don't have a life style..we have a life..barely hanging on.

[saigon68]

183. Hang in there

At some point people will wake up

[JDPriestly]

28. I propose that we campaign to get Howard Dean to run for president

in the next Democratic primary and put our feet to work for him upon condition that he promises to accept no money from any corporation.

We would be able to get the votes of lots of Teabaggers if we talk to them on a person-to-person level about what is wrong with our government in this country.

[gmpierce]

50. Been there...

Howard had his chance. It's too bad he got screwed out of the nomination but even he probably wouldn't want to run again.

It should be obvious that our best choice for 2012 is Elizabeth Warren. It would probably never occur to her to run which is why she should be our choice as the first woman president of the US.

And now is the time to start.

[JDPriestly]

60. Good idea. We could draft her.

For sure, she is immune from corporate influence. She is well balanced when it comes to business issues. No socialist, but no tool of wealthy people either.

[truth2power]

129. We will get, as a candidate, who the PTB want us to have. I, for one,

have given up on the idea that we have any real choice anymore.

[truedelphi]

209. Same here. A sad realization, but

Even if we raggedly rabble forces put together a viable third party, the PTB still control the voting machinery.

[BillH76]

211. The US govt is helping US business impoverish its own customers. (nt)

[Raster]

118. Hmmm, I think you may be on to something!

Elizabeth Warren for President!

[tpsbmam]

166. Taibbi and more: Elizabeth Warren for President

Taibbi: Elizabeth Warren for President http://trueslant.com/matttaibbi/2009/10/22/elizabeth-warren-for-president/

Lambert: Elizabeth Warren for President! http://www.correntewire.com/elizabeth_warren_president_1

DU: Elizabeth Warren for President http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=103&topic_id=551488&mesg_id=551659

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Elizabeth-Warren-for-President-2016/104694622899318

Elizabeth Warren for President website: http://www.elizabethwarrenforpresident.com/ (pretty amateur -- not well developed. Any whiz DU volunteers up for a more professional website?)

Sarah Goldstein on GQ Wire: Elizabeth Warren for President http://www.gq.com/blogs/the-q/2010/01/elizabeth-warren-for-president.html

And way more -- idea isn't new, actually starting a movement would be.

Edited to add: there have also been suggestions for other positions, like Senate & Supreme Court. Just Google her.

[KamaAina]

198. More from DU

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=8866763&mesg_id=8871178

:-)

[No Elephants]

236. I think I may agree, but what do you know about her politics?

[DFW]

Howard is not interested

He repeated this sitting across the table from me at lunch last Thursday, I'm not speculating. He is
firmly convinced that younger people than he should be shooting for the White House, and he absolutely
will not be running again.

However, he will definitely be available to help with the next campaign (and the one after that etc etc).

[martymar64]

230. Did he indicate anybody he'd like to see run for that office?

I respect the good Doctor's opinion immensely and would like to hear more of his thoughts on the subject.

[DFW]

231. His thoughts on the subject, to the extent that I can report

Are that he definitely expects Obama to run in 2012 and be re-elected.

Beyond that, he doesn't want to speculate. He remains convinced that a constant supply of young blood
is needed, and that the Democratic candidate for 2016 isn't even on the radar yet. He was very impressed
with the Democratic candidate for Congress from Missouri 8, Tommy Sowers (so was I), and if Tommy can get
himself elected this fall, and build up a good record in the House, he might be a surprise possibility (my
speculation--Howard did not say this). He is still very green, but a very good guy. Intelligent, articulate
Iraq combat vet--just what chickenhawk Republicans hate to run against. There is also something else about
Tommy that we'd like that Howard told me, but I can't post on a public board. You'll just have to take my
word for it on this.

But Tommy is just one face out of many. There is an awful lot of talent out there, but our next candidate for
the White House could well be someone not yet known outside of his or her local area. After all, who was looking
at Barack Obama in 2002? This is what Howard will tell you if you ask him, and I think he's 100% spot on.

[Alcibiades]

69. "get the votes of lots of Teabaggers"

Not happening. The TPM are simply Republicans in "independent" clothing. They would certainly never vote for Dr. Dean, unless you found a way to transplant Palin's brain into his body.

[valerief]

127. All you need to reel them in a good "gun" meme. nt

[onpatrol98]

133. Tea Party Members

Nope, they certainly wouldn't vote for Dean, that would be like DU voting for Hucklebee. Not that Dean isn't a good guy or that DU is synonymous with the Tea Party, but rather their very vocal positions wouldn't be very popular with either group. But, I think they would vote for Elizabeth Warren. She hasn't been partisan. She's been talking about the bottom line. Truthfully, I haven't even met a republican that doesn't sing her praises.

I think a lot of people are moving beyond parties. Unless the two parties get busy doing something for the people of America. We're going to start seeing the emergence of new parties. Yeah, I know votes will be split. People we don't want will be elected. But, voting for the lesser of two evils is at some point going to stop working.

At some point, you want to start voting your conscience. You get sick of holding your nose and voting for who your leaders say you should vote for.

[Alcibiades]

205. The parties are a function of the electoral rules

Political parties are inevitable, and the number of parties in a given system is a function of electoral rules. Our first-past-the-post system virtually guarantees two parties: every time a major third party has emerged, it has either supplanted one of the major two parties (rare) or died off as one of the other parties steals its issues (much more common).

We do have a number of electoral options available for folks on the left who like to vote their conscience. They're small, and don't win elections, but they do exist.

http://www.dcpoliticalreport.com/PartyLink.htm

[Jackpine Radical]

160. Hey, the real stealth approach

would be to transplant Howard's brain into the Tundra Bimbo's body.

[Alcibiades]

207. That, they would go for. n/t

[HillbillyBob]

162. I think her assests are lower down on her chest

that is what the tpers are interested in. The like idiot women for their looks and obedience not their smarts..or even cunning in this case.

[apnu]

245. ew, what a waste of a good brain. (nt)

[HillbillyBob]

159. I second that!

nt

[superconnected]

184. +1000

[loudsue]

179. If these are our tax dollars, this article needs to go viral. Every man woman and text-tart in this

country needs to see this. If this doesn't cause a new rebellion in this country, then the masses really do deserve this.

[Gorobei]

233. Seconded. NT

[Angry Dragon]

2. "Something is seriously wrong with this picture"

and it stinks to high heaven also

[Atticus]

3. Is there no one in government with the common sense and guts to "red flag"

this sort of nonsense?

Does it take a Congressional committee to determine that this is in the "Really Bad Idea" category?

[valerief]

6. They. Don't. Care. American IT workers can starve for all they care. nt

[BanzaiBonnie]

32. and they are N/T

[HillbillyBob]

164. Yup I have been bitchin about it almsot as long as my IT professional partner

Now with the turd/human hybrid and orange boner talking about repealing 14th amendment, make us non citizens and bring in scabs from India or where ever.
I have known the immigration debate was/is a canard for a very long time.

Are they really trying to see when this side of the aisle arms up and revolts?

[Divernan]

125. Any Congressional committee will be quickly bought off by corporate lobbyists

I have no doubt that this program has already been designed to benefit particular corporations' ongoing or proposed IT operations in particular 3rd world countries, and that said particular corporations have made significant contributions to the current administration, with more to follow.

Once members of Congress start receiving complaints from constituents, all they need do is contact the corporations in question, and the Congressional members also will receive nice fat campaign donations from those corporations' lobbyists.

