?????? I am actually applauding the IQ of Ausie programmers. Theres a perfect translation problem for ya! ;-

Wow.... Thats something. Yes. It is apparent that India is burning many bridges. By the way, just curious. Do you get bombed with solicitations for programmers in India as much as I do? The word culture is really just another way of saying, They "F_ck you hard as soon as the door of possibility opens." I am a tad resentfull too that major corporations such as Citigroup have these sweat shops writing their programs. Its weird. They try and Pump up the stock by spending money over seas. Something seems inherintly wrong with that formula. Ya know?? Id love to get some contacts in China and Thailand. Australia really is stuffed with talent too. A US dollar over there is almost twice their dollar. How do the people in China and Thailand work regarding $$$$. Are your deals all based on US currency?

Picked up on this thread by accident. I will agree that overseas consulting has more upsides the down sides to it. This opinion is based on the fact that I am a consultant and I have worked with contractors and sub contractors for 3 years now. The main obstacle to some deals I encountered was culture. Specifically with India. I have had code; concepts and business sold (stole) out the back door by India programmers that I had NDA's and Non Competes signed with. The basic response I received when confronting the programmer(s) "Don't take it personally. Its just business." Every time, I was aghast at how removed these individuals were with regards to regret or apologies. In fact, they were anything but that. It was their god given spiritual right to exercise business away from me and over to them...regardless of legal contracts signed to prevent this. Bottom line, India produces great programmers but keep in mind that their culture provides for a different approach to business ethics. It's the old adage actually. If you have something that's valuable, try as best you can to protect your interest. With coding, that can be difficult at times and I have personally enjoyed my business relationships with Americans, Australians, Canadians and Germans. This letter may be skewed because I have been burnt several times in relationships I have had with India programmers but there was that same comment at the end of the road every time and it was always the same: "Don't take it personally, its only business". I take my business very personally. I am extremely selective on a persona by person basis. One other thought. The usage of under paid overseas programmers will inevitably have a negative effect on the industry. Just as with a countries import/export business and how it effects the GNP...a certain % of the programs being sold in any particular country should ideally be created in that country. With poverty level wages being paid for good programming, I have a feeling over a 25 years period that there will be some negative residual effects with the development of new technology. There will eventually be a lack of encouragement of the programming profession in world class economies and subsequently some of the worlds finest minds may be passed by. Assembly line production (in my opinion) will have a different effect of the programming industry then it did with the automobile. Massive 24 hour programming factories in countries where wages are compar