Since the beginning of the recession, there has been a heated debate over the moral and economic benefits of outsourcing American Jobs. One side may contend that the lowered wages in China would aid in revamping the economy while the other would claim that jobs should be brought back to America. Los Angeles Times journalist Tony Barboza’s assertion that outsourcing of United States labor to China is equally as detrimental to the country as it is beneficial is effective in that the level of pollution carried across the Pacific Ocean from China ultimately defeats the purpose of outsourcing. According to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, while the United States is benefitting from cheaper labor in China, the growing levels of smog wafting across the Pacific is not only harmful to cities in China, but is also taking a major toll on the quality of American air. Originally, some jobs were outsourced not only to save money, but also to save the air from excess contamination, however as shown by this study, outsourcing does not guarantee that inhabitants of the home country can avoid the effects of industry on the environment. Unfortunately, Americans must learn the difficult way, as the quality of air, and therefore of life, fall into a downward spiral. Is sacrificing the value of a family’s liveliness and quality of life worth saving a few dollars? Some people, such as scientist Steve Davis may argue that although the toxic industrial byproduct is harmful to the environment, it is not new knowledge that the pollution from China is worsening air quality in the United States. They state that pollution only slightly contributes to U.S. smog levels, which are mostly composed of emissions from American vehicles and factories. Although these are valid points, people like Davis fail to consider the toll this added pollution could take on our lives in the future. If our children—who control the future of the world—are forced to inhale increasing levels of carbon monoxide and particles of black carbon as they grow, it is less likely that they will be successful in leading healthy lives and leading a healthy nation later on. Although the outsourcing of American jobs allows Americans to purchase cheaper merchandise and allows for major corporations to save money, it is ultimately not worth it. It will destroy the nation due to the increasing levels of toxic emissions that may greatly affect the lives of our future children.
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Works Cited
Barboza, Tony. "China 's Industry Exporting Air Pollution to U.S., Study Says." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2014. Web. 30 Jan. 2014. .
Cited: Barboza, Tony. "China 's Industry Exporting Air Pollution to U.S., Study Says." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2014. Web. 30 Jan. 2014. .
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