If any Congressional investigation is mounted, the lobbyists will be all over every congressperson involved in said investigation.

[Ruby the Liberal]

4. Oh FFS

Whose brilliant idea was this??

:wtf:

[Webster Green]

5. WTF?!

What the fuckety fuck fucking fuck?!!1111!1!!111!! :mad:

[JustAnotherGen]

7. Proud to be the fifth rec

This is a freaking disgrace.

[bergie321]

8. Good

This must mean that every American who wants a job has one now...

:sarcasm:

[Tempest]

9. JESUS FUCKING CHRIST!

I have friends who are Java programmers and they can't find work. I'm a network systems administrator and I've been out of work for a year.

How much longer are we going to let our government and multinational corporations fuck us up the ass unwillingly?

[emilyg]

91. How much longer? Vote the bastards out.

[Lorien]

94. How long? For fucking ever. DUers won't even DISCUSS campaign or election reform

they are even unreccing a thread for suggesting as much: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8875395 If you won't fight to change the system itself then the status quo will continue indefinitely.

[shireen]

213. +1

and rec'd your post too.

[RKP5637]

219. +1, n/t

[olegramps]

114. They will fuck you daily until workers unionize and stop this crap.

[RKP5637]

216. I can't believe the F'en BS that goes on anymore. We need a new direction in

this country. I thought we were getting that and I was duped into campaigning, donating, believing and voting.

Each day brings a new level of incompetence in terms of "We the People." Now it's clearly "We the Corporations." I have friends now that work for pennies on the dollar compared to their old salary, and our gov. calls this employment. The BS runs so F'en deep it's staggering.

[midnight]

11. Really. We have Federal money to train foreign worker, but not American?

[L0oniX]

12. Evidence of the corporate owned government.

[sellitman]

14. Bingo! You win the prize!

But you will have to go to South America to pick it up.

[drm604]

13. Great

Why did I bother getting a Comp Sci degree?

[earthboundmisfit]

15. WORKFORCE GAPS??????

What the fuck?!?

[Thav]

147. It's a constant story made up by outsourcing firms

Companies are buying it hook, line, and sinker as well. Instead of looking for american workers, they buy the snake oil the outsourcing firms are selling and outsource the work.

Then when the work comes back, it still requires more resources due to language/cultural differences.

Also, workforce gaps? When unemployment is stupid high? whisky tango foxtrot, over.

[earthboundmisfit]

174. You're right, and Welcome to DU

I'm veteran IT, out of full-time work for two years now. Shit like this is one of the reasons why there THOUSANDS of capable, competent people here who are in the same boat as I. Workforce gap, my ass. :mad:

[newscott]

226. I deal with this every day. It truly sucks.

[sellitman]

16. I tweeted this to Olbermann

It will be interesting to see if he reads it and responds.

[flyarm]

51. he won't he is also owned by corporates..send it to Anderson Cooper..

you will sooner see it on his show!

[marylanddem]

152. My best guess is that Anderson Cooper

has so much integrity because she's probably richer than CNN so if they fire him he doesn't give a rat's ass, he can start his own network. I love him.

[dbonds]

17. Bloody hell - this couldn't be more backwards.

[roxiejules]

18. Former Bill Gates Foundation mgr. is in charge of this program

Did you catch that?

Under director Rajiv Shah, the United States Agency for International Development will partner with private outsourcers....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajiv_Shah

Rajiv “Raj” Shah (born March 9, 1973) is the current Administrator of USAID under the Obama administration. On November 10, 2009, Shah was nominated as Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). In addition to heading USAID, Raj Shah is the Under Secretary of Research, Education and Economics (REE) and Chief Scientist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Prior to his appointment at USAID, Shah worked in a range of leadership roles at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation including Director of Agricultural Development, Director of Financial Services, leader of the Strategic Opportunities initiative and manager of the Foundation’s $1.5 billion commitment to the Vaccine Fund. He also came up with the idea for the International Finance Facility for Immunization to transform the global system of vaccine financing, and worked to secure donor commitments of more than $5 billion for this facility

[JDPriestly]

27. Maybe we should switch away from Microsoft products.

Gates seems to be pushing so much that is evil in the US -- charter schools and now this. This is meant well, but it is wrong. It wrongs Americans who want to work, who are losing their homes and their futures because so much work has already been outsourced.

This has to end. Charity starts at home.

Further, turning other countries into IT plantations is just another form of slavery. If Gates wants to help people, he should fund micro-loan programs that help people develop entrepreneurial skills and become independent within the cultures in which they live.

This is yet another corporate crime against the American people.

[roxiejules]

31. Gates and Shah are also involved with.....

Monsanto, genetic engineering, vaccines, the new green revolution in Africa, etc.

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_19665.cfm

[lunasun]

70. Maybe we should switch away from Microsoft products

try open source software
it could be the trend of future.....Gates is evil -just the Monsanto seed crap is enuf to know that =list too long to be 'mislead altruism'
+ this does not surprise me.

A friend was looking for PHP work and went to one internet site where people in Vietnam were undercutting him by about 80% on some jobs but their English was so poor he said that big corps with big projects would not seriously use these people only small jobs where no one cared too much about their English and was short term .............

"'USAID will also help the trainees brush up on their English language proficiency.

"To help fill workforce gaps in BPO and IT, USAID is teaming up with leading BPO and IT/English language training companies to establish professional IT and English skills development training '"


yep that's whats missing and now they got that part covered too..........bye bye american pie
Some of these IT jobs pay very well
Please tell me what jobs are safe here? and where? We have a puk running for govenor here in IL that wants to lower our minimium wage !!!! jeeez us working stiffs are under attack from outside and next door>
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/25/bill-brady-wants-to-lower_n_626184.html

:hurts:

[inna]

82. welcome to the club. we have an ultra-rich fascist running for governor here,

and she's probably going to win. She wants to cut taxes (for the rich/corporations, of course), cut social spending (as if it is not already cut to the bone), and send national guard to Arizona, I am not kidding you. :nuke:

[inna]

81. How in the world is that "meant well"??? FFS. It's meant to maximize profits.

F*#@ Gates. He doesn't want to "help people" - how did you even get that idea, I'm really curious??

Maybe he is not entirely "evil", but please, let's not buy into the corporate propaganda memes that he, along with Buffett, is somehow benevolent and "means well" and "wants to help people".


And yes, I fully agree with you on your last sentence. This is yet another corporate crime against the American people. Let's not give those who perpetuate these crimes any excuses.

[HillbillyBob]

165. We did years ago , we switched to linnux/redhat and firefox

about 2002 I think it was. We use nothign microsoft.

[RKP5637]

220. Open source software works well and is better. Try Ubuntu Linux, for example. n/t

[HooptieWagon]

19. That's the DLC for you....

Same crowd that brought us NAFTA.

[Uncle_Gunnysack]

20. Isn't being critical of the DLC dangerous to your DU health?

[HooptieWagon]

38. Then the post will smoke the DLCers out from under their rock.

Let them publicly defend DLC Corporatism.

[Uncle_Gunnysack]

56. But what will that accomplish?

[jmowreader]

46. No, it's really not

Quite a few DUers are extremely critical of the DLC, the bunch that puts the "no" in DINO.

