Bob Bly Direct Response Copywriter Official Banner

Does the World Owe You a Living? And Should It?

May 12th, 2005 by Bob Bly

Does a citizen have the right to expect that certain basics be provided to him, such as health care, housing — and a job?

For many professionals, technology and obsolescence are increasingly robbing them of the opportunity to earn a living in their area of specialty. And no where is this more prevalent then in computers, once viewed as the most stable and fastest growing career in the U.S.

According to an article in InformationWeek (4/4/05), the Gartner Group reports that 30% of high-tech jobs in the United States are at risk from outsourcing to India and other nations.

?I?m just finishing my MIS degree, and when I see articles like this, it just makes me ask, what?s the point of getting an education if everything my family and I sacrified to get this degree is meaningless?? asks Bob Walz in a letter to the editor in InformationWeek.

My heart goes out to Bob. On the other hand, do companies have an obligation to provide Bob and other workers with well-paying employment? If a company can get IT services like Bob?s at a fraction of the cost by outsourcing to a programmer in India, don’t they have an obligation to their shareholders to do it?

Your thoughts?

Share

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 12th, 2005 at 9:52 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

86 responses about “Does the World Owe You a Living? And Should It?”

  1. Alexey V. said:

    The man becomes what he deserves, not what he expects.

  2. Eric von Rothkirch said:

    The world doesn’t owe an individual anything. The problem most people have is they don’t realize that to stand out from the crowd and be perceived as valuable they have to market and sell themselves just like you would a brand. Most people avoid that kind of perspective like the plague. They abhor the idea of taking something personal–their life, and aggrandizing it like a cheap advertisement.

    Unfortunately with an ever-increasing tech-saavy population and plenty of noise pollution, for some it’s becoming necessary just in order to survive and live a mildly comfortable lifestyle.

  3. Bob McCarthy said:

    Those companies don’t owe Bob a thing, but I believe the United States government has a responsibility for keeping jobs at home.

    US corporations and their shareholders enjoy great protections and benefits from this country, and while they should be free to outsource, expand and invest overseas, our government shouldn’t make it so easy.

    Much like our state and local governments, our federal government should use stronger tax incentives to keep business at home and our citizens employed.

    They say we live in a global economy, but we are primarily affected by the US economy – and as long as jobs keep getting exported overseas, it is the US economy that gets hurt.

    Some might call this protectionship but this form of protectionism doesn’t protect industries or companies; it protects jobs – a much more noble cause, I think.

  4. Joel Heffner said:

    Within the past month, three people I know have lost their jobs. Each one has been at the job for more than 20 years. It’s definitely not fun to talk to a guy who’s in his forties or fifties and can’t find a job…that he wants. The real crime in this is that people don’t realize when they are younger that they must learn new skills…even when they don’t have to at that time. One must be able to do more in order to be competitive. Also, as the new book by Tim Sanders (The Likeability Factor) points out, there’s more than just knowledge and experience to keep a job. Folks have to work on social skills as well. All of this must be done BEFORE it is needed.

    Joel
    http://www.ihelppresenters.com

  5. TonyD said:

    Ultimately, it doesn’t matter whome owes what to whom. What matters is what they’ll deliver. If you leave your future up to someone else, employer or goverment, you’re taking a risk. Nowadays, you don’t just have to sell yourself and work hard, you have to build up creative capital. Bottom line: you have to have abilities and ideas that can’t be outsourced.

  6. Don Marti said:

    The need to keep employer-paid health insurance for the family could be one of the things that keeps people stuck in industries that they know are petering out. Having a “single-payer” plan to fall back on, independent of where you work, might make the difference between entrepreneurship and riding a dead-end job all the way down.

