SteveJJ: 

What you say about putting down the joint, etc. is all fine and I whole-heartedly agree. But you have to admit the "world marketplace" (actually the world wage structure) is eroding the standard of living here and in other developed nations. And to have you basically say, "it's just the way it is, get used to it"? I'm not ready to just accept a lower US standard of living without a fight. Am I in the minority here?

Contrary to popular belief, we can't all be CEO's, or attorneys, or Bank Presidents, or even the office supervisor. If you aren't a "Chief" (just an Indian) then you already have to compete with countries like Costa Rica with their $1.40/hr. total wage or Viet Nam with an even smaller wage. The majority of us have already reached third-world wage competition status.  This is what is so upsetting to so many in this country, whether they think of it in those terms or not, I don't think some of them do... Look how many people used to make a living working for a company at a "job". Now suddenly just working a "job" is not enough. We all have to expand our knowledge and skills. But to what end? For example: Why does my bank have to pay their CEO $2.5 Million a year? Can't they find a well educated Indian or Pakistani or Chinese guy for $100,000 a year or less? And why does my guy have to have his office in the United States? Office space suitable for a CEO here costs a bundle! Can't he run it from anywhere today with the communications industry giving us instant access to anyone, anywhere in the world? Take this scenario and apply it to ANY high-paid career today that doesn't absolutely have to be in the country. I think my bank's President would think that there's a huge problem with foreign labor competition at that point! Don't you?

Like my Father is fond of saying: The illegal immigration problem would be solved right quick if there were "Illegal CEO's" coming across the border!

You can understand why some people look to protectionism, Unions, immigration reform, etc. to try and stem the tide of wage competition. It all depends on which side of the problem you're standing on, labor, management or investor.

Ironically, some people on these boards who are the biggest "capitalists" are the ones squeeling the loudest about "corporate greed" causing all the problems by sending jobs overseas, etc.! This type of activity is exactly what a pure capitalist would do, because it's ALL about the lowest cost and largest profit. With no regard to the effects of the policy on the workers. It kills me when I hear a guy working a job as a forklift driver or something similar rail against the President for his "Socialist" agenda, then in the next breath complain that he's working his butt off for less and less pay and benefits every year and thinks his company President's new Jaguar was paid for on the backs of his workforce.  Talk about socialist thinking! The company owner has every right to cut your pay and reap as much money from the savings as he sees fit. He keeps the Union out so he is assured of it. Now that's pure capitalism at work. Ain't it great? (Eyes front, salute the Flag now y'all...)