[City Lights]

52. How so? nt

[newspeak]

243. yeah, they brought us NAFTA

but, it was Poppy's and the GOP's grand scheme. Again, NAFTA was one reason I voted for Clinton so it wouldn't see the light of day. It didn't matter-apparently both parties loved their free trade, screw American workers scheme. I remember when Clinton came on tv and told the public that we would now be the leaders of the service industry. That comment today is so damned ludicrous since service is being outsourced to places like India. Just a bunch of cons feeding us bullshite and calling it cake.

[CHIMO]

21. Bloody

Idiotic rule makers. What the ---- is going on in this world? Must mean that voters don't count. What else can one draw from this?

[harun]

22. Wow, we just care so much. So much about profits, that is.

[madrchsod]

23. another fucking over of the american worker....

and it is`t by the republicans.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

181. "...and it isn`t by the republicans."

This bears repeating.

This is one more "fuck you" being done to the American people by a goddamed DEMOCRAT.

When the fuck are we going to clean our OWN house of pro-corporate/anti-American worker scum??? :mad:

[TBF]

24. K&R nt

[scentopine]

25. I'd love to hear Obama and Geithner spin this. Jesus, they are at war with us -nt

[PADemD]

149. Geitner is on the Board

http://www.mcc.gov/mcc/about/boardofdirectors/index.shtml

[RKP5637]

218. Yep, I thought that early on and kept pushing it out of my mind, trying to

believe. I was duped. Now I see mostly confirmation of endless BS by Obama and Geithner.

[JDPriestly]

26. No. No. No.

This is the last straw.

What a betrayal of America's unemployed. How dare the Obama administration do this to Americans?

Can't wait till his next speech. This is the worst lie/insult/cheat ever.

This really hurts.

[hayu_lol]

30. This is pure unadulterated BS...

this Shaw character should be run out of office whilst tarred and feathered...before the hanging of course.

We have a depression going, millions out of work, many of whom could easily work for these American Corporations with their present abilities.

This needs to be stopped by any means available...immediately.

[Amonester]

42. Yeah, but they cost too much for the million dollar wedding wanabees.

:sarcasm:

[flyarm]

57. more of that snazzy, High Power, Super Duper Special Coded Chess game.!!

[katandmoon]

29. The Obama betrayals never stop.

[AndyA]

33. Thanks for all the change, Obama.

Not so much. :(

How about putting AMERICA and the AMERICAN PEOPLE FIRST...for a change? :shrug:

[Quantess]

66. "Change"... we got a whole pocketful.

This is a disgrace!

[HEyHEY]

34. Well hey, the government's rich friends need their cheap labour

When are you people gonna riot and destroy the Capitol mall already?

[HughBeaumont]

104. "Soon as . . I . . . get done eatin' this Big Mac . . . Oh wait . .. Snooki's fightin' agin!"

"This 'Jersey Shore' . . . looks interestin' . . . (munch munch munch) . . . Oh, and these fries taste SO good . . . (munch munch munch) . . . I'm so comfy . . . ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SKuI0ixLt4 ... ... ... for being apathetic, afraid and not taking out the old man cabal that keeps us under their boots. And yes, we CAN do this. They can't throw us ALL in jail.

[KoKo]

182. lol's....sadly, that's a good explanation. n/t

[CubicleGuy]

227. The ones that they don't throw in jail?

Those are the ones they just shoot. Takes care of the dreaded overcrowded jails problem.

[Orrex]

35. Forgive me, but I don't know much about USAID as an agency

Does it act by the President's direct instruction, or is it a semi-autonomous entity?



For the record, Google is not my friend. Generally, I would prefer to read someone's summation rather than a Wiki article or a Googleblurb.


Thanks!

[Robbien]

54. USAID is how the US doles its money out to doner nations

However, USAID usually gives the money to favored contractors who don't get the job done. It is hated in Iraq and Afghanistan because it is the agency which keeps saying it is reconstructing the countries while nothing gets reconstructed but tons of money is spent.

See this article
Afghanistan war: How USAID loses hearts and minds
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-South-Central/2010/0728/Afghanistan-war-How-USAID-loses-hearts-and-minds


Dr. Rajiv Shah, head of USAID, reports to POTUS. It is not semi-autonomous.

[Orrex]

61. Thank you, though I can't say that the answer pleases me.

I would rather it be an independent entity, all things considered. :puke:

[Robbien]

65. Another really bad thing about USAID, they cater to religious entities

and will not give help to anyone who does not adhere to their no abortion edict. And they also try to make receipts speak english, and all the other right wing edicts of the Bush Admin. Nothing has changed when administrations changed.

[roxiejules]

36. USAID has record of taking jobs away from American workers

http://exiledonline.com/feature-story-usaid-jerks-perks-and-propaganda/ - Matt Taibbi (1997)

USAID in fact has a long record of supporting policies detrimental to U.S. interests. In the late 1980s, the U.S. spent nearly a $100 million on an “Export and Investment Promotion Project” which helped the government of Haiti attract U.S. investors seeking low-wage offshore locations for assembly work. Ostensibly trying to improve the working conditions of Haitian laborers, the U.S. was actually helping American employers leave home (taking jobs away from American workers in the process) and take advantage of cheap labor. Incredibly, after Jean-Baptiste Aristide’s democratic government came to power in 1991, USAID even protested when the new leader attempted to raise the minimum wage to 50 cents an hour so that his population could afford to eat.

“Wage systems,” the USAID report noted coldly at the time, “should not be the forum for welfare and social programs.”

[McCamy Taylor]

37. April Fools! No, wait, it's August. And our tax dollars are going to outsource US jobs!

Oh happy day, when Obama was elected!

[patrice]

39. .

:grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr:

[Aristophrenia]

40. Whats the problem ?

You outsourced your steel, textiles, IT services, and everything else and your economy is still really strong.
So long as your corporations are making a profit the trickle down effect will mean you are all richer !

The corporate profits of your major corporations - BAE, Northrup, Lockheed, Raytheon, Halliburton, Blackwater (Xe), generate massive profits from your taxes which filter down to the working class in the form of Trauma, Amputations, Psychological dysfunction, disabilities and death - I really don't understand what you Americans have to complain about - its not like you would ever do anything about it - Unions are all communists remember, socialism is apprantly a European conspiracy Nazi origins, and voting for a Green or Independent candidate is anti-American.

So really - whats happening is what you want, what you asked for, whats best for you. And if you're not happy - EVERYONE KNOWS - you wont do a damn thing about it.

[Lost4words]

48. self delete

[amandabeech]

63. Corporate profits have nothing to do with jobs here. "Trickle down" does not work and never has.

If you actually lived here, you'd know that, and would not embarrass yourself by posting such drivel.

I suggest that you read a lot more around here before you post.

You are obviously either not getting good information about the reality here or you are choosing to ignore it.

[Name removed]

75. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Aristophrenia]

96. Maybe next time you should actually read my post

instead of just responding with ridiculous attacks - seriously - read the post, I hope you don't actually respond to people like this in person, make an absolute ass of yourself.

[amandabeech]

99. Maybe next time you should come up with a subject line that isn't a puke talking point.

You know, one that doesn't get a pretty good number of us here so angry that we literally see red.

Good bye.

[Divernan]

132. Come ON! "What's the problem?" is not a "puke talking point."

nt

[Jackpine Radical]

163. This place needs a support-group forum

for the sarcasm-impaired.