  7. Janet McAuliffe said:

    Employers don’t have as stong an obligation to their employees as they have to their shareholders. However, this situation may just present a marketing challenge ie. many U.S. customers do not *want* to speak to someone in India when they need Customer Service, they want an “American” who speaks with no accent and who follows the same cultural norms as they do (particularly with financial and or IT businesses). A Savvy marketer can turn “all U.S. based Customer Support” into a benefit and charge accordingly. There should be a market for this benefit if it is priced right and marketed correctly as well

  8. Greg said:

    I agree that no one owes Bob anything. Bob owes it to himself to put himself in a financially valued position if he hopes to hang onto a job. If he does not directly and positively impact revenue and profit his job is in jeopardy. Companies have long since stopped being loyal to good employees. We’ve seen workers changing jobs every two years, so they have no loyalty either. The more jobs we place in the hands of foreign countries the more we open ourselves to a different type of terrorist. This terrorist will be very powerful and be funded by American dollars. This terrorist is denial. My last experience with a support person was terrible. There was a language and cultural barrier that could not be avoided. It was power proof of the old adage, “You get what you pay for!” I will let my support contract lapse and then seek a local support company. It is the time for the small entreprenuer. Start you own business and do a better job for a reasonable fee. I speak from experience. My job, after 24 years, is being done by someone in Germany and for 1/3 of what I was making. The company I was loyal to for all those years had been number two in the industry. Now, they aren’t even on the map.

  9. edward said:

    It’s all about the allmight dollar for companies here in the U.S. And when they realize their precious companies are in danger, they sell out, i.e. Enron.

    Greed is the factor that is destroying not only jobs in the U.S. but hope as well. And for those who say it’s completely about what the individual can do, I quote a wise man who said; “One man is no man.”

  10. Apryl Parcher said:

    I agree with Greg’s comment; the business world does not owe us a decent living. It’s up to us to develop a skill set that we can market, and if trends such as outsourcing in a global economy threaten that particular field, you’ve got to be savvy and flexible enough to re-tool and move on. That’s the facts of life in a shrinking world, folks…get over it. We in the U.S. enjoy a lifestyle of independence and easy living BECAUSE of the freedom we enjoy as entrepreneurs to innovate and build a better mousetrap. Lose sight of that, and we might as well start trading in Euros. We’ve got to be hungry enough to innovate, push the envelope…strive for bigger and better solutions. Complacency and the desire to have Uncle Sam or Big Corporate Joe provide us with job, healthcare, housing, etc., is the beginning of the end. Corporate greed isn’t what will kill the economy; individual languor will.

  11. zapseo said:

    When various industries have been threatened, we have imposed tariffs. I guess it must be that they were industries, not employees. Too bad the government doesn’t place a tariff on outsourced employees

  12. Stephan Miller said:

    A few years back I was going to get a degree in computer science. I am glad I opted out then. Since then I have taught myself what I needed to know and tackled affiliate marketing, among other things.
    Looking at the industry now, I think I can make more money on my own than by working for some company that will just fire me to outsource to India.
    For a while, I tried freelancing online. It never failed. As soon as I thought I had a bid, someone from India bid below what I would to work at McDonalds.
    I don’t know where this will go, but this administration opened up the floodgates for overseas jobs. Without a reason to get a tech job, i.e. high pay, why would someone go to college for it. And without anyone going to school for computer science, where will all the innovations in tech come from. Countries like India.

  13. lucy said:

    Laziness and greed of employees is also a reason for lost jobs in America. Big unions have cut their own throats and the throats of their willing or unwilling participants. Its not a new story how a whole days work and thousands of dollars of profit are stalled because the person who moves the product from one side of the warehouse to the other was out and no one else was allowed to do it because of union rules. Some assembly workers makes $110,000 a year hording piece work. They have no true skills or at least no skills recognized any where else. They pay no copay for full health benefits and will enjoy full wage retirement. When the plant closes because it’s not profitable…..the person is completely unemployable for 2 reasons. He has absolutely no transferable skills and he’s spoiled rotten. Many jobs are leaving America because …some Americans coasted and lost thousands of jobs for the next generation and a big tax base for their cities.

