A Limit to Patriotism

Re “The Outsourcing Bugaboo,” editorial, Aug. 31: Before I express my outrage on outsourced jobs, let me describe a personal dilemma. I was shopping for a pair of running shoes. My guess is that 90% of the shoes I looked at were made in China, Taiwan or Thailand, with prices ranging from $40 to $65. Shoes made in the United States were $119. As big a patriot as I would like to imagine myself, I guess my patriotism only goes as far as my checkbook. I bought the cheaper shoes.

Adam Smith recognized the principle of “competitive advantage” close to 150 years ago. For those of us who think that we are entitled to high pay and standards of living, think again. Don’t become the steelworkers of this century.

Bob Gill

Irvine