(I added bold)

Sales tax only system eh? Remember the threads about FAIRTAX?

Like http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/385861-your-opinion-fairtax-proposal.html?highlight=FAIRTAX

As far as I could ever figure out, the idea of replacing the current tax system with a sales tax simply doesn't work. The sales tax rate would have to be so high, like 40%, that it will destroy demand while leading to a huge tax avoidance/black market problem.

It looked like FAIRTAX would have been good for me personally, given the exclusions proposed (yes, the FAIRTAX proposal had loopholes too), my general lifestyle, and the fact that I live close enough to the Canadian border that I could go buy my high-value/low-bulk items there. But for the country, it would be a disaster.

Taxes...whatever.

All I know is that today is the worst I have felt through this entire process and I probably don't have a lot to worry about.

I think I have an avenue to move to another position in the company which is good because I get to keep my benefits, Work for someone who seems to be on the ball and in an area that is probably a little better positioned.

Still - I like doing what I'm doing and I just don't know if I want to stay after all this. I'd like to vest my 401k...

More freaking news today through a friend - there is a planned layoff in the works for right after labor day.

I just can't believe they are targeting IT again...we're cut past the bone as it is in most places and they are going to cut again.

My suspicion is that management is trying to make it a situation where 'we don't have the people on hand to continue without outsourcing.'

I'm not sure were I will stand with regards to the rif - I'm sure that if I am not cut - someone close to me will be.

I still have the opportunity (I think) to move into another dept that should be outside of all this mess. In fact I had another recent conversation regarding the situation with the manager where he said he was ready to start talking to the folks above me to get the party started.

Maybe me moving off our team will spare it from the block.

We (IT department) have another big round after labor day as well. Company stated that earnings are "flat" which now translates to reducing headcount.

Rumor mills a buzz the last few days...apparently it's supposed to be next week. I Was supposed to take a few days off.

I can't shake the feeling that I have a target on my back. My boss tells me I haven't got anything to worry about, I say 'how do you know.' and he shakes his head and says 'I don't.'

Reassuring.

My coworkers are certain they are going to get cut. It's miserable.

Job prospects right now are slim too - it's frustrating. I have had more conversations regarding the other position, which I think could go really well but I'm not sure what's going to happen. If I get cut prior to that happening and the manager for that position hasn't shielded me to clear my way into his group then I'm cooked. Once they lay you off - they don't bring you back for other positions - you're not allowed back a while is my understanding. Not that I'd want to go back but with prospects the way they are...

I think I'm going to try to strike up a conversation with him on Monday...

Looks like it's started today...f'ing fantastic. We'll see if I make it through or not.

They got 3 or 4 of us on the east coast already...

Good luck. Hopefully you get skipped and then go to the other position. I'd have thought that you'd have found something else by now.

It isn't that I haven't found anything as much as I haven't been looking much. I was looking back in the summer and interviewed at a few places but got passed on one (which was a shock actually) and the other simply hasn't hired anyone and I'm the only one they have interviewed. They can't just hire the one person they have interviewed...

I don't mind riding this out from that perspective. I have been focusing on that CCIE cert. Unfortunately I didn't pass in August - I just missed it. I'm trying again late next month.

I have a couple of 'backup plans' but neither is 100%. This week's job roll from Dice in this area was a little more encouraging than they have been in a while.

The intended "mark" is the last to know.

You don't hear the bullet that hits you.

Good luck. Maybe you should hide somewhere.

Call me when you get a chance.

I've heard a few wiz by but I have been told that my dept is safe TODAY.

My company is the master of outsourcing.

Three years ago we outsourced three major divisions of software development to Cork, Ireland. We finally got those guys fully productive and independent. Meanwhile the company was building up the Bangalore division. Slowly but surely more work has been going to India, but nothing very serious. This April, they decided to close the entire Cork division and move everything over to Bangalore.

The genius part is that they forgot to hire replacements in India and didn't plan out any type of transition plan. Now people are gone, no one is hired, and no work is being done.

I agree that the cost benefit is not coming from the labor costs or time saved area. The labor cost is being equaled as they hire more people in India than we had before. All projects take longer to complete, so they don't care about that variable. The savings must be a combination of thinking more people is better and cheaper taxes. There is probably something else I don't know about in the equation that makes a difference.

I have managed to stay employed by being able to manage the India guys. It is a challenge with many late night meetings, but I made it through the year so far.

we should heavily tax the export american jobs by CORPs
but instead we give investment tax credits

THAT RIGHT OUR TAX LAW PAYS THE CORPS TO EXPORT JOBS

that needs to change yesterday
with laws to recapture 300% of any payments to CORPs used to export jobs
for the last 10 years minimum

WTO would freak out over this (not that I care).

check out a movie called 'outsourced' - it's kind of funny - a lower key kind of 'office space' flick.

I think it might be about you.

It was a trying day - still not over I suspect but I had a few people cut from one of my project teams.

These were not people who should have been cut in my eyes. These were top performers whose knowledge was integral to their success and the success of their projects.

I don't get the logic of it.

Show me where in the Tax laws we are paying/subsidising moving of jobs out of the US. The primary issue with the tax laws is that there is a HUGE difference in tax rates between the US and other countries.

Fiddling withing the tax code will not produce results. Wholesale changing it will.

Ah another fantastic day!

They still haven't said they are going to do it yet. We were supposed to have that decision back in August. Rumor has it that it will be in December now with transition starting in February.

Our Second CTO this year's last day is today. That was a surprise.

It seems that she was not fitting in...

The First CTO left for what is rumored to be the fact that he couldn't go along with the whole outsourcing thing - felt it was the wrong thing to do. So he walked.

Rumor is the second CTO felt similarly and voiced it.

Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

f***

Well...the process is still 'in flight'. We had an all hands meeting 2 weeks ago with the CIO and CFO not even mentioning the project at all. It was insulting.

Over the break I had some interesting developments with another opportunity.

I think I'm going to take it but it's back to a little commute...weak.