Is Outsourcing a Problem?

Filed in archive Outsourcing Issues on June 29, 2007

Outsourcing is a Problem.

This is the statement given by former US First Lady and now Top Democratic Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton. The problem which she pertained to is the tax breaks as well as the availability of jobs in the US especially with fresh graduates. This statement was brought up during a debate at Howard University, Washington.

Here is a short excerpt of Hillary's piece regarding her reasons:

On tax breaks:
"Outsourcing is a problem. We have to do several things: End the tax breaks that still exist in the tax code for outsourcing jobs; have trade agreements with enforceable labor and environmental standards; help Americans compete, which is something we haven't taken seriously, which goes back to the very first question about education and skills."

On fresh College graduates:
"Let's not forget that 65 per cent of kids in an age cohort do not go on to college. What are we doing to help them get prepared for the jobs that we could keep here that wouldn't be outsourced? And find a new source of jobs. Clean energy, global warming would create millions of new jobs for Americans."




What do you think of her statement? Personally, I see that there is some truth on these problems but there is also a solution for these observations which does not necessarily mean a complete stop on outsourcing. Compromising or meeting half-way between these concerns and the company's main goal would be the best strategy for this kind of argument.