In the interest of making my point clear to these unfortunate folk, I attach the following:
:sarcasm:

[newspeak]

244. I get it and I get the sarcasm

And you are correct. We've been sold how bad unions are, even now in our right wing rag of a paper, they take the extreme stories about how much certain public employees get (usually at the top), they wrote untruths about auto employees (those damn union workers), and basically the great American MSM propaganda machine is attempting to now pit americans who still actually have decent jobs and benefits against those who have lost their jobs. I have to settle my FIL down when he starts buying in the bullshite---now it's wrong to have a decent job with benefits, the rest of the public won't hate you if you only accept corporate slave wage--just what the global corporations want-slaves. That's why they're using and abusing people in other countries, until the workers get tired of being screwed, then the greedy sociopathic assholes move on to another country, usually a despotic one.

It's not those who have decent jobs we should be bagging on; however, it appears to distract attention to some of the real culprits, like CEO's, who make way more than their worth-and even make a killing when the company is going down the tubes. They're actually rewarded for being losers.

[readmoreoften]

140. The poster forgot to use to sarcasm tag.

And seems to be a foreign language speaker. His/Her criticism is that we don't fight the right wing hard enough; it's not a right-wing critique.

[HughBeaumont]

105. I truly believe we'll have an alien president before we'll have a progressive one.

And if we DO have a progressive one, they'll just kill him/her.

We're weak, docile mice people afraid of getting arrested by our militarized police force. That's why this shit will never change at all. We blame politicians and sides while not looking at (and in some cases, practically excusing) the REAL thieves and manipulators.

This country's hilarious.

[Divernan]

116. Your succinct & well-stated sarcasm went right over the heads of some

NT

[valerief]

128. You're just repeating the corporations' media spouts about what Americans think. nt

[rpannier]

139. I was SO gonna flame you

But, I read your post twice to make sure I understood it
Then I laughed

[Sparkly]

173. USA!! USA!! USA!!

:yoiks:

[Burma Jones]

217. I Like....Welcome to DU

[marions ghost]

224. What you say has SOME truth...

However you do NOT understand how hard it is to fight the Powers That Be in America. There is no possibility of any socialist, Green or independent candidate being elected in America. None. We don't even have a working two-party system of govt --OR an election system that is verifiable. The whole place is drowning in corruption.

But you insult us by saying "this is how we want it." Or that We The Average People haven't tried to effect changes.

America is a mess--that I agree with, but you do not know how difficult it is to be heard here. You could get 5 million people to march on Washington and it would be business as usual the next day. There are not enough elected representatives who are not completely sold out to business interests.

So, Aristophrenia--why don't you come over and advise us how to break the stranglehold, OK? But DON'T talk as though we have any real political power to do it with. You'll have to be more creative than that.

[Aristophrenia]

234. Really - the problem of corporatisation of government

the debasing of democracy and popular dis-empowerment of the populace through bipartisanship is unique to America? - I think not. All that post serves is to highlight how incredibly ignorant you are of global politics and the plight of billions.

The thrust of my post is that the people are responsible for this palaver - and your response is that it is too hard. Really ? Too hard for South Africans ? Too hard for India ? Too hard for Vietnam ? Too hard for almost every South American nation to throw off the yoke of US-Corporate-Military hegemony ? Too hard - MFG !

Try being one of the hundreds of countries oppressed, bombed, corrupted and subsequently co-opted into brutal dictatorships through the coercing of corrupt leadership and nepotism to better facilitate resource acquisition and market penetration by the united states.

I seriously can not believe that you have the gumption to even CONSIDER that things are hard in America - things aren't hard in America - they are far, far, far too easy. The western obesity problems are symptomatic of the apathetic surrender of the populace.

Nothing in the history of history has changed the course of despotic rule other than action of organised people - nothing. EVER. Kings, Emperors, Tyrants, Despots and dictators have all been overthrown by the cumulative discontent of the people - thats all. Power will never voluntarily acquiesce to the whims of the oppressed. Why would they.

One thing that has also been a permanent and stark truth is the frequency with which the notion of "You don't understand", or "Its too hard", or "Its beyond our control" has been hypnotically chanted and repeated as though their particular occasion of oppression is unique - that's absolute garbage and the biggest steaming pile of pusillanimous claptrap and eschewing of responsibility I have ever heard.

The truth is that people do not want to go the hard yards, put in the effort and make the sacrifices that previous generations have. I can not even IMAGINE the westerners of today voluntarily sacrificing their lives for a higher ideal - not a chance. The truth is that the US is the corrupt bedrock of global nepotism and corporatism because the people have allowed this to happen - the fact that it does not change is because people have allowed this to happen.

When cross media ownership and consolidation laws were thrown out the window - there was barely a whimper, when unions were demonised as socialist, when regulations were thrown out the window as to restrictive on business barely a whimper - why? Because you all got fat cars, fat TV's, fat gaming consol's, fat hamburgers and fat porn. When constitutional rights were abrogated in the wake of 911 barely a whimper emerged.Why ? Because the flutter of flags and chanting of parochial jingoism's drowned out any consideration of wider global political issues.

The truth is that Americans believe they are unique and special - its called American exceptionism - this leads to an almost fanatical myopic global conception which is profoundly deluded. American exceptionism is one of the few true universalities of the American psyche and without doubt the most most destructive. Any criticism of American policy and practice is taken as a personal affront, as a direct attack on the individual - absurd.

The rest of the world suffers every single day the most extreme consequences leading to the most horrendous lives at the hands of American denial, life style choices, perceived privilege and bountiful ignorance of the world.

Instead of being so incredibly petulant and sensitive the the truth - take it on board and realise that the truth is America is military corporate alliance presided over by an executive dictator with the checks and balances of a castrated, impotent and self serving congress populated by an - on the whole - profoundly apathetic and ignorant mass of indulgent self serving, feckless ignoramuses.

Just so you don't think this is a personal attack - my country Australia is equally bad if not worse. The level of parochial naval gazing and ignorance is far worse than America- we are fatter, dumber, and fast becoming just as corrupt and abusive. This is not about you - this is about realising that it is up to us to realise that the problem is ourselves and to effect and change it must be ourselves who does it.

No offence - but I am really scared about the devolution of sovereignty and corporatisation of this planet - it is not simply an American thing - the people of this planet are heading for a whole world of hurt - and as global warming kicks in things are going to get very, very grim.

[marions ghost]

235. You call us

"profoundly apathetic and ignorant mass of indulgent self serving, feckless ignoramuses." Which goes to show how much you really know about Americans.

And you cover that profound insult by insulting Australians as well (half my family is Aussie so I know what I'm talking about there--Australians are better than that, too).

A lot is wrong with America, but the people are OK. The government is corrupt and with a dysfunctional election system, you just try to get any opposition candidate elected and see how hard it is over here. Most of us liberals are not represented whatsoever. We have no political power. Many people of liberal persuasion are just beaten down and demoralized, esp after the reign of the Bushites.

Like I said, what do you suggest? Or are you just going to throw out insults? So how do we go about changing America? Go ahead, you tell me. Be specific.

[newspeak]

246. and it is a global problem

global corporations are organized and have exploited workers and environment of all countries. It seems that it may become a global effort to reign them in. As of now, they control governments, in some countries they are allowed to do as they please, and if a leader who cares about the people is some how elected, then that leader becomes the enemy, and the corporate entity will use the government to bring them down.

Until the people of the world decide to organize together with one goal in mind-labor rights. Maybe we need a global union where anyone can join who believes in decent wages, safe working environment, strict corporate regulations and environmental concerns. It probably would have to start in the westernized countries--but if enough people get tired of the exploitation and corruption who knows where it will start.

