state of the nation

Sometimes it takes a global interface to realize just how bad off we are. Everyone knows that the value of the dollar is pathetic right now, but just how bad is it? After all, does it really affect us if we're not trying to spend it elsewhere?

Yesterday I signed up for an account at Elance.com, and I quickly discovered just how bad things can be. In the field of web design, the global market is flooded with people from India who are willing to do the same job that I do for half the price (or less). You might assume that these are fly-by-night guys who don't know what they are doing or that they can barely speak English, but their feedback would tell you otherwise. How can we compete on a global market?

The main problem isn't that they are undercutting us by 50%. Perhaps web design shouldn't pay more than $10/hour. The real problem lies in the fact that the average American cannot live off of less than $10 an hour. Also, let's not forget that we Americans lose another 30% or so due to taxes. So we're making even less. I have no idea what kind of taxes other countries impose on their citizens' income.

I guess I can understand why so many companies are outsourcing to other countries. Perhaps I should do the same thing, and just keep the overhead.