Information about the Effects of Immigration on Georgia

More American jobs to foreign countries - IBM this time ...
by Mike Crane

Immediately following the 2004 elections the press in India was very excited. They reported on the ten million (10,000,000) plus phone calls they made for the Republican National Committee and Bush Campaigns. One article even pointed out how they were "laughing" at Americans (See: India claims big election victory and laughs at Americans). For the doubting Thomases:

"Indian techies and software honchos were seen laughing all the way to the vote banks they so assiduously helped to create for George W Bush Jr’s win. Desperate to preserve and enhance the P/Es of their off-shore outfits, they knew just what would happen if democracy triumphed in the US in the form of the Democrats: ... "

And ...

He retained the services of Noida-based HCL eServe (the BPO arm of India-based HCL Technologies.) Its operators thereafter spent quality time, calling up American citizens to support GWB Jr for President and to also contribute to the Republicans. "

And ..

"That is how more than 10 million registered Republican voters were contacted, and well in excess of $10 million raised: all thanks to Noida and Gurgaon!"

But the most import nugget of information from the India times follows:

"So it is also clear that the new Bush Administration will be pro-active on the issue of visas. As Vivek Paul, Wipro VC, said after the Presidential poll, "The elections are over and so is the rhetoric; it will be easier for American corporations to step out with their outsourcing plans."

Well they were certainly correct in the case of IBM. IBM is certainly stepping out with their outsourcing plans with not only reductions here in our country, additions of jobs in India but with major investments in facilities in India.

Of course we are told that this is good for us! That is why the India press reports that companies in India are "laughing" at Americans! They think that it is "funny" that 14,000 Americans lose their jobs, that IBM makes large investments in facilities in India and that they were able to "fool" the American public:

"Incidentally, no one in the US had any idea of where the calls were from as they had foreign accents: that was ensured by the advanced voice recognition and automation technology used."

Well the bill will be paid for by American citizens. 14,000 Families will be disrupted, many will draw unemployment. Many will lose health care coverage. Our trade deficit will increase. Tax revenues from lost employment will decrease.

But we are being told that this is good for us!

Here in Georgia we even have tax payer dollars being used to send American jobs to India. Strangely one of the major contracts during the Perdue Administration is also with HCL eServe (the BPO arm of India-based HCL Technologies.). See: Your Tax Dollars At Work...Offshore for more information.

Section I Georgia Department of Revenue

Georgia Department of Revenue
HCL Technologies; $638,000

In May 2003 HCL Technologies was awarded a $638,000 contract to "obtain an integrated solution to the development of a web-based statewide case tracking system to assist in suspected fraud investigations." State officials say they don't where the work is being performed.

Republican Governor Sonny Perdue, Republican National Committee and Republican President George Bush all seem to be quite cozy with HCL and are very quick to use your money (as either tax dollars or campaign contributions) to send jobs to India.

Of even more interest to Georgians should be the status SB-12. Introduced last year to simply prohibit "future" State of Georgia tax paid call centers from being sent to India or other foreign countries, it has languished in committee without public hearings. In other words in the Republican controlled State Senate it just been killed in committee (See: Legislative Agenda - SB12 Prohibit tax paid outsourcing).

It should come as no surprise to any one that American Companies such as IBM are sending American jobs to foreign countries at an ever increasing rate. They are just doing the same thing that our elected officials are doing.

Our goal is to present to you - the citizens of Georgia the opportunity to know how your candidates in next years election stand on this issues. We have started sending letters to announced candidates (See: Who supports using your tax dollars to send American jobs to India ...you will know in November 2006) and will post all replies or lack of a reply. Use the link at Stay Informed to consider the several ways we offer for you to receive this information - if this issue is one that you are concerned about.

You have a right to know so that you can make an informed decision at the ballot box! In the meantime if you get a Republican solicitation phone call you might want to ask where the call is coming from.

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