Until people understand that these huge global entities do not have an allegiance to any country, so they really could care less about the people in any country or it's environment. However, they are more than willing to use a country's people and money to fight for their own interests and bleed a country dry. Profits and power are the only goals, even if they have to destroy the world.

[NJGeek]

41. disgusting

i can't believe this- someone needs to get on the horn and start blasting this from the mountaintops. democrats who suppor this should be SHAMED

[lonestarnot]

43. So where the fuck are Americans on this? Where the fuck are we?

Americans get a fucking clue. Get a fucking clue America!

[Hubert Flottz]

108. 22 million to burn while Rome is burning...

Who knew we could get this far up shit creek? "Throw us a rock, we can't swim"...Shit creek won't crest until 2099.95

Gobble-I-zation gobbles up still more American jobs...will the last job to leave, turn out delight. Another thousand points of lights to ponder. Who knew the "Thousand Points of light" would be on the front of Mack trucks?

The Wall Street Masas have figured out a way to own their slaves, without shipping them here to the US, and it looks like we are one Abe Lincoln shy of doing anything to slow it down.

When I get depressed I listen to this song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kShTUmYRyCw

[newspeak]

247. yes, but remember it was only the poor or working class section

of Rome. The truly corrupted wealthy were being entertained by it's burning.

[Lost4words]

44. K & R cause I am unable to type after reading this

[Blue Owl]

45. U.S. to train sharpshooters to shoot own foot

Might as well.

[City Lights]

47. Fuck it. nt

[laughingliberal]

49. See? We're creating jobs.

:sarcasm:

[8 track mind]

53. Total fucking bullshit

I'm stunned speechless

[northernlights]

55. so glad to see our tax dollars at work creating jobs to boost the economy...

too bad it's not our *own* citizens we are helping to retrain and employ. :wtf:

[Nite Owl]

58. So we have the money

to pay for outsourced jobs but they want to cut SS and Medicare? All the Americans that don't have jobs and it took how much to get enemployment passed. There is so much wrong with this I really can't believe all that is happening under a dem administration. No way is this what I voted for. What happened to fixing NAFTA? What happened to everything......

[nightrain]

59. knr. more poor use of my tax dollars. yes. seriously wrong with this Administration.

those funds should be going for jobs in the US.

[flyarm]

62. k&r AND PARDON ME, I need to go in the other room to puke!

and I don't dare say what I feel and mean here anymore..because I know, what I have to say, and what I am SCREAMING on this side of the computer now..right now.. is against the DU rules now.

[felix_numinous]

64. Outsourcing IT is a security breach. nt

[girl gone mad]

67. Does anyone still want to pretend this isn't a corporatocracy?

The business betters don't need you any more, but they will gladly use your tax money to train your slave wage replacements.

[roxiejules]

72. Spot on!

[Lorien]

93. Sadly so. The corporations are the only ones left with any representation

and some here wonder why we all don't want to give Obama a "hug" on his birthday today. :puke:

[Larry Ogg]

95. Most people are still pretending that we live in a Democracy

So could that be the same as pretending this isn't a corporatocracy?

Personally I believe the most objective description of what rules us is http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3141216">"Pathocracy"

[RagAss]

Because our children don't deserve the chance, right????????

[Major Hogwash]

68. Because Americans won't pick lettuce! They don't want those jobs!

Jesus H Christ, what's next? Outsourcing our prostitutes?

[femrap]

76. No, we're finally going

to outsource the pimps and johns.

[HatTrick]

71. Future generations

Future generations are going to look back and cite cases like this and say “they were fools”, they meaning the American people and our so called leaders.

We allow other countries to get richer, stronger and more educated while we get poorer, weaker and less educated. All for the benefit of a very few of the wealthy privileged class to get even wealthier and more powerful.

Those future generations will say their leaders not only did nothing, but they helped it happen and even helped pay for it.

[jtuck004]

73. I wonder what $22 million would mean to a local community

college that has "Enrollment Closed - Fall Classes Full" on its doors? Maybe a few sections of online Java programming
to the computers in an area of low-income at a community center?

Or...

[totodeinhere]

74. This makes my blood boil. n/t

[CoffeeCat]

77. IT people are very unique...

Most of the IT people I know are true geeks (and I say that lovingly and with the utmost admiration!).
They've lived and breathed computers, languages and all things geeky--for decades. It's who they are and what
they know. If these people lose their jobs, and if the IT job market goes the same way that our manufacturing
base did--then this entire nation will truly, truly suffer.

So many people and families will suffer!

What will these IT people do? They have such specialized skills and knowledge. If these jobs
disappear, does all of that just go out the window?

My husband is an IT person, and we know many geek types. They are highly intelligent people who have
lived their careers in the computer world. Most of these people won't be able to transition into some
sales or marketing job. These are uniquely qualified and specialized people. I guess the closest
profession I could see them transitioning into would be engineering. That's at least a few years of
additional college.

Holy crap! Sometimes I just can't believe what I'm reading! And it seems to be getting worse and worse!

Our nation just spent millions of dollars to train another country's workforce, while our own people scramble
for jobs. Bloody Hell!

[Odin2005]

145. And people wonder why people with Asperger's have an unemployment rate of 88%

It's because all the damn techie jobs are going to India!

[FormerDittoHead]

250. If you forgive me, let me make it worse...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/04/disturbing-job-ads-the-un_n_600665.html

Qualifications for the job are the usual: computer skills, oral and written communication skills, light to moderate lifting. But red print at the bottom of the ad says, "Client will not consider/review anyone NOT currently employed regardless of the reason."

On another BBS there was a computer recruiter that defended this, as he said unemployed IT workers lose the quality of their skills, not to mention lack of in house training on new versions / systems...

[Rosa Luxemburg]

78. so why can't $22 million be used to train Americans HERE?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

80. who in the government authorized it and can defend it?

names!

[PADemD]

111. Links here

USAID

http://www.usaid.gov/policy/coordination/stratplan_fy07-12.html

Millenium Challenge Corporation

http://www.mcc.gov/mcc/about/index.shtml

[Rosa Luxemburg]

177. so is there an arm to train US workers here?

[Chisox08]

79. What the Flying Fuck

So we have $22 million to train people in other countries while unemployment in the U.S. is at 9.7% and growing. But we don't have a dime for American workers. This is more race towards the bottom line Bull Shit that has gotten us into this mess.
Why isn't that money being used to train American workers?

[Joanie Baloney]

83. I just wrote the White House

It wasn't the most coherent thing I've ever written but anger doesn't do much for my creativity.

Dear Mr. President,

What are you thinking? I just learned you approved $22 million for USAID to give to train FOREIGN I.T. workers in Java programming and English. I voted for you and now I am wondering where that candidate went. Our IT workers are one group the U.S. can still be proud of as a workforce. They are dedicated, well-trained and pioneers in the industry. They need jobs HERE!!

Please reconsider this grant. You are losing my support day by day for actions such as this one.

http://www.informationweek.com/news/software/integration/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=226500202

Name
San Diego, CA

Grrrrr!

:mad:

[MindPilot]

85. Nicely done!

I've pretty much given up writing to the white house and my reps since it's pretty clear they don't give a flying rat's ass what I--or any other working/middle class American--thinks.

