We Import Cars and Stereos, So Why Not CEOs?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

By Jesse Kornbluth, Jesse Kornbluth was editorial director of America Online from 1997 to 2003.


Few cared when the jobs of "little people" left the country. But now the flight of jobs from the United States has moved beyond back-office functionaries to IT guys and legal analysts, and salaries that once put bread on middle-class American tables are paying for chapati in India. And, at last, more of us are starting to hear the screams of the outsourced.

Everyone who matters — that's Big Business and the White House — seems to think nothing can be done about the giant sucking sound coming from India and China. The White House may want to forbid Americans to import prescription drugs from Canada, but it views the exporting of our jobs as simply the latest manifestation of free trade. Corporations with global reach agree. "There is no job that is America's God-given right anymore," Carly Fiorina, CEO of Hewlett-Packard, recently noted. "We have to compete for jobs."

Fair enough. But why limit the competition to those who always take the fall for declining profits — people who live from paycheck to paycheck? Why not widen the focus? If budget-busting tax breaks for business and weakened workplace regulations aren't enough to ensure profits, maybe American corporations should consider outsourcing upper-echelon employees — that is, CEOs.

Can an unknown from India or China function at the exalted level of an American CEO? Well, look at Ken Lay. If he's to be believed, he has no idea what went on during his tenure as Enron's top guy, and yet he took home $141 million from Enron in 2000.

LA Times, free registration required

[papau]

1. Amen - been saying we need to outsource CEO's for years!

also the board and the top 20 senior officers - why? - "cuz that is where the real money could be saved!

[mac2]

2. Import CEOs?

We already have. Some American companies are now International with foreign CEOs.

The Congress even wanted to change the Constitution to allow a non-American born person to become President. That would allow Kissinger to become President. Dear god... I think this was for a non-American President for the World Union-Americas (all of N.& S. American government).

Anything political that happens now...with this administration is toward that goal..including war and debt.

[papau]

4. International with foreign CEOs- but we make them live outside US!

THAT is the part I like!

[Sliverofhope]

3. The idea of outsourcing CEOs

is so brilliant,yet so simple, I can't believe I never even imagined it. It puts the lie to the rationale of outsourcing. This is an idea whose time has come.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

5. I'm actually jealous that this guy wrote it first

I was on the phone with a friend telling her I should write a similar article for DU..oh well...late again!

I still might...I'd throw a bit more sarcasm and humor at it.