Story: U.S. Jobs Going Overseas Becomes Election Issue, 3/10/04
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/jan-june04/outsource_3-10.html

Reading Comprehension Questions:

1. What is outsourcing and what are some of the causes?

2. What kinds of jobs are going overseas now?

3. Where are many outsourced jobs going? Why are they going there?

4. According to columnist Thomas Friedman, what are the benefits of outsourcing for Americans?

5. What are some of the political responses in Congress to the issue of outsourcing?

Discussion Activity (more research might be needed):

1. If you were the head of a company that made cell phones, how would you make the decision whether to move your factories to a country where you could pay workers much less than you do in the United States? If you worked in a company that was going to close its U.S. factories and move to India, what would you do?

2. If outsourcing is inevitable, as some economists and politicians argue, what should the U.S. government do, if anything, to help those Americans who are losing jobs to companies overseas?

3. Research the proposals that are being debated in Congress. Will they help or hurt the American economy? Why or why not?

4. What role do you think the upcoming presidential election will have on the issue of outsourcing? Explain your reasoning.

Write a 300-500 word essay on any of these topics providing clear examples. Send your completed editorial to NewsHour Extra [extra@newshour.org]. Exceptional essays might be published on our Web site.