Whose Jobs? Whose Helping?

One thing I heard during this election cycle often from Democrats is that Republicans were giving tax cuts to companies that were taking jobs overseas.  The rage over "outsourcing" was also present in the 2004 presidential election as well, with John Kerry and John Edwards going so far as to term this companies "Benedict Arnold" companies, which was frequently repeated by supporters.  My question is who these companies are betraying?

Of course it's not true that Republicans are cutting taxes on these companies because they are outsourcing jobs, which is what Democrats make it sound like.  Republicans think that taxes obstruct businesses, and therefore hurt the economy, so of course they are going to support tax cuts for these corporations.  They aren't cutting taxes so they will, or because they do, ship jobs overseas.  There is no intended causality between the two.  Of course, higher taxes and more demands by unions (like cardcheck) would lead  companies to outsource jobs and higher prices, so it would make much more sense to say that Democrats are really leading the companies to outsource and  are really the ones hurting people.  This isn't even mentioning the fact that many economists believe outsourcing is good for the economy.  

Of course, the implication of this "betrayal" argument is that these corporations are betraying America or some American people.  It is a natural and understandable to at first have negative reaction to these companies giving jobs to foreigners, not Americans.  It is natural to like people that are like us.  But, after thinking about it, I can't find any sufficient answer as to why Americans deserve these jobs, except for the fact they are, well, American.  The only argument I see is on the grounds of xenophobia, ethnocentrism, or racism.  Of course most people that are complaining about outsourcing are not overtly racist or classist, it is only a prejudice that most people struggle with (partially natural, partially socially-imbedded) to prefer people we know and like.

These companies have a right to hire whomever they want.  They risk their assets, livelihood, and time running a business.  It is obviously cheaper to employ foreigners who will work for less.  From a business standpoint, it would be downright dumb to keep jobs in America.  So, the people who hate outsourcing companies want them to make decision that will hurt their own company.

The person that the companies hires overseas is no less of a person than an American. If they are African, Asian, Arab, or Hispanic they are no less of a person.  They don't deserve the job any less.  In fact, they are more than likely poorer than the American worker, in some cases they are desperately poor.  They need the job more than the American.

It is a painful experience for someone to lose a job.  In time, however, they will likely find a new job.  In many cases, a better job.  Businesses don't owe them anything.  Entrepreneurs don't start companies for employees, they start companies for themselves.  They have the right to do whatever they want with their money.  They risked their own money, not their future employees' money.  It is nobody's right to demand that they make a bad business move.  It is not a bad thing if American politicians want to try and keep jobs in America.  That's fine.  What is going to attract companies to stay in America?  Lower taxes and more freedom for companies, such as less of an obstructive influence from labor unions.

Who is trying to promote these things?  Republicans.

The Democratic approach defies logic.  A company outsources jobs so you raise taxes and promote unionization.  That won't do anything but encourage companies to outsource more jobs.

So who is really helping American workers?  Republicans.

Of course many of the politicians making these claims are hyprocrites themselves.  John Edwards, one of the loudest voices of opposition, for instance, has put millions of dollars into offshore hedgefunds to evade taxes, and many more hold stock in companies that are outsourcing.