Rantings of the disappointed believer

Thursday, March 15, 2007

I work for a group which makes medical devices. It is not a giant like GE, but it was just bought by a giant, like GE.

I am an electronics technologist. I am, perhaps, not as fast as some technicians I know, but I am meticulous. I am ashamed if I miss a detail. I carefully dismember a situation until I find and permanently fix the cause of the problem. A lot of folks don't get it, but I hate having the same problem twice. It is pointless and boring to repeat a set of actions without changing the circumstances while expecting the results to change.

Isn't that insanity?

So, this place where I work, I am currently un-impressed with them, and I am seeking a replacement employer. This is one of those stories about how you never think it will happen to you.

Before I go much further, understand that I am a capitalist. I believe that the fool making the best product for the least money should get the fattest wallet. Also understand that I am a patriot, a Dad, and a firm believer that caring for one's community is caring for one's self.

How closely were you reading? Yeah. My job is being outsourced to Mexico. Right out from under me to a foriegn national.

I don't begrudge anyone a job, but I begrudge everyone my job. No offense intended, but I have to eat, too.

I am convinced that, although crowds of people are stupid, people are smart. To put it another way, there is a maximum IQ for any group of people, and the greater the number of people in a crowd, the lower the IQ per person. What was that definition for committee? Oh, yeah! A critter with four or more legs,...and no brain.

So, here's the rub. In order to make more money, the group of people in charge in a business environment believes it is better to take the jobs away from the people in the country where their business is based, and give those jobs to citizens in other countries. Countries I might have visited and enjoyed, had I a job which paid a decent wage. Since when does a burger flipper make more than a man with several years of college?

Did I tell you guys about dogs and bugs? It's very simple. The world is divided into two major groups; Dogs and bugs

Dogs have four legs, they are good natured, and you love them. You feed and care for them. You try to make the lives of Dogs better. Example? You and your significant other. Four legs. Warm fuzzies. Dog.

Bugs have six or more legs and you hate them. Nerve gas is available wholesale to help deal with the problem of bugs. Sounds good already, huh? If only....
A committe of three or more people is a bug. All three people you can't stand at work; that's a bug, too. The government, when they excersize their lack of skill and understanding in an arena which has been a hot topic for decades, is a bug.

Remember that technologist thing? Here it is. Identify a problem, plan a solution, put solution into effect to alleviate the problem.

Problem:
American business owners, and employers of American people are shipping our jobs overseas.

Plan:
1) Pass legislation encouraging companies to employ the American people. No special interest groups are allowed here, because I don't care what your religion, gender, color, ethnicity, or number of dependants is.
2) Pass levies on imported goods. Really high levies are good for our economy. Money paid by foriegn manufacturers could well be used to (fill in you favorite government SNAFU, here).
3) Fine companies which outsource to foriegn countries. Billions of dollars in fines could be collected from any (one) company not supportive of the American dream. If the company can't pay the fine, padlock the door. The Health Department does it, the IRS does it, why can't we have a government agency in charge of defending the interests of the American people.

Solution: HAH!

This isn't going to happen. It's like those medical devices I build at work. When the engineer gets done with the paperwork, at all looks great. In the real world, where I have to build a product, or the members of the legislature own stocks, this is an impossibility.