Posted on 04/29/2009 6:49:17 AM PDT by seatrout
Large corporations prefer to use H-1B visas to hire foreign engineers and computer technicians. H-1B workers increased threefold during the Clinton administration, and CEOs are constantly demanding that the number be raised or even unlimited.
Large corporations prefer H-1B foreigners because they work for lower wages with fewer rights. A recent study by researchers at top business schools reported that H-1B visas depress wages for software engineers and programmers by as much as 6 percent.
The cumulative effect, as described by another study, depresses wages even more. Many U.S. engineers even lost their jobs just after they were required to train their foreign replacements.
The Americans hardest hit by H-1B visas, according to these researchers, are recent college graduates and those who want to change jobs. One of the reasons why big corporations prefer to hire H-1Bers is that foreign workers are restrained, almost like indentured servants, from changing jobs and competing with their original employer.
Americans used indentured services in the 1600s when plantation workers were brought to Virginia to work for seven years in exchange for a free voyage to the New World. Later, this practice was supplanted by African slavery.
That's certainly not a model to imitate today. H-1B visas disrupt the free enterprise system that has yielded tremendous wealth to America and the world.
(Excerpt) Read more at humanevents.com ...
It is part of the new world order plot to destroy the middle class. The engineering skills typically paid well enough to put the young engineer solidly in the middle class; that is unacceptable to those who want it reduced to the elite and the rest.
The dearth of really smart math and science students from our own ranks has nothing to do with it?
It is a vicious cycle. Why would anyone pursue a science or engineering major when they know their earnings will be undercut by foreigners?
Why should a college kid go to the trouble of getting an engineering degree when his job will just get outsourced within five years?
—My opinion, they are more easily “controlled”. —
Exactly. Just like the “indentured servants” of old, that Shlafly mentions in the article. Only difference is that, today, OSHA regulations frown on use of a bullwhip.
“The dearth of really smart math and science students from our own ranks has nothing to do with it?”
This is my profession, and I am reluctant to encourage any smart students to pursue advanced degrees. Our MBAs, politicians, and others of no intellectual accomplishment have allowed our jobs to go elsewhere. Why study difficult subjects for years and years whilst watching social “science” and law majors become our “leaders”...spending our tax dollars and enriching their corrupt supporters?
H1-bs are “internal outsourcing.” Instead of bringing the job to the foreigners, high-tech brings the foreigners to the job.
At least the indentured servants became both free and citizens after those seven years. These H1Bs are headed right back home with their dough once they’ve decided they’ve done enough.
The age discrimination issue needs to be emphasized as well. 22-year-old engineers are relatively cheap. 50-year-old engineers are relatively expensive. Any American who goes into engineering ought to know that they will be competing against H1B’s and that after working for a few decades, they will suddenly become much less attractive as employees. In a downturn like this, to be laid off at 50 is a very, very bad thing for an engineer.
Somedays, working on OSHA compliance, I'd take my chances with the bullwhip.
To say nothing of their former employer's intellectual property. Yeah, foreign engineers and computer scientists may be cheap to employ, but they're very expensive once those folks take their knowledge home and sell it to your overseas competitors.
FWIW if you are in engineering or CS, get yourself a job that requires a clearance. Foreigners won't qualify for those positions (yet).
H1-B program is a complete and total scam, it is to skilled workers what illegals are to unskilled. Anyone tells you otherwise they are bald face lying to you.
This is an opinion piece, designed to stir up emotions.
I am the parent of three young engineers, all of whom have good jobs, well-paid, never outsourced.
None of them have even one engineering friend without a job, but they do have friends who can’t find a job because they either dropped out of school or earned a generic degree that didn’t prepare them for today’s economy.
The sad truth:
Not enough American kids put the required years of effort into learning the tough math and science that technical jobs require.
I have seen it first hand when Indian and other Asian gangs get into companies. In a few months all the Americans are gone.
Americans not being smart enough? Nonsense. The best programmmers I know or have known are Americans. Next best or comparable are Europeans or Russians.
You nailed it.
American students ARE NOT pursuing computer science or other types of engineering degrees.
I’m an IT recruiter at one of the largest high-tech companies in the world. There are not enough US citizens to do the jobs.
The American programmers I have known are typically the most creative, but least disciplined. Indian programmers are far better for being on time, following design guidelines, documentation, etc.
That's my experience, at least. (And I'm an American programmer...)
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