My recent stories about American Idol inflamed reader passions from many perspectives. Sanjaya aside, the idea of American companies out-sourcing jobs to India or anywhere else offends many people. Some readers of American Idol: Are Indian call centers skewing the vote? thought I was singling out the people of India which they interpreted as hostile and racist. I thought I would set the record straight about my views on the subject.

1. The jobs we are sending overseas to India, or elsewhere, is not affecting the employment rate in the United States to any appreciable level. Last I read the unemployment rate stood at 4.5%. It has been hovering between 4% and 5% for several years. To me that is actually close to full employment in a market society as complex as ours. I have no expectation that we could sustain anything lower.
2. Our connection and developing relationship with India in particular is extremely valuable. I believe India has as much potential as any nation, and more than most, to help us expand our economy. It's size, value system, geographic location, history, English foundation, and more make it a great partner. There is much more to gain than to lose for both sides.
3. The fluidity of markets and the greatest transparency in business dealings should be our focus and the word globalization is sometimes a distraction. It is not specific and means different things to different people. Integration is a better word. International partnering is a better term. Since the market is becoming more and more fluid we have not only witnessed call-centers and software development moving overseas, but in some cases they are coming back as companies experiment and decide they function better with local talent and control.

One of the greatest ironies I find in this whole discussion is that the people that complain about the outsourcing of work to other countries are the same ones that complain if a foreign company comes to set up shop in the United States - bringing jobs here!

So the controversy continues. I was researching the rules to American Idol in response to a comment I received from someone claiming to be a former employee of Fox TV that suggested there is a disclaimer regarding the voting and selection process at the end of the show in fine print. I could not find the disclaimer but I did find this on Wikipedia:

• American Idol is broadcast to over 100 nations outside of the United States, including many with their own version of Idol; however, it is not a live broadcast and may be tape delayed by several days or weeks (excluding Pakistan, India, Israel, Canada, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and the United Arab Emirates in which it is also aired live).
• And this: International networks broadcasting American Idol - In India it airs live on Star World.

Is the Wikipedia info correct? Does AI air live in India? Are all the people cursing me up and down wrong for even suggesting that Indian call centers might be skewing the American Idol vote?

Let me state clearly that upon further thought I believe that this is far fetched, never the less, Sanjaya Malakar is still on the show and more talented singers are gone. Howard Stern, and the vote the worst crowd are having an impact. My original post was followed by Sunday Funnies: American Idol - Indian Idle, sharing some of the comments I received, then American Idol puzzle solved: Market Theory, considering a broader range of factors, and continuing with Amercan Idol or Survivor: It's for real.

From a business perspective, American Idol is probably getting higher ratings with Sanjaya then it would without. Hollywood is not new to controversy and only politics is more corrupt in my view, so who knows the real story? I have been accused of being racist for even suggesting that race is a factor. Well in business, I cannot leave out race or any other considerations that may influence a situation. I am not passing judgment, I am sharing an observation. Can you even discuss racial issues without being a racist in some peoples eyes? Last night Stephanie Edwards, one of the four "black divas" was voted off. She has superior talent to others and I do believe that vote splitting affected her support on the show and that one of the four white males will be in trouble next week for the same reason. This is not racist, but objective analysis of the real world.

Disclosure: I invest in international stocks and one of my favorites is ICICI Bank ADS (NYSE: IBN) one of India's largest private banks.

I received a torrent of comments to my recent blog post: American Idol: Are Indian call centers skewing the vote? and some of the responses had me rolling with laughter. I'm sure my perspective will not be shared by all, but shared it will be. Among all opinions there was consensus that contestant Sanjaya has outlasted his level of talent. My colleague Jonathan Berr had a different view when he posted Vote for the Worst is messing with American Idol, not Indian call centers. Still others thought Sanjaya was still on the show because he was an anti-judges vote, or young and cute, or even gay... a gay vote?

Having read everyone's thinking on the subject, which was one of my motivations for writing the story, I think it is all of the above. I hope that the "Vote for the Worst" does not have a major impact on the eventual outcome. Consider that the show has created opportunities for young talent to gain an audience, while entertaining millions with something better than infomercials and melodramas about doom and destruction.

The funniest comment of the week goes to VM who thought to critique my commentary with humor and succeeded. Thanks VM:

I own 25 call centers in India, and all my staff is just sitting idle during the American Idol. It is the great Indian Idle during American Idol.

So I have asked them to download the American Idol video -- as it is available on Bit Torrent as soon as it is aired -- there are lots of fans in India who download the show immediately, and get Sanjaya's number and start voting for him. For every vote, I reward with a point, and with every 100 points, they get a pay grade increase. So -- American Idol contestants, contact me if you want to win -- I can hook you up.

I have been following American Idol with my kids and think I am witnessing another example of the law of unintended consequences. This year one of the surprises on the show has been the success of the youngest contestant. He has survived the first three cuts from 24 to 20, to 16, to last night's featured 12.

Last night when asked by MC Ryan Seacrest if the judges thought "America got it right," the judges said no. Simon Cowell, the curmudgeon of the group, then opined: "They must have turned the sound down," referring to the voting public. I myself was first surprised by the 17-year-old's success with voters when he made it past the first cut and Seacrest said that he had the fourth highest vote tally among the 12 boys. I thought that strange, as did Randy, Paula and Simon. Last week and again this week the judges gave this young man no encouragement and Simon was his usual bad self, basically telling him he was the worst of the whole group. Yet "America voted," and he survived again.