Very good points. I always get a little uncomfortable whenever I am expected to have faith in the free market as well. I do think good ol American Ingenuity will prevail and new industries will arise as technology gets better. I don't see America becoming a nation of CEO's (somebody needs to ask me if I want fries with that).

The point I found most valuable out of the article was that when other countries do the same work for cheaper it makes prices drop here. The price drop could be what spurs on the new growth and research into new technology in the US. R & D could become the next "American Industry", and let the other nations manufacture and support it. It is a lot of handwaving which I apologise for, but I think it is possible.

Unlike a lot of Free-Trade folks I know, I actually think there are good reasons for some tarrifs, subsidies and trade barriers. Some things simply need to be produced in the US in order to insure security. Miltary technology, food, power sources, etc. If it means paying more for it, than its worth it to kkep the security. I don't see tech support jobs as being one of those.

I hate to see Americans unemployed as much as the next guy, but American do seem to have an uncanny ability to cross and retrain when in a pinch. Our low unemployment rate as opposed to that in other countries seems to indicate that to me.

This is a tough issue, and I'm not sure how qualified my views on it are, as I am in an industry that seems to be fairly well insulated from the problem of outsourcing to other nations. (It is certainly not insulated from othe economic factors however)

-Steve G.