TWIF+Chapter+14


 * I had the earlier edition of the book which did not include chapter 14, so I am analyzing chapter 7 in my book instead.*

Although the beginning of the book seemed like a huge warning that our jobs would be outsourced and America needs to step up to the plate, this chapter gets both sides of the story. Americans have always been on the forefront of technology, but we just need to stay that way. We will not reach a sudden doom this year, but if we allow other countries to take the lead in technology then we stand to lose our ground over the next few decades. It reminds me of the global warming issue, where America is not necessarily in danger at this very second, but we definitely need to take steps towards improving our climate (and our scientific edge), otherwise further generations will take the brunt of this storm.

Education-wise, gears have shifted over the years. During the space-race most kids were brought up learning to love science and math, and dreamed of becoming great scientists and astronauts. Later, kids were told to study computers so they could be engineers and get the next wave of jobs. After that, students all wanted to major in business and our love of science dwindled. It is because children were not taught that science was intriguing at an early age that there are fewer scientists graduating in America now. Since the rest of the world is lagging behind America, countries like India and China are picking up steam in the science and technology department, leaving us at a disadvantage for jobs (many of which require science and technology backgrounds in our ever-growing technolove).

Because fewer Americans have the skills companies require, they look to hire people from other countries who do have the skills, and therein lies the problem for us. "The number of jobs in the U.S. economy that require science and engineering training will grow; the number of U.S. citizens prepared for those jobs will, at best, be level; and the availability of people from other countries who have science and engineering training will decline, either because of limits to entry imposed by U.S. national security restrictions or because of intense global competition for people with these skills."-National Science Board, page 257

If we don't snatch up these international applicants, other countries will, and the U.S. will no longer be on the forefront of technology.

What I also found unnerving is that not only are foreign employees doing our work for much cheaper, they are doing it more //efficiently// than us too! And I can definitely see that happening all across America, it is of no surprise to me, and I doubt it is much of a surprise to anyone else here; we are only upset that we got caught being lazy. :P I myself got upset when I was looking for jobs, and found out that secretaries and receptionists were making $40,000 or more. And I was thinking, shit, I'd do that job for $20,000 just please give me a job!! So it is no wonder people in less developed nations are willing to do our same work for less pay, in fact we should expect that.

Lastly, the bit about other countries preparing more with their education, I just don't think America can compete with kids that are vying for very few spots out of millions to get a chance at being in one of the cuts for a business school, it's just crazy how motivated and pressured these young people are. "If you go in at two a.m. it is full, and at eight a.m. it is full,"-Kai-Fu Li, Microsoft executive in Beijing

If Americans became like that (which I don't think we can), we would lose part of our happiness in childhood and adult life alike. We would constantly be pushing our kids to do more, we would expect them to study harder, and spend time in school rather than outside. I strongly value the That is not something I hope for our country, even if it would make us technomachines.

~Natalie Martin

The Dell Theory of Conflict Prevention – Friedman developed a theory for world peace in the late 1990’s. As he states, “I noticed that no two countries that both had McDonald’s had ever fought a war against each other” (586). After some fact checking, he developed what he calls the Golden Arches Theory of Conflict Prevention, which “stipulated that when a country reached the level of economic development where it had a middle class big enough to support a network of McDonald’s, it became a McDonald’s country. And people in McDonald’s countries didn’t like to fight wars anymore. They preferred to wait for burgers” (586). Though his statement seems somewhat tongue-in-cheek, he certainly had a point. Developed countries making billions of dollars need to keep up with the pace in order to continue development. Over the next 20 years, he evolved his Golden Arches Theory into the Dell Theory. Using his own computer as an example, he clarified that information systems management is an intricately woven network of companies and businesses converging to bring computers and technology to people all over the world in a relatively short period of time. Should one of those countries war with another, the whole network shuts down and productivity comes to a halt, resulting in costly expenses and running the risk of being left out of the computer loop. These countries, including Japan, China, Malaysia, Taiwan, India, Pakistan, and Iran have much to lose; therefore, they will need to seriously consider the consequences and weigh their options become engaging in warfare. Furthermore, countries like America who outsource much of their business would seriously reconsider employment overseas if that particular country is constantly at war. Simply, war is seen as instable and bad for business. Not that Friedman is completely naive and believes that computers can save the world. Indeed, Friedman notes that the same network that brings countries together also makes the terrorist networks like al-Qaeda much stronger. Friedman states, “Globalization in general has been al-Qaeda’s friend in that it has helped to solidify a revival of Muslim identity and solidarity, with Muslims in one country much better able to see and sympathize with the struggles of their brethren in another country” (596). Thanks to the internet, Muslim extremist groups use propaganda to build their network and convince other young Muslims that their way is best and to join their group in the name of peace. Propaganda is a powerful tool that centers on the irrational, emotional side of the brain; the use of the Internet and other networking tools, al-Qaeda has an endless supply of suicide bombers ready at an email’s notice. For example, Friedman notes, “The horrific video of the beheading of //The Wall Street Journal// reporter Danny Pearl by Islamic militants in Pakistan was transmitted by the Internet all over the world…[is] also used as tools for recruitment” (597). The same network of tools used to disseminate information and bring countries together and even keep war at bay also, though not surprisingly, spreads hate and breeds terrorism by the nanosecond. Friedman acknowledges that terrorists and laymen alike are addicted to the internet. With so much information coming in at such a rapid pace, and with the conveniences the Internet poses, one need only double-click to be exposed to virtually anything on the planet. Brilliantly, Friedman notes, “Now you don’t shoot up, you download” (598).
 * I have the third edition of //The World is Flat, and summarized Chapter 16.//

---Danielle Loiacono