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> We (Americans) are not independent of the world. And I don't want to > be. When the computer industry resorts to protectionism for its > workforce (a typical pattern for recently emerging industry that is no > longer emerging) is when it gets remarkably uninteresting and its time > to question what we're doing. I don't believe that this is what we are discussing here. The issue here is twofold: One, that these folks often take the money that they've earned and go home, not supporting the economy that offered them the opportunity to earn that money. Americans on the other hand, spend that money on products that require paying American sales/excise/homeowners tax, American tariffs, or American fees. If it wasn't for Americans spending money on the products that these people contribute to, and 'buying American' then there would be no H1B program, as there would be no jobs to fill. "Protectionism" is a different thing entirely, protecting an industry from FAIR competition from foreign interests. This, on the other hand, protects our citizens rights and opportunities under the law, which makes the H1B visa program illegal on it's face. If another party can compete for my job on a playing field that is weighted to benefit them, then that is unfair, and thereby illegal. I HAVE to pay taxes, as my home is in the US. I HAVE to pay fees, tariffs, and excise as I LIVE in the US. I HAVE to support the economy, as it's the only one I have access to. The H1B visa holder has options that are strictly-speaking unavailable to me. Second, these people are not necessary to our economy, and are in all honestly being exploited by companies as a form of cheap labor, rather than to fill a true need. If a company has a valid need for personnel that it truly cannot fill from the EXTENSIVE labor pool in the US (and in a region that in all likelihood has the highest unemployment since the Great Depression), then by all means, an H1B visa should be issued. The problem is that these same companies are laying-off people that are already doing those jobs, and having H1B visa holders do those same jobs. In all honesty, if these companies were offering H1B visa holders the same pay and benefits that they were offering Americans, then I would be less inclined to argue, however H1B visa holders can work for money that others cannot possibly afford, not unlike illegal immigrants. Additionally, the opportunity exists for visa holders to abuse the system similar to the way that some illegal aliens do; by abusing the health care system, the tax laws, and other things that are requirements of citizens that will be here for more than a year (ask any bill collector how many times they've successfully collected from people on a temporary visa). All things that I as an American, end up paying for. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that all or even most H1B visa holders are crooks, but a potential exists that is far less likely in a citizen of our country. The arguments used by corporations today are NOT VALID. These are the same arguments that have been used throughout history; by slave holders, robber-barons, mine owners, and other interests whose sole intent is to exploit people for their own selfish benefit. Whatever they tell you, it is not helping YOU or your country to allow this to continue. Write your congressman. My two cents (which is what they'd like to pay me per hour), Grant M.
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