  14. Paul Brown said:

    It’s called progress, or evolution. There are still jobs out there, they’re just in a different sector.
    Life is about growth, not stagnation. People are adaptable, they need to retrain, learn new skills. If they choose not to, that is nobodies fault but their own.
    Over protection of existing jobs just delays the inevitable.

  15. rem said:

    I think it’s the other way around, the man becomes what he expects not what he deserves.

  16. Anonymous said:

    Slave Dominate…

  17. ProCopywritingTactics said:

    I’m glad that so many individuals realize the value of taking personal responsibility and the importance of increasing your value and making yourself marketable.

    In this global economy the importance of this is just becoming increasingly evident.

  18. a bed and breakfast said:

    I don’t suppose I’ve ever learned anything like this before. So good to find somebody with some unique ideas. This web site is something that’s needed on the net, somebody with a little bit of originality.

  19. network setup said:

    After checking out a couple of of the blog posts in your web site now, I wanted to tell you I actually like the means of writing. Please check out my site and let me know what you think.

  20. cvcavets.com said:

    Awesome post. I learn something interesting on different blogs every day of the week. Thanks again for sharing.

  21. Aunne said:

    healthy pregnancy diet menu during monsoon season need to pay attention to their diet. A slight negligence in eating and drinking during monsoon season can spoil your health.

    9 healthy pregnancy diet menu during monsoon season

  22. kaleem said:

    Awesome lili post. I learn something interesting on different blogs every day of the week. Thanks again for sharing.

  23. ntpc admit card said:

    best site for me.. tahnsk for great content BA Time Table 2021

  24. chrisgail said:

    No, The whole world will be dismissed one day and only God will remain alive because he is the owner of all the creations that are found in this world. I am also to die https://www.affordable-dissertation.co.uk/dissertation-writing-services-uk/

  25. weriraere said:

    welterweight champion Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford is reportedly set to defend his title against the former IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook. The bout is being targeted for this year, with a deal currently underway. Although it will be a while before the fight takes place, here is an early prediction of how How to watch Crawford vs Brook fight online it might play out given both the fighters current status.Initially, Crawford was booked to face another undefeated American welterweight champion, Errol Spence Jr. However, a car crash would sideline Spence for a while. Now, he will fight Danny Garcia after making a full recovery.

  26. Mujeeb said:

    FlagPictures is a library of countries, their flags and everything related to it. We have a complete list of countries of this world and when you click on a country, you will have information about its flag as well as all relevant information about that country. This means that you will be able to learn and explore its history, national song, national animal, military flags, ensigns and much more. All these presented to you with aesthetically pleasing illustrations to help you absorb the knowledge as much as possible.

    The purpose of this website is to help teachers, parents, students and diplomats who need information about specific countries. Through Flag Pictures.com, we have gathered all the information about every country in one single spot so that you do not have to go on a never ending hunt of information from various different places.

    Feel free to download, copy and print from this website for educational or informational reasons. Our purpose here is solely to provide information and help you get a better understanding of the world that we live in. Feel free to download, copy and print from this website for educational or informational reasons. Our purpose here is solely to provide information and help you get a better understanding of the world that we live in.

  27. Mujeeb said:

    FlagPictures is a library of countries, their flags and everything related to it. We have a complete list of countries of this world and when you click on a country, you will have information about its flag as well as all relevant information about that country. This means that you will be able to learn and explore its history, national song, national animal, military flags, ensigns and much more. All these presented to you with aesthetically pleasing illustrations to help you absorb the knowledge as much as possible.

  28. Mujeeb said:

    FlagPictures is a library of countries, their flags and everything related to it. We have a complete list of countries of this world and when you click on a country, you will have information about its flag as well as all relevant information about that country. This means that you will be able to learn and explore its history, national song, national animal, military flags, ensigns and much more. All these presented to you with aesthetically pleasing illustrations to help you absorb the knowledge as much as possible.

  29. FlagPictures.com said:

    FlagPictures is a library of countries, their flags and everything related to it. We have a complete list of countries of this world and when you click on a country, you will have information about its flag as well as all relevant information about that country. This means that you will be able to learn and explore its history, national song, national animal, military flags, ensigns and much more. All these presented to you with aesthetically pleasing illustrations to help you absorb the knowledge as much as possible.

