China Took Austin's Jobs

Every time people complain about immigrants “stealing” our jobs, it always conjures images of rednecks from South Park wailing, “They took our joooooobs!” (Of course, depending on who’s speaking, it might sound like, “De derk de derrrr!”)

The argument, of course, has no logic, seeing as most immigrants work in jobs that Americans deem beneath them, are paid very little without benefits, and actually contribute to society more than many citizens do. In fact, along with many other myths about immigrants, this one has been proven false. The U.S. Department of Labor has reported that immigration actually stimulates the economy, and that states with high populations of immigrants have lower rates of unemployment. (So maybe the solution is to open the immigration gates for all? Hmmm…)

But new reports are saying that another country is, indeed, “taking” American jobs—particularly in the Austin area—and it has nothing to do with immigration. Nearly 200,000 jobs were lost in Texas—almost 5% of the workforce in North Austin—in a seven-year period due to the country’s trade deficit with China.

According to the Economic Policy Institute, “China manipulates its currency resulting in a growing U.S. trade deficit with the Communist country.” This has resulted in—according to the institute—rapid job losses in the technological industries. The institute claims that other causes of job losses include failure to enforce labor laws and environmental laws, China’s industrial subsidies, piracy, theft, and China’s purposeful blocking of market access to United States firms.

Are these claims valid? It’s certainly possible, if not probable. But with so many people embracing free trade rather than fair trade—fair trade, in this case, also meaning U.S. citizens being paid and treated fairly—it’s hard to stop such things from occurring. You really have to wonder why, with so many people wailing about “Derk de derrr!” and job losses, more people don’t support fair trade, when so-called free trade is really the cause for so many economical woes—not just for our own nation, but for others as well. And it really doesn’t work to condemn China, mumbling about how the “commies” take our jobs and how we shouldn’t buy “foreign” cars, when nearly all of these people buy non-American goods as places like Wal-Mart and Target. Indeed, it’s difficult not to, considering that oftentimes only non-American made products are what’s available.

Of course, adopting a more global mentality, one of open eyes and social consciousness, in conjunction with fair business policies, could do people all across the world some good—both in America and abroad.