I can relate best to the thoughts of the steelworker in GIG, when she talks about her job and the union. First, I did not realize that this was a woman, until she specifically said "In some instances, you have to be a union person first and a woman second." I stereotyped a steel worker to be a man, and it was a little shocking that it was a woman, but more power to her. The more important topic she talks about is the union and how it protects her from certain downfalls of working and outsourcing. She seems to be a very intelligent person and is getting a college degree because she knows her job will not be around forever. She also is encouraging her kids to go to college and not join the mill right out of high school. I relate to her outlook on preparing for the future because it is not always guaranteed to be the way that you expect.

The next reading in GIG was the ford auto worker. He was in college, but joined the factory work instead. He was heavily influenced by all the males around him because they are all factory workers as well. He describes perfectly the problems talked about in our previous class about alientation and stress."You gotta stay on your job. 'Cause if you're not there, the job's not gonna get done...o you can't stop. So it's just a lot of repetition, man. Same shit over and over. It's insane." He has a certain amount of time to do a certain job, and if he doesn't get it done, the whole line shuts down. The alienation part of doing the same thing in three minutes, over and over, all day, everyday. He even coins a label called "factoryized" to describe his situation.

The last reading was in CWW, where Thottam brings up excellent points about outsourcing issues. She explains step by step what has caused out sourcing, why it is happening, and where. Billy of Florida and Scott of Deleware are two living examples of the outsourcing threat to real families and real lives. Thottam also gives the alternative view of outsourcing for profit and competition for the companies involved. "It's just the way the business world turns" is the best quote of his essay. She does not state his opinion, but merely brings up the facts and both sides of the arguement (which is just like writing project #2).

I do not have enough information personally to state an opinion on the outsourcing issues. I am merely ambivalent because both sides of the issue have valid points, just like Thottam explains. Though, I do wish I could outsource my homework like the cartoon girl.