    The purpose of this website is to help teachers, parents, students and diplomats who need information about specific countries. Through Flag Pictures.com, we have gathered all the information about every country in one single spot so that you do not have to go on a never ending hunt of information from various different places.

    Feel free to download, copy and print from this website for educational or informational reasons. Our purpose here is solely to provide information and help you get a better understanding of the world that we live in. Feel free to download, copy and print from this website for educational or informational reasons. Our purpose here is solely to provide information and help you get a better understanding of the world that we live in.

  30. FlagPictures.com said:

    Visit flagpictures.com!

  31. FlagPictures.com said:

    FlagPictures is a library of countries, their flags and everything related to it. We have a complete list of countries of this world and when you click on a country, you will have information about its flag as well as all relevant information about that country. This means that you will be able to learn and explore its history, national song, national animal, military flags, ensigns and much more. All these presented to you with aesthetically pleasing illustrations to help you absorb the knowledge as much as possible.

    Visit FlagPictures.com!

  32. dfdcxcdfd said:

    UFC 257 is set to take place at the Yas Islands in Abu Dhabi on January 23 and Eye Calderwood live the PPV marks the return of the most popular fighter in the promotion’s history, Conor McGregor.

  33. bosds said:

    Logan Paul recently took to social media and trolled Floyd Mayweather, who he’s scheduled to face in a special exhibition fight on February 20, 2020. The YouTuber, who’s more than 6 feet Mayweather vs Paul live tall, took aim at Mayweather’s 5ft 8in frame in a doctored picture. In the now-viral pic, Logan Paul can be seen looking down on the boxing legend, as he captioned the post 50 and oh my god he’s small. It will take place on Saturday, 20th February 2021.

  34. ???? ??? ???? ????? ??? said:

    Thanks for sharing this interesting blog

  35. sdereresa said:

    If you’re a sports fan, you won’t want to miss the stunning Fury vs Joshua odds rematch between Anthony Joshua versus Tyson Fury on Saturday night. Anyone can it live, thanks to the Office website.

  36. KVS Admission Form said:

    Its objective to educate children of the Indian Defence Services who are located in remote locations. Now for the academic year, you need to Apply Online for Admission into Kendriya Vidyalayas. KVS Admission 2021-22 Form will available on this page. Check How to Apply Online for KVS Admission 2021. Check Eligibility Conditions for applying online. You can Apply Online from here through following link. We would like to inform all candidates, the Department of KVS will start online application for KVS Online Form 2021 soon as possible.

  37. kihsdsd said:

    Now, the New Zealander is fit again and has won his last Live stream Parker vs Chisora Boxing 2021 four bouts. Chisora, meanwhile, lost to Oleksandr Usyk last October and will want to hit back.

  38. Corwin said:

    Pugs for sale,pugs for sale near me,cheap pugs for sale,pug puppies for pugs for sale,teacup pugs,teacup pug puppies for sale, teacup pug for sale near me,pug for sale near me,pug puppies for sale under,teacup pugs,pug puppies near me,teacup pugs,teacup pug puppies for sale,pug puppy for sale,mini pug,baby pugs for sale,pug breeders near me,pugs puppies for sale,black pug puppies for sale,miniature pugpug puppies,pugs for sale near me,pugs for sale near me,pugs puppies,black pugs for saleteacup pug puppies for sale,pugs for sale,baby pugs for sale,mini pug,teacup puppies for sale near me,pug puppy for sale utah,pug puppy for sale near me,pug puppy for sale cheap,pug puppy for sale ohio,pug puppy for sale in tennessee,pug puppy for sale massachusetts,pug puppy for sale illinois,pug puppy for sale in pa,pug puppy for sale texas,pug puppy for sale az,pug puppy for sale arkansas,pug puppy for sale atlanta,pug puppy for sale adelaide,pug puppy for sale australia,pug puppies for sale alberta,pug puppies for sale austin texas,
    https://pugslandbreeder.company.com

  39. Master keying Gilbert AZ said:

    If you set out to make me think today; mission accomplished! I really like your writing style and how you express your ideas. Thank you.