[RKP5637]

223. I used to write, but I've pretty much given up too. Frankly, I think it does

little good as none of them give a F what I think. And if I get a response it's just some BS. We no longer live in a democracy, haven't for sometime. Democracy is an illusion used to dupe the masses into compliance.

[PADemD]

121. Where does USAID's money go?

http://www.usaid.gov/policy/budget/money/


"USAID is an independent federal government agency that receives overall foreign policy guidance from the Secretary of State."

http://www.usaid.gov/about_usaid/

[inna]

84. Oh, that is NOTHING. Wait till the new free trade agreements kick in place,

likely next year. If you thought NAFTA was bad... :nuke:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=8765585

[caseymoz]

86. Now let Congress also drag it's feet on renewing unemployment again . . .

. . . because we know it makes workers lazy at finding the one job opening per five job seekers we have now.

[LibDemAlways]

87. We already let many thousands of H1B Visa holders into

this country to blatantly steal jobs from Americans. Now we're going to use American tax dollars to screw even more Americans out of jobs. It's a crime against the American people - perpetrated by our own government. How much more of this kind of shit are Americans going to tolerate before they make some major changes - either at the ballot box or in the streets?

[dadzilla]

88. WTF?

What job will we not export, building nuclear weapons?

Epic Freaking Fail...

[Aristophrenia]

97. Actually you already do -

dont let AMANDABEECH read this (might actually learn something) one of my Masters (see amandabeech - i do read more than you most likely) - concentrated on the consequences for outsourcing military - or more precisely what is known as the monopoly of violence from the sovereign, a consideration of Max Webers theory on violence being the only true identifier of sovereignty.

Part of this research concentrated on privatised military - PMF's, PMC's etc inspired in large part by the amazing Peter Singer - Brookings institute - the outsourcing of weapons production - including some parts of nuclear weapons - is well and truly outsourced.

There are already concerns of weapons manufacturers refusing to supply weapons to be used against countries which house their production plants. SPOOKY.

Anyway - your main nuclear weapons manufacturers are busy making news programmes and controlling your media - General Electric.

Amandabeech how is that re-read of my post going ?

[HughBeaumont]

107. GE used to be run by the FATHER of offshore outsourcing - Jack Welch.

That troll midge bastard's responsible for getting the corporate outsourcing ball rolling in this country. Any wonder why CNBC (Corporate America's lapbitch network) features him regularly?

[newspeak]

249. and I believe it was GE who had grown so monstrously huge

that our government couldn't even afford to sue them for monopolistic practices. When a corporation becomes so huge and basically answers to know one and has caused damage to communities (environment or safety), it needs to be busted up and not allowed to continue to grow into a psychopathic monster, where profits reign over the lives of people and communities.

I am for responsible corporations who seem to care about their employees, working environment and community. I am for "mom and pop" operations, many who do care about their employees and communities. I am not for huge global corporations who make more profits off of chaos and death and ONLY care about the bottom line. Who have no fealty to any country, nor to people that people are more expendable than loss of money.

And no corporation has the right of personhood, since they apparently have a problem of excepting responsibility for their actions. The people within the corporation has rights, but an entity should not have the same rights, and like the old law in california, a corporation who serves no good to the public or has caused harm to the public should be dismantled.

[laconicsax]

89. Obama is so awesome!

He can create jobs overseas!

[Axle_techie]

90. WHAT THE, WHY THE HELL

Thanks for putting my field out of jobs, USA sucks.

I have been unemployed for over a year, now I know why.

[Ex Lurker]

92. these idiots deserve the tsunami that'll roll over them in November n/t

[LargeGreenSpider]

142. Stories like THIS

Need to be front page everywhere. I don't care what politicians it breaks.

[newspeak]

248. It may roll over them, but what comes next-repukes in office

we had eight years of the most damaging, lying, corrupt (in my book) administration that brought us to the brink. and the clueless trolls will vote for them again--of course, some of the clueless believe in the end of the world--it wouldn't be god doing it, it would be man and they sure wouldn't be guided by god, but their own greed and corruption.

We need a strong democratic labor party. I don't care what you call it--people with the same goals-demopublicans--united labor party. Whatever, people who are tired of being unrepresented and screwed. Or strengthen the party within-start a grassroots movement to field our own candidates-since it seems the DNC now is influenced by the DLC (Howard is gone), then we'd have to build a strong movement to field candidates.

I believe it's the only way we are going to change things. Of course, it would help if we had some media-newspaper, tv network. Just an outlet to present both sides or state the facts, not propaganda bullshite.

[Divine Discontent]

98. SOS, different day. This is a perfect example of what's wrong with the whole shebang!

what a frickin' waste of OUR money to take away jobs that qualified IT employees around the world wouldn't have to be "trained for", imo.

[AnneD]

167. If presidents as diametrically opposed as George W Bush and Barack Obama...

produce the same political enviroments, is there any hope for real change? Jason Kelly.

Time to overthrow our corperate masters. I intend to exercise my own term limits until these politicians from ANY party start remembering who brought them to the dance. At least they can't be in long enough to to collect all the benefits and heaven knows there are plenty of other folks out there willing to do the job, any job-even as a politician.

[boppers]

100. I'll be the foil.

Since US folks are deficient in English, and programming, this does not surprise me.

OTOH, maybe we should have more programs in the US to learn other languages.

[Cherchez la Femme]

126. You have got to be shitting me

There. How's THAT English deficiency for you?

...just when I think there can be nothing more stunning than our tax dollars financing foreigners on how to better take our jobs, you manage to up the ante.
That's not a compliment.

[boppers]

237. You didn't punctuate your subject line properly.

In programing, punctuation is damn near *everything*. A single misplaced semicolon in a million lines of code can cause a whole program to be useless.

The lackadaisical attitude of Americans towards correct expression in text is quite easily observable. It's also highly undesirable in fields where accuracy and quality matter.

[smalll]

101. SO! They pull more South Asians in to work the computers -- and it's an ATROCITY!!!! (as per DU) --

they let the Latinos in to mow our lawns, nanny our babies, fry our fast food, and build our houses -- and it's ALL COOL!!! Plus, anyone who objects to it is clearly racist!!!!

:shrug:

You know, at this point, I'm not going to even attempt to venture an opinion as to which view is incorrect. But at least I can say this: get your act together, DU -- if one holds, the other doesn't. :shrug:

[DesertFlower]

102. we're screwed. the america we once

knew is gone.

[Kringle]

103. this is sick beyond words .nt

[Vinca]

106. This makes me furious.

It's so outrageous at first I thought it was a joke.

[cate94]

109. WTF?

But really, what are we going to do about it?

I'll write another letter to the WH which will be round filed as soon as they receive it.

I'll write another K & R on a message board, but to what end?

I wrote to Target about their BS contribution to Emmers but really what are we going to do about the corporate ownership of our country?

WTF.

:banghead:

[Ganja Ninja]

110. We need a third party badly.

So we can have at least one party that works for Americans.

[HipChick]

112. Doh...It's USAID...its what they do...build up econmies in other countries...

that's their function..As an IT person, BPO for a lot of reasons ..I've been on a lot of projects where basically we are cleaning up from outsourced work, so I guess in a way..ironically it does create jons..

[DCBob]

113. AID stands for Agency for International Development.

Their mission is to help poor people in other countries. But I do agree this does not make alot of sense in our current economic situation.

