4A the university daily kansan opinion thursday, february 26, 2004 PERSPECTIVE Steve Sack for KRT Jobs being exported: Bad for U.S. Among America's impressive list of leading exports you can add an unfortunate new category: jobs. No, America is not sending its best and brightest overseas to work. American companies, at an alarming and increasing rate are sending the jobs overseas, a process known as outsourcing, leaving the workers in the dust. Companies can hire foreign workers for a fraction of the cost of American laborers and don't have to comply with American environmental standards or labor laws such as minimum wage requirements. A college student's worst fear may once have been that a down economy could mean entering the wide world of post-graduation unemployment instead of entering the work force. But while the economy is currently rebounding—the economy grew at four percent in the fourth quarter of last year—the jobs are coming slowly. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the latest employment data show an unemployment rate of 5.6 percent. America has lost 2.6 million jobs in the last three years and while the jobs are being replaced, they are being replaced slowly. The economy added 112,000 jobs in January. No one knows exactly how much of a factor the outsourcing of jobs has had on the jobless recovery, because outsourcing is one thing the Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn't keep statistics on. COMMENTARY Brandon Gay opinion@kansan.com However, some data are available. According to Investor's Business Daily, nearly $10 billion worth of technology services alone went to India last year and the number is growing at 30 percent a year. Lou Dobbs, a financial journalist who hosts Lou Dobbs Tonight on CNN, has compiled a list of more than 300 American corporations exporting jobs overseas. According to Investor's Business Daily, about half of Fortune 500 companies have outsourced jobs or work to India. The trend hasn't gone unnoticed by the White House. Gregory Mankiw, chairman of President Bush's Council of Economic Advisors, commented on the economic good of outsourcing jobs overseas when he presented the president's economic report to Congress Feb. 17. "Outsourcing of professional services is a prominent example of a new type of trade," Mankiw said. "When a good or service is produced at a lower cost in another country, it makes sense to import it rather than to produce it domestically." Whether Mankiw is correct about the economic benefits of outsourcing of jobs is a point of contention among economists. What should not be debated is that the American job market is hurting. to compete Presidential candidate, U.S. Rep. John Kerry (D-Mass), has proposed to end this race by giving tax incentives to corporations who hire American workers. The outsourcing of jobs creates a race to the bottom because when one company does it, others must follow in order to compete. Lawmakers can also make American companies abide by environmental and labor regulations for their overseas operations. Such regulations would reduce the incentive for companies to ship jobs overseas and create a better standard of living for the overseas workers of the companies that still outsource. Free trade may not be something the average college student finds interesting, but the issue is as important as it is boring. Vote for candidates that will protect the job market you will soon enter. Don't let jobs become America's leading export. Gay is a Norton senior in journalism and political science. WAKE UP! Black history part of everyone's history The shortest month of the year, February (also known as Black History Month), is about to become history once again. Every month should be Black History Month. What a joy to shove Black history down America's throat during the shortest month of the year. I do not understand the necessity of delegating 29 days out of 365 days in a year to Black history. There would be a huge void in American history without the contributions of Blacks. Regardless of their political affiliation, Americans should also be proud of Secretary of State Colin Powell and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice. They are the first ever Blacks to hold prominent cabinet positions for a U.S. President. Each time Americans have the ability to stop at a stop light without a collision, they should thank Garrett A. Morgan for inventing the first traffic signal. God forbid that anyone ever needs to receive a blood transfusion, but if so they should thank Charles Drew, a medical doctor, for developing blood banks to store blood for long periods of time. Before his medical breakthrough blood could only be stored for up to two days. George Washington Carver, a native Missourian, created more than 325 products out of peanuts through a process called chemgury. For all those people that cannot live without instant coffee in the morning, think about Carver when you are pouring that good ol' cup of coffee, one of many modern-day uses. Carver also developed everything from bleach, meat tenderizers and sugar to shampoos and shoe polishes. The nation's capital, Washington D.C., was surveyed by America's first ever Black scientist, Benjamin Banneker. Banneker's studies and renowned almanacs also were used as evidence by opponents of slavery that Blacks were in fact intelligent and not inferior to Whites. Carver was so celebrated for his scientific achievements that President Franklin D. Roosevelt made him the first Black to receive a national monument. Just think about the contribution of this brilliant man, Carver, every time you use these products. Over the past few years two Black individuals have reached billionaire status. Robert Johnson, the owner of Charlotte's new basketball team, the Bobcats, and Oprah Winfrey are America's first Black billionaires. COMMENTARY 图 President Clinton has often been referred to as America's "first Black President." This is offensive, despite the obvious reason (his skin color). This comment was made to ridicule him because he lived in government housing, received a check from the government and cheated on his wife. I do not find that humorous and I feel sorry for anyone that finds that amusing. After all the struggles my people have endured to try to live in this place called America, this is how we are viewed? Brandon Cobb opinion@hansan.com On numerous occasions I have fallen victim to plenty of stereotypes and been generalized because of the color of my skin. So if you ever see me on campus here are some things that I assure do not describe me at all: I am not an athlete, drug