Keeping American Jobs?
I heard a United States Senator speak on the floor of the United States Senate this afternoon. Among his discussion points was the importance of maintaining American jobs. He lamented the shipping of factory jobs to Asian countries and proposed penalties for American companies terminating American factory positions to foreign nations.
Much is being said about preserving American jobs. Much less is being said about building the American economy.
Progress displaces old things with better replacements.
Outsourcing is eliminating many American jobs, but the solution to this problem is to compete by providing better results and service. Many jobs are constantly being eliminated and created. The advent of the car largely destroyed the carriage industry, but it was a dramatic mark of progress. Computers rendered typewriters obsolete. Design software removed traditional barriers to publishing, damaging the business of establishments which formerly controlled access to expensive publishing tools. Digital distribution channels have eliminated the need for middlemen in the distribution of music and movies. Manufacturing services available on demand through web services have eliminated the need for most factories.
All of these developments end certain jobs, but they also create new ones. Personal economic safety is not found in the presence of a job; it is found in the provision of resources demanded by a society in a way that commands respect and induces a loyal following. Outdated and inefficient positions should be eliminated.
Many American jobs are ending, but this is a wonderful opportunity to explore new challenges. Progress can be painful, but it is better to embrace continuous change than to try to force old paradigms to remain although they should be displaced. It is sheer arrogance to assume that American workers and techniques are the best in the world. Rather than stubbornly assert that their old ways are best, Americans should recognize the precarious position of their nation and respond accordingly. The measurement of economic strength is not a measurement of jobs or employment but rather a measurement of value production and savings.
Job security does not exist. The world is changing far too quickly for that. Diligence, productivity, honesty, creativity, and initiative, however, will always be in demand. The prudent worker will recognize that faith in companies is always misplaced, as corporations do not control the shaping of events.
It is better to embrace personal development and continuous growth rather than to complain about presumed injustices in global economics. Such steps could include:
- Commitment to perpetual learning. Everyone renders this lip service, but few actually practice it.
- Devotion to honesty and reliability.
- Careful exploration of personal and organizational faults, with an open mind to learn and apply lessons from others.
- Cultivation of a habit of thorough study before the formulation and expression of opinions, particularly on matters of economics and governmental reforms.
- Acceptance of personal responsibility for personal behavior.
- Emphasis of individual productivity and problem solving rather than institutional policies designed to stifle innovation.
- Rejection of labor unions.
- Acceptance of the turbulence of the information age.
- Suspension of efforts to reverse inevitable realities.
Factory jobs all over the world are being made obsolete. Asian factories may be less expensive than American factories at this time, but factory work is being automated. If no substantial human skill is required to perform any given work, that work can, should, and will be transferred to automated devices. Robots are taking over the factories in the same way cars took over from horses. This is not a problem; this is an opportunity. It is an opportunity to stand out from the ignorant and incorrigible masses who resist change and instead demonstrate initiative and creativity in architecting the next generation of technologies and experiences that will improve the ability of humanity to exercise dominion over the earth.
Focus on providing tremendous value and the jobs will take care of themselves. Litigation cannot save obsolete paradigms. New challenges abound and those who solve them will be far better off than those who try to force the persistence of old solutions to old problems.