I haven't had too much respect for Walter Williams, for quite a while. He's always struck me as a guy who figured out a good gig (i.e. being Rush Limbaugh's Black friend) and isn't going to let anything get in the way of that.
But his latest article sets new standards in distortion. In it, he takes on the serious issue of Job Exportation. First of all he makes fun of the idea, by positing a customs agent asking a business traveler what he has in his bag. The businessman, get this, ha ha ha, the business man says he's carrying jobs with him overseas. So the guard says, "What? Jobs are an abstract concept, you can't put them in a bag." And they both share a good laugh.
But then he gets down to serious distortion. He uses a favorite method of distorters, comparing two things without admitting there's a third thing out there. He implies a comparison between Africa and Europe, and essentially writes off Asia. He also equates foreign investment with foreign employment, and of course the two are not the same.
He also leaves out a reason some European workers are cheaper than American workers; the countries they operate in have cradle to grave medical coverage. Most jobs in America have to come with Medical insurance in order to attract people.
Of course Williams has a solution. Working people should give up the protections they have won, and accept more dangerous working environments. American consumers should be more forgiving of shoddy merchandise. Corporations should get anything they want, particularly exemption from law suits and OSHA requirements. If we do that, than we can bring jobs home.
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