dealer, criminal nor thug. I do not have children, receive welfare nor am I the spokesman for all things having to do with Black people. It is unfair to judge a person by the color of their skin. Blacks have been through a lot of struggles over the course of American history, which is why I am disheartened by the negative stereotypes given to the Black community. What an accomplishment it was to rise above blatant racism, Jim Crow Laws, slavery, criminal acts from police departments and lack of educational opportunities. None of my grandparents received higher education and here I stand today a young Black man on a college campus fulfilling a dream they were denied. And I still see negative stereotypes popping up around me. Free for All Free for All callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish. Kansan editors reserve the right to omit comments. Slanderous and obscene statements will not be printed. Phone numbers of all incoming calls are recorded. for more comments, go to www.kansan.com So you know how humans make the moo sound when they pass cows. What do cows do when they pass humans? So as February comes to an end, do not stop recognizing the achievements Blacks have made to society. Celebrate those achievements throughout the year because its not just Black history its American history. Call 864-0500 Cobb is a Kansas City, Kan., senior in political science. How do you make a Kleenex dance? You put a little boogie in it. Lawrence drivers make me want to road rage. - Look for Brandon Cobb's commentary, Wake Up!, every Thursday in the Kansan. Does anybody else find it hilarious that they had a waxing section in Kansan Classifieds? I do. You know with all of the unemployment we have in the country today the least that Kelly Ripa could do is quit one of her 18 jobs. - Go Ellsworth fire alarm number 17. Why can't Wescoe Beach be a topless beach? - Why is it that people wish to fight over a freaking parking spot knowing that parking is bad here at KU? PERSPECTIVE - Male chivalry a lost tradition; keep kindness alive In Dave Chapelle's comedy skit, "Killin' them softly," Chapelle asked a crowd full of women if they felt that male chivalry was dead. Almost the whole room exploded in agreement. "That's right, chivalry is dead," Chanelle said. "And women killed it." To be honest, women didn't really kill chivalry. At least not all of them. Chivalry has been dying down over time and the reasons for its demise are varied. We live in a new generation, one in which less than a premium is put on acts of chivalry or politeness. People look out for themselves more and have larger fantasies of power and obtaining wealth. The dream of the pretty medium-sized house with a little white picket fence has given way to MTV's Cribs. COMMENTARY Kevin Flaherty opinion@kansan.com Political views have changed too. During the last 50 years, amazing things have happened in the world of feminism. Women have struggled to attain an equal spot in the world, and one they rightfully deserve. The days of thinking about women as property or second-class citizens are over as they attain higher and higher spots in the hierarchy of the workplace. The battle is not over, not by a long-shot, but things have come a long way. Men's views on chivalry have also changed. The efforts of a few good men started to fade. Somewhere along those paths to power, a fundamental message was lost—the ideas of loving kindness and looking out for people. All of a sudden, if a man held open a door for a woman, he ran the risk of a scowl and snide "I can do it myself." Some feminist groups believed that chivalry was a way to keep women down; a subliminal message lurking in acts of holding doors and pulling out chairs. It no longer became P.C. to engage in acts of chivalry. Melissa Freiburger, sociology graduate teaching assistant, said that feminism changed the way gender roles were perceived. Freiburger said chivalry wasn't as high on the list of feminist priorities as other problems such as feminization of poverty. slowly but surely, the chairs stopped coming out, the doors held half-open, just until the other person could grab An opinion article in The Muhlenberg Weekly asked that same question. The woman shoveled snow around her car for an hour while 50 men (she counted) walked by without offering to help. She ended the article by crying out for the chivalrous days of old. Some men even stopped to make conversation, but didn't offer to help. hold of it. Other traditions and etiquette lessons were lost. Grandmothers shrieked and old-fashioned women were left wondering, where are the polite men? Chivalry is not completely dead. Most fraternities teach their members to perform acts of common courtesy. Today it is quite a sight to see 50 fraternity men stand and offer their seats to a woman who enters the room. It didn't used to be a huge deal. At the start of the semester, a woman walked into class and all of the seats In order for chivalry to continue, people have to realize its importance. The idea is not to put people down or keep them in their place. Toss the propaganda aside — men participate in chivalrous acts to be polite, to show respect and to make women more comfortable. There is no sleaziness or outside agenda to it. The bottom line is that everyone must get better. The men must show more effort, and the women must realize that it's not degrading for someone to perform an act of kindness. KANSAN Andrew Vaupel managing editor 864-4854 or vaupelkanan.com Michelle Rombeck editor 864-4854 or mburhenn@kansan.com Meghan Brune and Johanna M. Maska opinion editors 864-4924 or opinion@kansan.com were taken. A gentleman stood and offered his seat to the woman. She glared at him like he was crazy and took the offered seat. Keep in mind, this actually happened. What motivation does this man have to stand again next time a woman needs a seat? Danielle Bose business manager 864-4358 or addirector@kansan.com Stephanie Graham retail sales manager 864-4358 or adsales.kansan.com Flaherty is a Lenoxa senior in journalism. Malcolm Gibson general manager and news adviser 864-7687 or mgibson@kanan.com Matt Flaher sales and marketing adviser 864-7668 or mfisher@kansan.com Editorial Board Members Kendall Dix Amanda Flockt Lynzee Ford Laura Francoviglia Anna Gregory Amy Hammontree Katelyn Holloway Teresa La Stephanie Lovett **Mindy** Obearne Greg Holmegt **Ryen Scarrow** Sara Behunek Kevin Flaherty **Brandon Gay** Zack Hemneyaw Alex Hoffman **Kevin Karpwirth** Army Kally Cameron Koelling Courtney Kuhlen Brendi Mathiesen Travis Metcalf Mike Norris Jonathan Reefer Erin Riffle Aile Smith A - 8 1