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----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert La Ferla" <robertlaferla at attbi.com> To: <discuss at blu.org> Sent: Saturday, May 31, 2003 1:29 PM Subject: Re: H1B "Patrick R. McManus" <mcmanus at ducksong.com> wrote: >> Just browsing my linux mailboxes this morning (representing perhaps 12 >> or 18 hours of mail) I've come across the following 'foreigners' who >> have contributed more to creating the linux industry than most anybody >> on this list. Some of these people work for american companies. Some >> of them even work in America. The horror! >Hiring temporary foreigner workers when there are unemployed people in our country who will work for reasonable rates is the problem. Your argument is basically a variation of the liberal argument that "companies should hire the best (btw - sometimes best=cheapest) workers regardless of where they live." Maybe times have changed -- or perhaps the meaning of liberal has-- but as far as I can tell the "liberal argument" has always been to protect and preserve US jobs. "Hire the best (sometimes best=cheapest) workers regardless of where they live." represents *conservative view* -- lazy protectionist employees who want too much money, and would probably unionize if given half a chance and this is all Bad For Business, etc. etc. :-) As you say, >Hiring temporary foreigner workers when there are unemployed people in our country who will work for reasonable rates is the problem. You're right on the money there! Right now there is NO shortage of good techies and no one expects a 1999 pay scale any more. Controlled immigration is a GOOD THING (imho)... because it's enough of a reality check that we don't drive industry away. Plain and simple the H1-B/L-1 thing is a 'jobs-destruction' program, benefiting no one... except some investors, the top-brass at EMC, and the politicians who will pick up a bigger campaign finance check from the above beneficiaries. The good news at least is the economy cannot sustain deliberate unemployment, so at some point hopefully the television media will put a spotlight on this issue. One hopes.
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