An Eye for An Eye Will Only Make the Whole World Blind - Outsourcing America (Preface)
In mid March I began a journey into the economic cardiovascular system of the outsourcing world. I left the United States with an agenda to find the truth. As often happens the truth found me.
I gathered up the truth and safely stored it away until I got home. For days I would sit down at my computer to write and the words that appeared on my screen were never acceptable to my heart. Truth would demand a do over and I would stop . . . and begin again the next day.
Finally it occurred to me why it was so difficult to tell the story when I knew it was there. Truth was made up of tiny pieces of a large mosaic puzzle. I reasoned that if I simply put the pieces together truth would be revealed.
I began to study each piece thinking I could now quickly assemble the puzzle. I knew I had brought all of the pieces home with me. I was certain all of the pieces would fit, but they didn't.
Then I discovered there was an image on both sides of the puzzle.
Truth was on both sides of each piece of the puzzle and the pieces were all mixed together making it difficult to determine where each piece would fit.
What is happening in the Philippines today is the result of a well thought out plan that began around 1990 when the countries leaders realized drastic action had to be taken or their densely populated and impoverished country was doomed. They took major action and started teaching English as the required language in their school systems beginning in first grade and a college education in the Philippines became expected, just as a high school education is in the USA.
Today the decisions made 20 years ago are graduating highly skilled young people who are still living in an economy where $350 a month is a very good middle class wage. Additionally the Philippine government incents foreign employers to hire their citizens by virtually giving them a free ride on taxation because they know that money coming into the country from outside it's shores stimulates its economy.
Over the next few weeks I will be doing a series of stories revealing both sides of this very complex puzzle. I hope you will join me with an open mind. It is easy to only see one side of this mosaic . . . especially if you do not look at the other side. We all hate to see American jobs being lost, but having been there and walked in the streets amidst the Jeepneys and the tricycles I know with all my heart we can not blame the Philippine people. .
My life was changed by my trip to the Philippines. I hope my story will at least in some small way change yours.
I will be back in a few days with:
I gathered up the truth and safely stored it away until I got home. For days I would sit down at my computer to write and the words that appeared on my screen were never acceptable to my heart. Truth would demand a do over and I would stop . . . and begin again the next day.
Finally it occurred to me why it was so difficult to tell the story when I knew it was there. Truth was made up of tiny pieces of a large mosaic puzzle. I reasoned that if I simply put the pieces together truth would be revealed.
I began to study each piece thinking I could now quickly assemble the puzzle. I knew I had brought all of the pieces home with me. I was certain all of the pieces would fit, but they didn't.
Then I discovered there was an image on both sides of the puzzle.
Truth was on both sides of each piece of the puzzle and the pieces were all mixed together making it difficult to determine where each piece would fit.
The World As A Puzzle
The Philippine Islands are roughly 6,000 miles from the United States. They are on the opposite side of the world, Many western companies and even small businesspeople are hiring skilled employees in the Philippines for a fraction of what they would pay the same skilled workers in western countries.What is happening in the Philippines today is the result of a well thought out plan that began around 1990 when the countries leaders realized drastic action had to be taken or their densely populated and impoverished country was doomed. They took major action and started teaching English as the required language in their school systems beginning in first grade and a college education in the Philippines became expected, just as a high school education is in the USA.
Today the decisions made 20 years ago are graduating highly skilled young people who are still living in an economy where $350 a month is a very good middle class wage. Additionally the Philippine government incents foreign employers to hire their citizens by virtually giving them a free ride on taxation because they know that money coming into the country from outside it's shores stimulates its economy.
Over the next few weeks I will be doing a series of stories revealing both sides of this very complex puzzle. I hope you will join me with an open mind. It is easy to only see one side of this mosaic . . . especially if you do not look at the other side. We all hate to see American jobs being lost, but having been there and walked in the streets amidst the Jeepneys and the tricycles I know with all my heart we can not blame the Philippine people. .
My life was changed by my trip to the Philippines. I hope my story will at least in some small way change yours.
I will be back in a few days with:
An Eye for An Eye Will Only Make the Whole World Blind - Part 1 "4 Days in February"
Posted by Marvin David Webster at Monday, April 12, 2010 5:39 AM 
Categories: Outsourcing
Tags: Philippines
Categories: Outsourcing
Tags: Philippines
David, so lay it out . . . we want to know what you have seen, considered, and concluded . . .
Josiah
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David, what a year you have had. The word change just jumps out. I am looking forward to your future writings to see if we agree on a few issues I have in this area. I have a feeling we will. Judy
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I am in for the ride - just added this blog to my feed reader so I will see when you post.
Having just got back from two months in India I am primed to listen to your journey into 'both sides of the story'.
I've been blogging about India, looking at whatever interested me - a travel bog if you will.
So your blog - looking at outsourcing, and concentrating on that - is a different thing and I am looking forward to hearing your thoughts unfold.
Best
David
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I knew you were chewing on something. Well, we are at your service. Lay it on us. I think you will find it easier once you truly get started.
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Ok, lets hear it David. I always like the Philippines. The girls are cute to.
Billy
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Traveling to other cultures is always a wake up call on so many levels, and I can't wait to hear your impressions. I like the new look, too! Quite a shave and haircut you got there!
with a hug, Cindy and Nick
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Very interesting article! I am white, I suppose I should call myself a European African. I have lived in Africa my entire life, was born in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) and was there while Kaunda destroyed the economy. Now 45 odd years later it is slowly coming right. Zimbabwe, which used to be the bread basket of Africa has also been destroyed by 'Mad Bob' Mugabe. I'm coming to the point - in 1990 the 'new' South Africa came about with the release of that wonderful man Nelson Mandela affectionately known as 'Madiba' in SA, much was expected of the future, after all South Africa was the economic powerhouse of Africa and now that it was no longer the pariah nation of the world it could only blossom. In 1994 the ANC came to power. Now 16 years later our education and health systems have collapsed! Our local, provincial and national governments are staffed by friends of politicians who are corrupt and incompetent, service delivery has failed! We have the highest (or second highest behind Columbia) murder rate in the world, crime in general has a conviction rate of .8%! Africa does it again! In 1990 the Philippines implemented a plan and it is working! I ask you, why are Africans incapable of doing similar things? Why?
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Thank you for this most interesting comment Tuan. I will try very hard to answer your question in my first part which I should be posting within a few hours, but an assassination in 1983 unified both the church and the military against the Marcos government and seldom does the military and God team up to oust a government in any nation. The momentum from that event carries on even today.
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