the future ?

[dacust]

I know you said your post was light, but I'm replying serious. Thanks for the post. The last time I remember someone predicting this kind of scenerio was when Japan started taking over the automobile market. However, it's much more possible with India. I don't think it'll work out that way, though. Did you know there is already a move in India to outsource to China where it is cheaper? I think the world is moving faster and faster and more and more countries will be getting in the game. It will get closer and closer to a world economy. And no one country will be able to dominate one area for very long (it will more likely be a series of short dominations, circling the globe). I agree that the people of the US should prepare for our standard of living to drop, just as we should prepare for other countries standards to increase (along with their abilities to compete with us). The phone companies are have struggled because, in the old days, they never had competition, and so they didn't develop a management structure and culture to be able to handle competition. In the same way we as a country will have to struggle because we have not had much serious competition from the rest of the world. Guess what. That's changing. Get ready. It's going to be a rough ride. It's up to us whether our standard of living falls just some, or indeed falls below other countries. -dan

[Guest.Visitor]

In a light hearted vein........ Year: 2020 Place: Two Americans at IBM, USA. Currency Conversion Rate: Re 1/- = $100/-. Alex: Hi John, you didn't come yesterday to office? John: Yeah, I was in Indian Embassy for stamping. Alex: Oh really, what happened, I heard that nowadays it has become very strict. John: Yeah, but I managed to get it. Alex: How long it took to get it stamped? John: Oh, it was nasty man, long queue. Bill Gates was standing in front of me and they played with him like anything. That's why it got delayed. I went there at 2 am itself and waited and returned by 4 pm. Alex: Really? In India, it is a matter of an hour to get stamped for USA John: Yeah, but that is because who in India will be interested in coming to USA man, their economy has been booming. Alex: So, when are you leaving? John: Anytime, after receiving my tickets from the client in India and you know, I will be getting a chance to fly Air-India. Sort of dream come true. Alex: How long are you going to stay in India? John: What do you mean by how long? I will be settled in India, my company has promised me that they will process my Hara Patta (green card). Alex: Really, lucky person man, it is very difficult to get a Hara Patta in India. John: Yeah, that's why, I am planning to marry an Indian girl there. Alex: But you can find lots of US girls in Chennai, Bangalore and Mumbai. John: But, I prefer Indian girls because they are beautiful and cultured. Alex: Where did you get the offer, Chennai? John: Yeah, salary is good there, but cost of living is quite high, it is Rs. 1000/- for a single room accommodation. Alex: I see, that's too much for US people, Rs.1/-=$100/-. Oh God! What about in Bangalore, Mumbai? John: No idea, but it is less than what we have in Chennai. It is like the world headquarters of software. Alex: I heard, almost all the Indians are having one personal Robot for help. John: You can get a BMW car for Rs. 5000/-, and a personal Robot for less than Rs.7500/-. But my dream is to purchase Ambassador, which costs Rs.2,00,000/- but has got a lovely design. Alex: By the way, who is your client? John: Iyer and Iyengar Associates, a pure Indian company, specialising in Embedded Software. Alex: Oh, really, lucky to work in a pure Indian company. They are really intelligent and unlike American Bodyshoppers who have opened their Fly-by-night outfits in India. Indian companies pay you in full even when you are on bench. My friend Paul Allen, it seems, used his bench time to visit Bihar, the most liveable place in India, probably world. There you have full freedom and no restrictions. You can do whatever you want! I wonder how that state has perfected that system. John: Yeah man! you are right. I hope our America also follows in their footsteps. Alex: How are you going to cope with their language? John: Why not? From my school days I have been learning Hindi as my first language here at New York. At the Consulate they tested my proficiency in Hindi and were quite impressed by my cent per cent score in TOHIL i.e. Test of Hindi as International Language. Alex: So, you are going to have fun there. John: Yeah, I will be traveling in the world's fastest train, world's largest theme park, and the famous Bollywood where you can see actors like, Hrithik, Shah Rukh Khan and all. Esselworld is also near Bollywood. Alex: You know, the PM is scheduled to visit US next year, he may then relax the number of visas. John: That's true. Last month, Narayana Murthy visited White House and donated Rs. 2000/- for infrastructure development at Silicon Valley and has promised more if we follow the model of High-Tech City of Hyderabad. Bill Gates also got a chance of meeting him. Very lucky person. Alex: But, Indian government is planning to split Narayanamurthy's Infosys. John: He is a hard worker man, he can build any number of Infosys like this. Every mi