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Industry likes to tell the public that they need to bring in foreign workers because of a so-called "labor shortage." But the very concept of a labor shortage is a sophistry that has no place in free-market economics. Economics teaches that in a free market there are never shortages of anything, only things whose price, as set by supply and demand, is higher than some person wishes to pay.

Okay I will bite. Where is the data to support this? If there are hundreds of thousands of Americans with the proper skills and who are fluent in the computer languages that Microsoft and other H-1B hirers are looking for why isnt there rampant unemployment in the computer programming field?

If someone is fluent in Cobol and the company is looking for someone who is fluent in some other language, then the individual is unqualified for the position. Its just like showing up for interview to be a Japaneese interpreter and only know English and Spanish.

From the article it sounded as though the author expected the companies to hire and then train Americans in the computer language and how to do the task that they want completed. Sorry that wont wash. Potential employees are responsible for their own education. Why should a company teach a potential employee how to make a living so that guy can then go across the street and sell his new skill for even more money. No way. You want the job, you show up qualified for it.

This whole rant over H-1B is idiotic. If Microsoft and others cant bring in workers to do the work here, they can have it outsourced to firms in India and Singapore who would be happy to do it and they wont even pay US taxes. Its a global economy. Better get used to it. Get a skill someone is willing to pay more than minimum wage for or suffer the consequences.

Its a global economy. Better get used to it.

The often repeated excuse for a race to the bottom. The implied premise is that the US must be entirely immersed in this "global economy". The extent to which the US is involved in the "global economy", and therefore the degree of threat to the standard of living of US citizens need not be a done deal. We can participate in global trade to the extent it benefits the citizens of this country.

Get a skill someone is willing to pay more than minimum wage for or suffer the consequences.

The consequences of competing with Indian or Chinese labor in any job or profession is lower wages for the American. Global labor competition will result in a globally weighted average wage.

Regards

J.R.

The whole premise behind the H-1B visa policy is that there are supposedly not enough qualified engineers to satisfy corporate America's requirements. This may have been true two years ago. As we all know this not true any longer. When companies downsized in 2001 they laid off American's and kept H-1B visa holders. Most engineers that were laid off can not find jobs. Companies are still able to hire foreigners because the H-1B policy has not changed.

If there are hundreds of thousands of Americans with the proper skills and who are fluent in the computer languages that Microsoft and other H-1B hirers are looking for why isnt there rampant unemployment in the computer programming field?

There is rampant unemployment in the computer programming field. Hundreds of thousands of jobs have been lost, yet the H-1B program continues. Note to our elected officials, we know who you are and will be glad to return the favor.