I have been writing about the downward slide of our politics, economics and society since Bush’s ascension to the throne.So, I was in for a rude wake up when I visited a friend’s house three weeks ago for dinner.His guest for the occassion was a businessman from India who had worked with my friend for the past twenty odd years in manufacturing related businesses. They seem to have developed quite a rapport and have managed to prosper together.
During our dinner, conversation was mostly about what outsourcing is doing to U.S. employment in IT and manufacturing.On this issue, both my friend and his guest said that they have devised a strategy for their companies that preserves the high end jobs in design, marketing and sales in the U.S. while India provides the day to day support in back office work, accounting and manufaturing.This kind of a division of labor, they feel makes them more efficient and responsive to their customers.Because they have been doing it for more than two decades quite successfully, I could not raise any objections. As to its universal applicability, I do not have the faintest.
After our dinner,our talk naturally turned to politics and here is where the Indian gentleman surprised me.He said that Bush is probably the most popular foreign leader in India right now followed by ( get this!) Sharon. This is because the Indian people who have been targets of terror for a long time have gravitated to their natural allies against the terrorists who are mainly Muslims.He also said that the kind of deceptions Bush has practised are necessary if one wants to succeed against the terrorists.
If this is any indication of how the world is going to be aligned, I think both India and China are going to line up against the Islamic countries on the U.S. side.For good or ill, this seems to be the new world order, if you will.
What a surprise it is that someone actually likes Bush!