[olegramps]

115. Hilary nailed it, "He gives pretty speeches."

Just another empty suit. It is past time to form a party from the core of union leaders and organize workers who will be able to demand that their fair share of the profits.

[COgator95]

119. Hillary is just as bas if not worse than Obama with regards to screwing the

American workforce..... She's a DLC'er to the core just like Rahm and company.

[PADemD]

123. FYI

"USAID is an independent federal government agency that receives overall foreign policy guidance from the Secretary of State."

http://www.usaid.gov/about_usaid/

[fasttense]

150. So Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton issued policy guidance

to train workers for our outsourced jobs. What a joke on the unemployed.

[LongTomH]

153. SOS is Hillary Clinton - The Former "Senator from India"

Actually, she was the senator for Tata, the Indian company that does much of the outsourcing of US IT jobs.

She made her pilgrimage to India during the 2008 campaign to 'woo India' and to promise to keep sending them American jobs. Quoting from the Asia Times article:

Hillary Clinton made it apparent where she stood on outsourcing during her India visit, in an attempt perhaps to clear the Indian misgivings received during the Kerry campaign. "There is no way to legislate against reality. Outsourcing will continue," she told an audience of Indian big-wigs. She pointed out that there were 3 billion people who feel left behind and are trying to attack the modern world in the hope of turning the clock back on globalization. "It is not far-fetched to imagine ... if the Indian miracle would be the one of choice of those who feel left behind," said Hillary.

]

Hillary has been at the forefront in defending free trade and outsourcing. During the height of the anti-outsourcing backlash in the US last year, she faced considerable flak for defending Indian software giant Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) for opening a center in Buffalo, New York. "We are not against all outsourcing; we are not in favor of putting up fences," Hillary said firmly, despite inevitably invoking the ire of the anti-free trade brigade.

Actually, both the Clintons have a long history with India:

Perhaps one of the biggest friends of the Indian American community has been former US president Bill Clinton. Clinton is closely associated with the American India Foundation and visited India in 2001, as head of an Indian delegation to collect funds for victims of the Gujarat earthquake. There was considerable talk at that time that the Clinton visit was a well-orchestrated plan to cultivate the Indian American community to prepare for Hillary Clinton as president of the US.

One of the big donors to her campaign was Indian born Rakesh Gangwal, who also worked for her campaign.

Gangwal was the CEO of my old company, Worldspan. He downsized American workers, first to get the company ready for an IPO; when the market wouldn't pay what he was asking, he tried to get the company ready to sell, downsizing even more workers in the process. I was 'downsized' in 2005. Apparently, he did the same thing at his old company, USAirways. When he left, the company was in bankruptcy; Rakki walked away with a cool $15 million in his piggybank.

Is it any wonder that people are talking up the idea of Hillary as the Vice President on the 2012 ticket to replace Joe Biden? With her on the ticket, they will get big bucks from Tata and the corporations profiting from outsourcing. And they're talking up Hillary as a presidential candidate for 2016.

Be afraid! Be very afraid! Be very, very afraid!

:scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: :scared:

[karynnj]

187. Hillary Clinton picked this head of USAID and she is his boss

Repeating PUMA lines from 2008 is idiotic. As Clinton herself found out, Obama had more going for him than oratory. You might want to consider why Clinton had so little support from her fellow Senators in 2008.

This program really does not sound reasonable when there are so many that could do it in the US. One question I have is whether this article is a fair description of what is being done. As private industry has had no problem setting up their own outsourced IT, something sounds very fishy here.

I don't get why we need to "train" the Sri Lankans to do this. Sri Lanka has a very good education system (a legacy of British rule), more educated people than they have jobs for (so many work in the tourist industry in jobs they are over qualified for), and most educated Sri Lankans speak excellent English, in addition to Sinhalese or Tamil. (My daughter, a religion studies major, spent a semester studying here a few years ago.)

[cottonseed]

204. This is Hillary's guy you old puma. Do you care about this or is this just an Obama thing for you?

[liberal N proud]

117. WTF?

:wtf:

[Tsiyu]

120. Goody! Another way Corporations help America!!!!

:applause:






"America! F___ Yeah!"

[AzDar]

122. Economic treason.

[rox63]

124. Ok - This pisses me off royally

Outsourcing is one of the reasons I decided to leave the IT field for a new start in health care. Much harder to outsource direct patient care.

[happygoluckytoyou]

131. IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND YET.... IT IS AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN CLASS WARFARE...

[readmoreoften]

141. +1

[lonestarnot]

148. +25k

[Javaman]

134. tea party morons worry about illegals who pick our fruit and vegetables, yet..

we have thousands of people out of work in the gulf, but our tax dollars are used instead to train and retrain foreign workers.

fucked up times.

[InkAddict]

135. I'm thinking that $2 mil will be spent teaching Sri Lankans how to

sort things in alphabetical order using a keyboard and some software (that's info tech, no?)while repeating she sells seashells by the seashore and $20M will end up in some CEO's off-shore bank account, anyway.

[Odin2005]

137. This is fucking BULLSHIT!!!

:grr:

[paparush]

138. Goddamnit!! As a programmer, this makes me want to hack & sack.

[peacetalksforall]

143. The only thing left is for Obama to out himself and admit his role - he is

here to make people think we still have a democracy.

Can anyone direct me to a list of offenses against humanity and especially the people of the US that he has signed?

[Jester Messiah]

144. This is a fucking outrage.

We ought to be at 99% employment at least, before we start using tax dollars to train anyone else!

[Blue_Tires]

146. uh, WHUT?

:banghead:

[marylanddem]

151. to quote Roseanne Barr...

We are so beyond fucked, the light from fucked won't even reach us for 10 billion years...

[Romulox]

154. I remember DUers bragging on buying Japanese cars with C4C money.

How is this any different?

[jgraz]

157. Those "Japanese" cars were likely made by American workers

[Romulox]

158. Nope. Prius, for example. nt

[bvar22]

155. "And everyone has a share", shouted Milo....

...as the American planes began dropping bombs on their own base.

[The Backlash Cometh]

161. Our world is so backwards.

We have people here who can do the work, but they're spending money to train foreigners to do the work.

What happened to the excuse that everybody overseas was better qualified to do the job? If they were better qualified, we wouldn't have to train them.

[myrna minx]

168. K&R n/t

[RATM435]

169. USAID supported force sterilization using our tax dollars.

Apparently we the people also support force sterilization using our tax dollars.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Agency_for_International_Development

[tpsbmam]

170. K&R I have way too many friends & acquaintances in this industry who've had great difficulty

finding work or haven't been able to find work and have moved on to other professions or have taken much lower paying jobs at least vaguely related to computers. One committed suicide (it wasn't only about the inability to find work but that was part of it).

Totally pissed off on this one but not at all surprised -- this isn't the first time.

[ProSense]

171. This has nothing to do with outsourcing

This is aid to train workers in countries to help build up these countries. How is training a worker in a country and employing them in that country outsourcing American jobs? If the U.S. trains a teacher or a technician in Afghanistan that is not outsourcing.

Ending outsourcing is done from within this country by eliminating loopholes and tax breaks for companies that take their operations overseas, and rewarding those that create jobs here.

From the OP link:

But it's the outsourcing program that's sure to draw the most fire from critics. While Obama acknowledged that occupations such as garment making don't add much value to the U.S. economy, he argued relentlessly during his presidential run that lawmakers needed to do more to keep hi-tech jobs in IT, biological sciences, and green energy in the country.

