[thelist] rentacoder.com

[bruce]

(the following is somewhat tongue in cheek!!!)

ok...

i've finished wiping my eyes from laughter...!!!

but seriously... if i understand it correctly..you basically want to force
me to pay more for the software that i can get...ok..no prob....

and by the way..are you willing to pay more for your clothes that you get
from walmart/etc...

are you willing to pay more for the things that you get that cost less
because they come from beyond the US, than what they would cost if made
here....

do i need to continue.... not to mention the trade wars that would erupt...
look intelligence.. and the ability to spread/capitalize on intelligence is
a truly remarkable happening.... enjoy it... use it... but taxing it is not
the way to go...

just remember...one could also take your argument and argue that someone
should really "pay" fair value for Apache/Linux.... but who gets paid... or
should we write a check to microsoft when we get a copy of linux because
they were "hurt", given that we didn't buy Windows!!!!

and remember, that i could arguer, that since i can get some apps from
someone for $8.00/hr.. that developers have been overcharging me for
awhile!!! who wins in the argument....

and while we're at it... if you impose a higher fee on goods that come into
the US... what would happen if a foreign country made you lower the cost you
charged for your software..... as implausible as it sounds..you'd be
pissed...

hate to tell you this... but you need to refine your thought process.. i
understand what you're trying to get at... but it needs to be tighter!

but you know something.. you might try to put a "made in the usa" stamp on
your code/apps/sites you develop.... you might just get the software
association to come out with a US software seal of approval!!!

and you might get kathie lee to sing God Bless America during the initial PR
campaign to make it happen!!! sorry.. i'm laughing again!!!

good luck trying...

stranger things have happened!!!

peace...

bruce
bedouglas at earthlink.net


-----Original Message-----
From: thelist-bounces at lists.evolt.org
[mailto:thelist-bounces at lists.evolt.org]On Behalf Of James Parsons
Sent: Monday, July 28, 2003 3:27 PM
To: thelist at lists.evolt.org
Subject: RE: [thelist] rentacoder.com


Tony sez...

>> I don't know what this means as far as coding work goes
>> for those of us in countries where $5 an hour won't pay
>> for anything.
>> Nan
>
>There are only a few possibilities:
>
>* Taxation on services imported electronically (an end to the free
>internet)
>
>* Global parity on cost of living (eventually, but likely not in my
>lifetime)
>
>* Gradual narrowing of the differential when the $5ph market is
>saturated (I've seen Indian software companies seeking staff in the UK!)
>
>* Gradual education of buyers regarding hidden costs of overseas
>development work (such as you have identified)
>
>* a mass movement of locally skilled workforce to either: - somewhere
>where $5 per hour buys a lot, or: another trade.  (I hear plumbers get
>paid well and are in short supply!)
>
>Hmmm....

I looked at rentacoder.com and wasn't sure whether to snicker or break up
some innocuous piece of nearby furniture and hurl it out the window.

Where low-cost coding/development services in other countries are
concerned, I'm conflicted. Legitimate and gainful commerce is a big part of
the antidote to a lot of what ails us in many countries world wide. Because
I think commerce and properity are the antidote to tyranny and oppression,
I think we want to see skilled trades and commerce prosper and flourish in
developing countries. But if the net result is that these services are
delivered at something way under anything resembling fair market value, it
kind of shoots the whole thing in the foot.

I'm all that positive I like the idea of a tax or tariff on services or
code or customized software applications imported electronically or not,
but it strikes me that something along those lines might be implemented
without major legislation. It may be possible to develop some kind of
schedule of what those services would or should be worth if provided in the
US market and imported products taxed based on that, rather than the actual
cost paid? I see a lot of potential problems in making that work, but it
may be feasible. I think I've got a fairly decent line of communication
with my congresscritter and I might even write him on that one. As Chairman
of the Budget Committee, he's got some influence.

Otherwise, I doubt if any kind of global parity on cost of living or the
other things (education of buyers? -- hah! hah!) are going to happen
anytime in the forseeable future.

I do think I'd like to see a country of origin declaration in web and
software applications required. Something like "Website and content
produced, developed, and hosted in the USA." Or, "Website and content
produced and developed in the USA, hosted in the UK." Whatever. Where so
many organizations don't even seem to even see fit to mention their actual
location, that's probably not going to happen on any wide scale basis
without legislation. With or without a declaration of country of origin, I
wouldn't mind seeing some US companies/corporations/entities/organizations
"outed" for using offshore developers/services.





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