Posted on 02/04/2006 4:38:34 AM PST by Tyche
Making a strong pitch for America to stay competitive in the face of emerging economies such as India and China, President George W Bush has urged the Congress to raise the number of H-1B visas that allow companies to hire foreign workers for scientific and high tech jobs.
"Congress needs to understand that nations like India, China, Japan, Korea and Canada all offer tax incentives that are permanent. In other words, we live in a competitive world. We want to be the leader in this world," Bush said in a speech in Minnesota on Thursday.
To fill vacant jobs in the US, Bush urged the Congress to lift current limit on H-1B visas that allow foreign workers to get jobs in the United States. The Congress in 2005 capped at 65,000 the number of H-1B visas, a third of the 195,000 allowed during the technology boom.
"I think it's a mistake not to encourage more really bright folks who can fill the jobs that are having trouble being filled here in America, to limit their number. So I call upon Congress to be realistic and reasonable and raise that cap," Bush said, but did not say by how much he wanted the limit lifted.
He said that one part of the agenda to stay competitive was to study math and science, a theme he touched on in his State of the Union Address on Tuesday.
"It's one thing to research, but if you don't have somebody in that lab, well… And so I got some ideas for the Congress to consider. The first is to emphasize math and science early, and to make sure that the courses are rigorous enough that our children can compete globally," Bush said in a speech at the 3M Corporation.
He said there are more high-tech jobs in America today than people available to fill them. "So what do we do about that? And the reason it's important -- and the American citizen has got to understand it's important -- is if we don't do something about how to fill those high-tech jobs here, they'll go somewhere else where somebody can do the job."
"There are some who say, we can't worry about competition. It doesn't matter, it's here. It's a real aspect of the world in which we live," he said.
"And so one way to deal with this problem, and probably the most effective way, is to recognize that there's a lot of bright engineers and chemists and physicists from other lands that are either educated here, or received an education elsewhere but want to work here. And they come here under a programme called H1B visas," Bush said.
He said America should not fear competition. "It's important for us not to lose our confidence in changing times. It's important for us not to fear competition but welcome it."
Senior administration officials noted that the number of H-1B visas has fallen to 65,000 which in their estimation was 'too low' and that it was imperative 'to bump that up.'
". . . some of reports have called for increases of 10,000; others between 20,000 and 40,000. So there is a number of options on the table to be considered. But we'll work with Congress on that," said Claude Allen, assistant to the President for domestic policy.
Thanks, and well stated.
I'm living proof of that. Doing what I have to do while I complete nursing school.
SO COUNT THE IT JOB I COULD BE DOING AS "UNFILLED" BY A QUALIFIED AMERICAN CITIZEN.
To secure freetraders profits?
"Who really, is GW? Is he a puppet of his father's other son (Clinton)?"
No, they're both puppets. I doubt we'll ever find out who really gives the orders. It's easy to see the American people don't really have a say in government unless they can cough up some bucks to bribe their representatives.
It shouldn't matter who your rep is.
The question is do you want your rep to vote for hastert or nancy pelosi.
Now if you don't care if a san francisco liberal takes san francisco nationwide then it makes sense to vote third party.
Just know that nancy pelosi is worse than you can ever imagine.
Freedom, justice, and merit. They aren't fighting so you can eat some poor bright kid in India's lunch.
Large corporations have been global since the 19th century. And are only going to get more so, forever. They perform necessary technological tasks for all of humanity. They are not your property.
I've got no problem using trade strategically where actual grand strategy considerations are involved, nor with using it to promote human rights or democracy. But when those become excuses to reduce trade, you lose me. There is no reason not to recruit the talented, nor is there any economic reason not to trade with friendly democracies (e.g. Mexico, India), even poor ones.
Pols do sell policy, it is their job, but that isn't the reason for conservatives to support this stuff (I mean trade generally and recruiting talent). It is just economically the right thing to do. Makes all of us wealthier.
We don't require military service of our own and it is a stupid suggestion. The military themselves would not want the assimilation problem and it would make the military less reliable to pack it with non-citizens. That way lies sorrow. But it isn't even a proposal, it is just a piece of rhetoric.
I will praise the Conservatives who vote against an increase in Visa's and who encourage Americans to compete, encouraging college's to have programs that will give Americans the workforce they need.
No blood for oil!
He is not majoring in any engineering, because right now he is taking classes for a business degree, hasn't decided on which kind of business degree he wants either. He is studying abroad right now, and when he comes back he is going to talk to an adivsor and see what his options are. He knows he has to pick one, civil, mechanical,etc. He needs to research each one and see what suits him. I predict he will stay with business, mgmt probably. Any suggestions?
I refuse to support the respendicans until they comeback to the right. If you vote for them no matter what why should they support us? You dance with who brung you. Jorge needs to be reminded of this. Period.
My only suggestion is to not do what I did, and study Economics and English Lit. :)
"It is simply about economic competitiveness."
Economic competitiveness is one thing, compromising national sovereignty is not an acceptable way to accomplish it.
Look at Jon Corzine, he just buys his offices. First he bought his senate seat, not powerful enough, so he bought his governor seat. Next stop, the President. That may take all his money, though.
Enforce the law and police the border with Mexico, I'm entirely with you. Reject give away amnesties, I'm entirely with you. Turn away bright people who want to come work here, bringing all their talent and the economic growth it will bring, no thanks. There is no "sovereignty" in economic suicide.
Loved the chart, very interesting. Aren't most CEO's of corporations, business majors? not engineers? Aren't most business owners, business majors or drop outs like Bill Gates? Or me, a drop out of college, making six figures in my fifties selling real estate?
Isn't Social Darwinism grand ? Who needs people with less than 170 IQ ?
A nation, and we live in a world of nation states, not 'global economies', retains the loyalty of its citizens by putting THEIR well being ahead of transnational corporations. And most of those citizens will have IQs of less than 170. China and India understand that perfectly well. A nation has a higher purpose than maximizing 'efficiency' or shareholder equity. And last time I checked neither China nor India stopped being old fashioned nation states.
The 'citizen of the world' of the right like you (and your perspective is that of some kind of transnational elite) is no better than the 'citizen of the world' of the left who insists that America must act according to 'international opinion' and the UN.
It all depends how much "stock" one owns:
Top 5% owns about 60% of nation wealth. Bottom 60% owns about 4%. Welcome to Latin American model.
Republicans just voted to cut 39 billion from the budget.
Not one dem voted for those cuts.
Republicans want to fix social security while dems are happy with the rate of growth of social security continuing.
Republicans are proposing to get rid of the earmarks while Harry Reid is saying no.
You want social security to keep growing then keep bashing republicans.
Most republicans would love to cut spending even more but they don't have any dems and have to put up with the rinos from the northeast.
Good conservatives are going to be eaten alive by these purist voters who will take the actions of rinos and dems out on them.
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