  40. robert said:

    https://savannahbengal.company.com/

  41. Eligia said:

    I agree with the poster above who poimail) are just one of the many ways we reach out to our audiences to tell them about something — an idea, a product, a service, whatever. And in some fashion encourage/hope they’ll buy it. https://frenchiespugpuppy.com

    pug puppy | pug puppy for sale | pugs for sale near me | pug puppies for sale under $500 near me | pug puppies for sale under $500 | pug puppies for sale | baby pug | pugs for sale | white pug | pugs for sale | pug for sale | pug breeders near me | black pug puppies | black pug puppies for sale | teacup Pug For Sale | french bulldog puppy|french bulldog for sale|french bulldog puppies for sale|frenchie for sale|french bulldogs for sale | frenchie puppies for sale | frenchies for sale | french bulldog puppy for sale

  42. tassehsds said:

    The Alabama Crimson Tide football How can I watch Alabama football program represents the University of Alabama in the sport of American football.

  43. Borjan Shoes said:

    Borjan offers its customers the best Scarves for women Online in Pakistan. We have the highest quality ladies Scarves for the most affordable prices. So, get Borjans amazing collection of Scarves online in Pakistan today. Get the best womens Scarves from Borjan to keep yourself in both style and comfort at the same time.

  44. BA 3rd Year Result said:

    For a long time, I & my friend were searching for informative blogs, but now I am in the right place guys, you have made a room in my heart.
    For more details, you can follow our website:
    BA 2nd Year Time Table

  45. intentsoucer said:

    nice information
    Intent sourcer
    Intent sourcer service
    Intent sourcer blog

  46. Real Estate Agent In Long Island said:

    Real Estate Agent in Long Island offers the best services in house selling or buying. Both house selling and buying can be time taking. We strive to save your time and provide the best rates in town. We help you discover beautiful places at the most prime locations. Explore and see to find what we are offering. Here’s how we are working to make our services reliable for everyone.

  47. PSW said:

    PSW is a Cleaning, Restoration and Maintenance Say goodbye to all the dirt, grime and debris, and say hello to the new and sparkling exteriors of residential and commercial property.

  48. canaan avalon 1246 said:

    What you presented was well

  49. ???? said:

    What you presented was well
    ????

  50. ???????? said:

    i will rarely a heavy bit of them. ????????

  51. ?????? ??????? said:

    Restoration and Maintenance Say goodbye to all the dirt, grime and debris, and say hello to the new and sparkling exteriors of residential and commercial property.????????

  52. ?????? said:

    i will rarely a heavy bit of them.
    ??????

  53. ?????? said:

    first rate post! I am absolutely getting ready to ??????

  54. ????? said:

    and it. Extremely good profession on this substance. I really like it. ?????

  55. ???????? said:

    you mind updating your blog with more information? It is extremely helpful for me. ????????

  56. Shop ECS said:

    ShopECS is offering ladies fancy shoes online in Pakistan. Visit ShopECS to buy ladies shoes online.

  57. TheCareer-Coach said:

    The Career Coach is Europe’s top career coaching consultancy – and has helped more than 10,000 people land their dream jobs, all in less than 40 days. So whether you’re looking to take the first step in your career, the next step, or a different step entirely, our award-winning coaches take that step with you – and help you find a build a career you’re truly happy with.

  58. Odisha Shayari said:

    Civil Engineer Kaise Bane

  59. NexoDesigns said:

    Nexo Designs our core website design and development service is accompanied by a range of other value-added services that add the oomph factor and makes it thrive. These services can be availed separately or in combination with other services to attain tangible benefits for your business.

  60. Odisha Shayari said:

    Digital Currency kya hai

  61. Ndure Shoes said:

    Ndure is one of the leading ladies shoes brands in Pakistan, with a wide collection of quality womens footwear.

