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.
Not true. At 4.7% unemployment we are below what has traditionally considered full employment. The number of people moving from one job to the next is usually around 5% - so we are at a practical maximum for employment.
In addition, many of those looking for work are products of American Public Education...dominated by the NEA (National Education Association) union. The emphasis of the NEA is benefits for teachers and administrators - to the neglect of the kids and good education. We need serious educational reform to fix the problem. Bush has made proposals which the educational establishment is fighting tooth and nail.
Until we have a fix to the education problem, we need skilled workers to keep our economy humming.
The lack of skills in our kids coming out of college is a whole other dilemma. Bottom line: until we stop having kids majoring in "womens studies", "black studies", "the economic prosperity of Marxism and Leninism", and "cross gender planing".....we are in a world of hurt!
We all want business to thrive in the United States, that's the point, the government is artificially forcing competition on them. Bush talks about China and India rising as competitors. Why is that happening all of a sudden, could the free trade agreements he appears obsessed with pursuing have something to do with it?
If enough Republicans join with the populists and zenophobes and know-nothings and stir up fear among the blue-collar voters
In case you forgot, it was those blue-collar Reagan democrats who gave us conservatism in the eighties. If you start messing with their economic situation the Richard Gephardts will be running the show in the not too distant future.
What he (Arcadia) said!!!!!!!
He wants no limits.
And he said that Americans are stupid.
Once upon a time it was important to tell the truth, especially if you were the President of the USA. There are more unemployed engineers in America toady than their are engineering jobs for them in America. George Washington said he could not tell a lie, that yes indeed he chopped down the cherry tree. It's too bad modern politicians don't have the same standards of telling the truth.
Please provide a source for this assertion. Thanks in advance.
You can only sell your home for market price or below. While you "own" it you get to pay large $ yearly to the governmental jurisdictions that claim a right (city, township, county, state) to tax your property or confiscate it. And then you get to pay taxes on the "gain" in price brought about by inflation, a predictable result of government policy. You still need a place to live - so you buy something similar, for a similar price, and get to pay the government some more $ to do the transaction.
Face it, we ordinary joes are feudal serfs, constantly being chewed on to a bare existence by the billionaire lords and their servants. So our lords see a cheaper source of labor overseas, then they order "our" government to let them import the labor. What, you think that there is a popular upwelling for H-1Bs?
That's fine. And when the Prez asks me or mine to go die on foreign soil, I'll tell him to outsource that too.
OK, I agree with the first part of your assertion, i.e. some of his economic policies run counter to traditional conservative principles. However, he is still avowedly a capitalist. In fact there has not been a more pro-business President, especially pro-Big Business, since Calvin Coolidge. Bush has taken the pro-Big business position on every issue, including the environment, taxes, investment, lawsuits, medical liability, OSHA, labor laws, etc.
Bush is about as far left as Lenin;
You know, you guys need to be a little more realistic when you hurl charges against Bush. Statements like this are just laughable and prevent you from being taken seriously. Read above re: Big-Business. I mean, if you want to criticize him, atleast get the facts right.
I think he's making a smart move.
End it. Boy! wouldn't that be great.
One thing I like about the pro-"globalization" New Democrat Third Way "progressives" site (ndol.org) is the acknowledgment that, yes American workers will be affected by "globalization" but we (the "all mighty government") should help them.
The mainline pro-"globalization" Republican response seems to be, yes they are affected. They should have been prepared for it. It's for the economy. Better jobs will be created -- until then, screw the whining socialists (Marxists?) who see government as their mommy.
Those are both subjective opinions.
The point: Wouldn't it be nice to acknowledge that yes there are many American workers affected by ILLEGAL/legal immigration and offshore outsourcing?
Furthermore, yes the economy is doing great! But! many American workers are nevertheless uneasy and wondering how far will this go before "globalization" nails them.
Good question.
I remember the early 1990s movie, Falling Down. The advent of the "angry white man." Well now it ain't just white men; though compared to most of the app. 150,000,000 employed men and women there are few of them -- but they are real.
(Personally, I see the internationalist, Davos, New Democrat Third Way "rules-based" -- their rules -- "free trade" globalization as a Marxist revolution from the top down. Transnational corporations already kowtow to the WTO -- soon the WTO will be enforcing "social justice" -- according to the "rules." Got rope?)
I agree on both counts!
If we were to replace our current communist inspired, class warfare promoting, tax code with something like that proposed in Fairtax bill (HR25/S25) currently before the house ways and means committee we would see an expansion of economic activity in this country the likes of which no person alive today has ever seen and our home grown talent would be in far greater demand as a result!
He has, which is why I have written him off other than the WOT.
At times, he seems like Damien Thorn re-incarnated.
Or leaarn a trade and become a good business person. For most males, going to a 4 year college is insane. Go 2 years and take the basics at a community college, spend two years learing a trade and off you go.
Ann Richards saying: "GWB was born on third base and thought he hit a triple" seems very true nowadays.
If your son has any brains, he will go in his own business in the trades or related fields and offer the best customer service around. He will earn far far more if he does that than begs some company for a job.
A good plumber or electrician today is FARRRR better off than a schumck looking to work for someone else.
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