Chapter+5+TWIF

 Chapter 5 Summary: “America and free trade“ (submitted by Steve Tobar)

In chapter five titled “America and free trade” from the book “The world is flat”, by Thomas Friedman, the author discusses how our nation will profit more by having an open policy of free trade with other nations than by establishing restictions on such policy. Accoring to Friedman “even as the world gets flat, America as a whole will benefit more by sticking to the general principles of free trade than by trying to erect walls, which will only provoke others to do the same and impoverish all” (page 265). Friedman contends that a policy of free trade, is not enough by itself and discusses why a policy of free trade must be accompanied by an emphasis on education. Friedman points out why our nation must upgrade the training and specialization of all Americans so that our we can compete with other nations for new created jobs. Friedman supports his claim by exploring the example of the newly created “search engine optimizer” position. Friedman states this new specialized position should be filled by educated americans who should be able to specialize in this new created job.

Friedman states that America will on the long run do well in in a flat world with free trade as long as it continues to boil knowledge workers who can produce new idea-based goods and skillful workers who can fullfill the new created jobs and positions. Friedman points out there is no limit on the number of idea based goods that can be invented and produced since humans have an infinite number of needs and the only limit to these goods is human imagination. To support his claim Friedman quotes Marc Anderseen, the cofounder of Netscape who has stated that “the pie keeps growing because things that look like wants today are needs tomorrow” and “if you believe human needs and wants are infinite then there are an infinite number of industries to be created, infinite number of businesses to be started and newer jobs to be done and the only limiting factor is human imagination”. Friedman also discusses how the “big lump of labor theory” is wrong by saying this theory is based on the assumption that there are no new idea based goods to be invented in the market. This theory contends jobs will only be offered only to those countries who will do the same job for less money and consequently will get the bigger piece of the lump. According to the big lump theory, this cycle goes on and on with other countries competing to get a piece of the lump.

The author also states that a policy of free trade will see more innovations emerging from developing countries sucha as China and India with some of the jobs created by these nations outsourcing to the west and he states as longs as we continue to educate our selves and develop the skills needed to fullfill new jobs “China, Europe and America can all do well at the same time”, (page 275). According to Friedman, China and India are rapidly inventing new products and they will use to lift their poor out of poverty and consequently the more they spend, the more diverse products, markets, and the more niches for specialization are created.” Friedman also brings out how India, for example, has already started preparing themselves for the future, by using the innovative indian education company called “HeyMath.com”, an internet based company that tutors students in the imporant areas of Math and Science.

Finally, Friedman brings out how all this progress will happen soon when we connect China, India with America Europe and Japan through free trade. Friedman encourages we should invest more on education in order to be able to compete with other nations by saying “the way to succeed is not by stopping the railroad line from connecting you but by firing up your imagination, by upgrading your skills and by adopting those practices, rules, policies and educational institutions that will enable you and our society to obtain a healthy slice of the bigger but more complex pie” (page 277).  Thomas Friedman made some eye opening points in chapter 5, //America and Free Trade//. Throughout the chapter, Friedman provided evidence to back up his statement that, “In the flat world there also will be an inexorable flow of new jobs, as whole new fields of endeavor are spun off faster and faster – jobs that educated Americans and Europeans should be able to specialize in, like search engine optimizing” (Friedman, 273). I had always thought outsourcing was terrible and destructive to the United States, but Friedman opened by eyes to the possibility that the US, China, and India can all be successful as long as they are willing to change. The United States will have to change considerably to survive and thrive in a time when China and India can duplicate many of our jobs easier and cheaper. However, I feel that this attitude adjustment will take a total change in our education system to graduate students who are creative and adaptable. Friedman said, there are infinite industries to be created, infinite businesses to be started, and infinite jobs to be done, and the only limiting factor is human imagination” (Friedman, 269). I believe this is a bigger limiting factor than Friedman portrays, and time will tell if Americans are able to adapt this much. There are a couple of positive consequences in the next 10 years if the United States is able to adapt to the changes taking place with the outsourcing of jobs and free trade. We will have made major strides in teaching the youth of America if we are able to educate them to be adaptable, competitive, innovative, and creative. The United States, and other countries, will be better off if we are able to upgrade education so that individuals can occupy newly created jobs (Friedman, 268). Additionally, impoverished countries, such as India and China, will benefit from continued education and job growth in their countries. They would be able to bring millions of people out of poverty and give them a chance to be successful. Ultimately, this is better for the United States since it will create new consumers and inventors. We will all be better off if we can work together. If Friedman is accurate about the inevitability of outsourcing and free trade, then educators have a lot of changes to make. Teachers need to make sure students are learning to be problem solvers, thinkers, team players, innovators, and inventors. Americans are going to be responsible to design new jobs that cannot be duplicated in foreign countries. Students must be able to outthink and outperform our competitors, while being diplomatic and receptive to opportunities other countries present. This means teachers need to engage students in thought provoking activities and exercises. They cannot continue to teach that everyone is a winner, and that no one is wrong. Educators need to teach students how to be competitive and team players again. Likewise, students need to be willing to work hard, not look for the easy way out, motivated, and interested in learning. Teachers cannot do all of the work, and students must be open to using creative ways to solve problems. Students of all ages need to see their teachers as guides in a process of self discovery.
 * Analysis** **of chapter 5** (by Courtney Mellinkoff):
 * Do you agree with Friedman's points in the chapter? Why or why not?
 * What are some potential consequences (positive or negative) in the next 10 years if what he says is true?
 * How do you suppose his points affect us as educators? How about our students? School in general?