Originally Posted by stereoman
Good point, Jeff.

It bears repeating that we're talking about very tiny segments of the overall workforce here, with tool and die makers comprising about 1/10th of one percent and engineers not quite one percent. And it's worth noting that these numbers will continue to diminish until we actively create some kind of parity between pay scales at home and abroad.

It's easy to demand that pay be reduced for American workers, as long as they are not members of our own family or community, and provided we can create enough of a straw man to knock about. It may make more sense though, to look at who is profiting by outsourcing, and advocate for a cut in their pay, and correspondingly higher wages for the workers abroad.

Just to make sure we're clear, I didn't demand or even suggest any workers' pay be reduced, nor have I seen it suggested by any post in this thread until yours. In fact, I mentioned that apparently they have already had their pay reduced in recent years, until it will now be at "parity" with the foreign competition.

Your point about both engineers and trades being outsourced is well-taken. I left the engineering field and went into IT, which has suffered even more - as an independent contractor my rate was cut by 60%, at which point I was paid significantly below either of the professions mentioned... now as a small business owner I work twice as much for even less and less as the economy crumbles... but so far I still wouldn't trade it, and I still believe I'll make my own personal comeback, without any bailouts because there are none for small business.

Even so, I don't begrudge the engineer or the union worker what they managed to negotiate... we all make our choices.

Why should I bail them out, though? That is the question isn't it...

Castigat Ridendo Mores
(laughter succeeds where lecturing fails)

"Those who will risk nothing, risk everything"