  62. Alexpeter said:

    The Career Coach is Europe’s top career coaching consultancy – and has helped more than 10,000 people land their dream jobs, all in less than 40 days.

  63. Shanewotson said:

    PSW is an Asphalt Contractors Houston that uses extreme crack repair fillers for structure resurfacing to prevent the unwanted penetration of water and moisture and weed growth.

  64. Shanewotson said:

    Thermoplastic Striping Houston helps manage the space properly and directs the inflow and outflow of the traffic.

  65. Rios Cosmetics said:

    Stunning best perfumes for men and perfume brands for men are offered by Rios, a great multi brand store. The shop satisfies customers with the best perfumes for men in Pakistan. Their best perfumes for men are perfect for your needs, fulfilling your demands With their perfumes for men, Rios meets all your requirements.

  66. Sifa pk said:

    Sifa brings the best unstitched dresses for women. So grab an amazing new ladies dress design from Sifa online in all over Pakistan.

  67. ??????? said:

    Have you ever thought about including ???????

  68. ????? said:

    keep us updated. ?????

  69. ???? said:

    Please do keep up the amazing work.????

  70. ?????? said:

    Hi there! ??????

  71. ????? said:

    I’ll certainly be back. ?????

  72. ??????? said:

    This is great blog!So much to learn!keep posti???????
    .

  73. ????? said:

    I am very happy to ? I’ve a presentation subsequent week, and I am at the look for such information. ?????

  74. ???????? said:

    such knowledgeable articles ????????

  75. newsshine blog community said:

    really great article amazing work

  76. bertgil said:

    Best Shisha in Dublin offers you a wide range of shisha with flavourful drinks to go with it. Bring in your friends and family and enjoy the secluded atmosphere we offer you. We are offering amazing deals on drinks and shisha combos throughout the week.

  77. carlos12 said:

    java software architect design experience around Security, Data, Cloud, Service and Solution. You will be seeing designs through from start to finish incorporating everything from technology to solution, assurance, governance, and security.

  78. ash12 said:

    Afforable Flights from FlightsnTravel give you the most comfortable journey to you

  79. Exam Alert said:

    You are awesome for sharing all that knowledge BA 1st Year Time Table. I really appreciate visiting your website again. Thank you for your generosity!

  80. E Online Tips said:

    Looking at the IT industry now, I think I can make more money on my own by doing my own work than by working for some company like a slave.

    E Online Tips

  81. concrete contractor said:

    The world does not owe you a living! Yu need to earn it

  82. BabyBoxShop said:

    Celebrate the upcoming arrival of a precious little one with our range of unisex baby shower gifts. These thoughtful presents are perfect for baby showers where the gender of the baby is not revealed or for families who prefer gender-neutral options. Show your excitement and love with a gift that will make the baby shower even more special.

  83. BSNS Consulting said:

    Business Consultancy and Services. Our team is committed to enhancing your company’s revenue and efficiency through comprehensive advisory, strategic planning, and process optimization. Whether you need help with market entry strategies or performance improvement, we’ve got you covered with end-to-end solutions.

  84. TipTop Enrichtung said:

    A Nageltisch is simply a nail table or manicure table. It’s a piece of furniture designed for performing various nail care treatments, such as manicures and pedicures. These tables often come equipped with storage drawers and a comfortable work surface.

  85. Moringa Powder said:

    Real experiences matter. In this section, we explore customer reviews and testimonials to provide readers with authentic perspectives on the effectiveness and overall satisfaction with various Moringa Powder brands available in Pakistan.

  86. indore city said:

    As an Indore City resident, this topic hits close to home. It’s tough seeing professionals like Bob facing job insecurity due to outsourcing and technological shifts. While companies aim to maximize profits, they should also consider their employees’ well-being. Balancing economic interests with social responsibility is key. We need collaborative efforts to find solutions that support local talent and ensure fair opportunities for all.

Leave a Reply