He also accused the Bush administration of creating tax loopholes that made it easier for U.S. companies to place work offshore in low-cost countries.

As recently as Monday, Obama, speaking at a Democratic fundraiser in Atlanta, boasted about his efforts to reduce offshoring. The President said he's implemented "a plan that’s focused on making our middle class more secure and our country more competitive in the long run -- so that the jobs and industries of the future aren’t all going to China and India, but are being created right here in the United States of America."

This article is making its rounds in the RW blogosphere, and it is designed to do just that: portray President Obama as being hypocritical for having criticized Bush.

Here is the President's speech

Go the site USAID and read about the initiatives. Programs like these are exactly the purpose of this agency. It wasn't too long ago that the administration was being criticized for being extremely slow in appointing a director. The fact is that aid to underdeveloped countries is an important part of American foreign policy.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

185. Good lord you (how ever many of them there are) are pathetic.

:puke:

[ProSense]

189. Kill the agency.

It was created specifically for this purpose. If people don't like it, advocate that it be abolished.

The fact is the OP article is spin.

[mnhtnbb]

172. Seriously f$cked up.

[AngryOldDem]

175. We have truly given away the store.

Truly disgusting.

[Haole Girl]

176. I agree with the OP. Something is seriously wrong. (nt)

[loudsue]

178. Are these $22 MILLION AMERICAN TAXPAYER dollars??? Or is this Obama's private stash?

WTF????

[YOY]

180. I generally like USAID but that's not self sustinance. That's parasitic.

n.t.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

186. Thanks for noticing that.

This is MUCH differant than helping a country develope its internal resources for success -- this is nothing but making a country a bitch to international corporations.

[YOY]

190. Many Returned Peace Corps Volunteers work for USAID

They can talk little of their work, but I have heard more than some gripes about the directions they are forced to take.

It's not what we were meant for. It's making us into the monsters we never wanted to be. It's why I cannot do it myself. One cannot neccesarily pick and choose when one finds some part of an assigment unsavory.

[OhioChick]

188. So fucked up n/t

[ChromeFoundry]

191. Fuckin' brilliant...

:puke: :puke:

[UndertheOcean]

192. That is the function of USAID ,but in those economic times I agree this act is tastless

Maybe USAID needs to be suspended until after the recovery.

[flyarm]

208. Tasteless? it is criminal when 14+ million Americans are out of work..many IT workers!

I damn sure do not want a dime of my tax dollars going to train foreigners for jobs for corporate whores so they don't have to hire American workers..enough already..

these corporate whores in our government need to be stopped!

That is your money and mine being used to teach foreigers ENGLISH and IT jobs!

[LongTomH]

193. I sent a link to this article to Ed Schultz (The Ed Show) at MSNBC

Let's see if he uses it!

[Larkspur]

194. I sent this story to Ed Schultz

He's been pounding the pulpit about outsourcing.

[Vincardog]

195. Something is seriously wrong with this picture. Millions un and under employed in the USA and we

are spending millions to train SE Asians?

PLEASE

[Yavin4]

196. Before We Tar and Feather Obama Over This

Can we prove or find some kind of evidence that he knew about this program and he personally approved it? He doesn't run the Exec branch like C. Montgomery Burns. He doesn't sit in front of a wall of monitors watching every little thing that everyone does in his administration.

[ghurley]

229. From the US Embassy in Sri Lanka...

4th paragraph down:

Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Alliance

To help fill workforce gaps in BPO and IT, USAID is teaming with leading BPO and IT/English language training companies to establish professional IT and English skills development training centers in each of the five districts in the Northern Province.. Courses in Business Process Outsourcing, Enterprise Java, and English Language Skills will be offered at no charge to over 3,000 under- and unemployed students who will then participate in on-the-job training schemes with private firms.

http://srilanka.usembassy.gov/pr-2august10.html">US Embassy: US Government Support Creates 10,000 jobs in Northern Sri Lanka

[Yavin4]

232. That's Still No Evidence That Obama Was Even Aware of this Program

Again, he does not follow every little detail.

[OhioChick]

238. He is now....

I emailed him!

[Frisbee]

197. Are you people blind? Can't you see how this benefits us???

We live in a global economy, and by sending our high paying jobs to 3rd world countries, soon those people will be able to afford to buy the products we manufacture here. Hold on, someone just informed me we don't make anything here anymore. Well fuck, nevermind.

Seriously though, this has to be the most fucked up thing I have read in some time, and being as I check DU several times a day, I read some pretty fucked up stuff. The Dems REALLY need to put up a strong challenger to Obama in 2012, because I don't see how we can take 4 more years of his change.

[mnhtnbb]

202. +1000!

[aquart]

199. Specifically, who inserted that horror?

ARE THEY CRAZY?

[Joanne98]

200. &^%$#@

:nuke:

[DainBramaged]

201. Maybe some of you will wake up after reading this

They flooded OUR Country with cheap shit from overseas, our manufacturing jobs were shipped overseas becasue YOU wanted cheaper shit, and now the high tech jobs are going there too.


Wake up people.

[YOY]

203. They've been going there for quite some time.

Cutting off our feet to afford a facelift.

[Starry Messenger]

206. Capitalism rocks!

:sarcasm:

[katty]

210. YOUR tax $$$ hard 'at work' for you!

[shireen]

212. what about spending $22m training unemployed US citizens?!

this crap about low labor costs make me sick.

Companies that outsource overseas should be taxed for doing it, such that it's more profitable to hire within this country!


:mad:

[Jefferson23]

214. Just lovely, way to go!

:sarcasm:

[RKP5637]

215. We need change we "CAN" believe in !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not a bunch of

corporate shills.

[Jakes Progress]

221. Every once in a while you get a check point.

This can be an easy one. If Obama doesn't get this cancelled and read the riot act to those involved, then we have a message. We know he doesn't give a shit.

It's a simple checkpoint.

[8 track mind]

222. Just called and left comments for

The President, Pelosi, and Reid. I expressed my severe displeasure for this. Polite, yet pissed. I explained that this is not what i or my fellow union brothers and sisters voted for in 2008.

[DrDan]

225. it's only a bit over $7,300 per trainee

the corporations deserve this training at taxpayer expense.

[Paper Roses]

228. If I move to Sri Lanka, will that mean I can find a job?

Holy mackerel, even at my ripe old age, I feel shafted. This is an abomination.

I'm so proud of the government, they really think things through.(Snark)

My IT neighbor just lost his house. Suppose he and the family move to Sri Lanka, think he'd qualify?

He is in his 40's. They wouldn't even have to train him. Cost of living far less, he might just go if asked. Then again.......

[notesdev]

239. I'd like my hope refunded please

keep the change

[Mimosa]

240. K&R n/t

[Kringle]

241. k & r .n/t

[newspeak]

242. Isn't that precious, we are paying for our own screwing

What a big damn joke--on us. And, I'll call bullshite on not enough Americans trained in the IT field. My hubby has been in the field over thirty years-he was laid off, as well as, the other forty and fifty something managers. We are paying for our own demise, how crazy is that?

[Cal Carpenter]

251. If this doesn't take you to the conclusion

that our government, regardless of which administration or party is in power, works for the interest of corporate profits above all, above the interests of the people of this country

then I don't know what ever could..

It is a problem with our *system* - our capitalist economic system and the pseudo-democratic government that props it up - it is deeply embedded, and the change we need can't be achieved in the voting booth at this point.