"The American Dream" as defined by Mr. Roy, consists of either a) Get rich quick schemes, b) Flashy cars, Hollywood and the like or c) MTV, McDonalds and the greater love of consumption. Really? I hope not! But if that really is the case, big corporations have done a pretty good job exporting "The Dream" to India. So much so that we want to continue our chase and follow it where it goes – be it the point where we started from. But let’s not fool ourselves, "The Dream", in its trial run in India will soon be widely available for even greater consumption. Or maybe I’m the only fool here – it’s already in wide circulation. It's already arrived. "The Dream", its gene isolated, is being injected into unsuspecting nations around the world. O yes, the formula is pretty clear - Increase consumption while lowering production costs. So where does it all end? How deep does the rabbit hole go? How do McDonalds, MTV and Honda plan on sustaining six billion western style consumers with the resources of one tiny planet?
Meanwhile, I’m going to promise myself to do something against the rising tide of "The Dream" (TM).
PS: As a card carrying member of that shiny white sneaker-ed club of programmers, I have to say – I found that caricature a tiny bit offensive!
Sandip Roy notes a reversal of the practice of massive H1-B visa hiring of professionals from India in favor of outsourcing to these very countries. In turn comparable opportunities generated "back home" by outsourcing is facilitating a return migration for this relatively new demographic of foreign knowledge workers in the US tech/IT industry.
A hot topic extensively covered by the broadcast and print media in recent months, Sandip Roy's piece is not the most thoughtful or revealing addition to this coverage. In talking about the sub-culture of foreign workers in the US, he comes across as mildly condescending and remote. He does not explore the complex reasons for why some are choosing to return and others to stay (there is single anecdotal reference of one worker being laid off). Nor does he inform us about the broader american public's attitude to this loss of a highly educated immigrant community. We also learn nothing about the potential impact this returning diaspora would have in their native country ... would they demand path-breaking changes in business culture? be relevant to the needs of the local economy? generate a ripple-effect in defining access in the traditional economy?
The piece ends with a glib mention of the returning migrant confronted with the familiar in the shape of omnipresent US fast food chains hinting at a homogenized world. And doesn't drive home the point that a cultural exchange between the US fast food chain and the local preferences produced a hybrid menu that very much reflects local taste/ diversity.
Excuse me for my passionate review. I just happen to know too many Americans who have seen their jobs transported to India.
This is a good piece to use for the downfall of the US. Did we allow foreign citizens the right to a 5-star education (seats are limited!) before offering it to our own citizens? Are US citizens lazy or was there long-term political game to manipulate the global masses?
One thing is for certain, US white collar jobs are moving to India. How will the US maintain its status as a superpower if citizens are out of work? Is this a temporary downturn in our economic condition or a dust bowl of starvation and ridicule delivered to us by an elite group of US imperialists?
In under four minutes Sandip Roy effectively sums up globalism and a changing US economy with wit and intelligence .
Roy illustrates the life cycle of the American Dream: people who left India to seek fotune in Silicon Valley are now being laid-off because their jobs have been outsourced to their homeland.
This commentary would be appropriate for Morning Edition, All Things Considered but it would be most effective broadcast on "The Word," or "Marketplace".
Comments for American dream comes full circle
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4 comments
Gagan Arneja
Posted on June 14, 2004 at 10:18 PM | Permalink
Review of American dream comes full circle
"The American Dream" as defined by Mr. Roy, consists of either a) Get rich quick schemes, b) Flashy cars, Hollywood and the like or c) MTV, McDonalds and the greater love of consumption. Really? I hope not! But if that really is the case, big corporations have done a pretty good job exporting "The Dream" to India. So much so that we want to continue our chase and follow it where it goes – be it the point where we started from. But let’s not fool ourselves, "The Dream", in its trial run in India will soon be widely available for even greater consumption. Or maybe I’m the only fool here – it’s already in wide circulation. It's already arrived. "The Dream", its gene isolated, is being injected into unsuspecting nations around the world. O yes, the formula is pretty clear - Increase consumption while lowering production costs. So where does it all end? How deep does the rabbit hole go? How do McDonalds, MTV and Honda plan on sustaining six billion western style consumers with the resources of one tiny planet?
Meanwhile, I’m going to promise myself to do something against the rising tide of "The Dream" (TM).
PS: As a card carrying member of that shiny white sneaker-ed club of programmers, I have to say – I found that caricature a tiny bit offensive!
Reenu Singh
Posted on June 14, 2004 at 06:18 PM | Permalink
Somewhat disappointing
Sandip Roy notes a reversal of the practice of massive H1-B visa hiring of professionals from India in favor of outsourcing to these very countries. In turn comparable opportunities generated "back home" by outsourcing is facilitating a return migration for this relatively new demographic of foreign knowledge workers in the US tech/IT industry.
A hot topic extensively covered by the broadcast and print media in recent months, Sandip Roy's piece is not the most thoughtful or revealing addition to this coverage. In talking about the sub-culture of foreign workers in the US, he comes across as mildly condescending and remote. He does not explore the complex reasons for why some are choosing to return and others to stay (there is single anecdotal reference of one worker being laid off). Nor does he inform us about the broader american public's attitude to this loss of a highly educated immigrant community. We also learn nothing about the potential impact this returning diaspora would have in their native country ... would they demand path-breaking changes in business culture? be relevant to the needs of the local economy? generate a ripple-effect in defining access in the traditional economy?
The piece ends with a glib mention of the returning migrant confronted with the familiar in the shape of omnipresent US fast food chains hinting at a homogenized world. And doesn't drive home the point that a cultural exchange between the US fast food chain and the local preferences produced a hybrid menu that very much reflects local taste/ diversity.
Maureen Jackson
Posted on January 04, 2004 at 01:25 AM | Permalink
Review of American dream comes full circle
Excuse me for my passionate review. I just happen to know too many Americans who have seen their jobs transported to India.
This is a good piece to use for the downfall of the US. Did we allow foreign citizens the right to a 5-star education (seats are limited!) before offering it to our own citizens? Are US citizens lazy or was there long-term political game to manipulate the global masses?
One thing is for certain, US white collar jobs are moving to India. How will the US maintain its status as a superpower if citizens are out of work? Is this a temporary downturn in our economic condition or a dust bowl of starvation and ridicule delivered to us by an elite group of US imperialists?
Transom Editors
Posted on November 10, 2003 at 10:49 AM | Permalink
Review of American dream comes full circle
In under four minutes Sandip Roy effectively sums up globalism and a changing US economy with wit and intelligence .
Roy illustrates the life cycle of the American Dream: people who left India to seek fotune in Silicon Valley are now being laid-off because their jobs have been outsourced to their homeland.
This commentary would be appropriate for Morning Edition, All Things Considered but it would be most effective broadcast on "The Word," or "Marketplace".