[Red Jones]

client has been a gift since 1995.

But different programmers have all kinds of careers and experiences because of the very wide diversity of languages, purposes and industries and even mediums. And different programmers have different levels of education. And even traditionally pre-h1b there was big turnover in 5 year period, I believe 50% or more. It is a rough trade for most, including myself.

I think the best strategy on fighting h1b is as follows. We gotto get congressmen to rally around tancredo's legislation. Get lots of co-sponsors, both parties. It's not going to be an anti-h1b legislation. Instead, it is a pro high tech law that is broad that only includes h1b revisions and enhancments as follows. Because h1b is currently 195,000. We simply go back to 65,000 per the treaty. We memorialize 65,000 in law forever. We treat it like minimum wage. We don't increase it with time. Then, we allow the corps to keep indentured servants for 10 years instead of 6. That way the corps get a reward. You know the repubs wouldn't agree to it otherwise. Hopefully the democrats should now want to bolt to the right and populist on various issues, including h1b. But the corps need a reward to get the repub votes. If we extend it to 10 and limit the number, then we increase the value of h1b to the corps. This means they'll take the time to recruit the best people. In this way we all benefit. I am in full agreement also that it is fair to the home country to let them collect all payroll taxes from the employee's american labor for the full 10 year period. In this manner the 65,000 would all be worth $100,000 a year and would probably have agreed to come here for a pretty penny as well. So, we enhance h1b, we don't destroy h1b.

But to go along with this pill for business we do some other changes. In education we should test for aptitude kids at age 10-16. Each year we should invite some to special schools with synergy of other of high aptitiude. We need to systematically develop such people. It's like going to the moon. How much does it cost. If federal goverment gave $2500 scholarships for each kid selected, then local governments could shift the 5-10 grand a year they spend on the kid to a different school done with federal help if necessary to get these kids knowledgeable and developed at early age. It really costs the same to educate these talented few at an elevated ability & development in these talents etc. in mediocre schools as excellent. The 2500 is a bribe to local politicians to allow someone to do the job in reality. The legislation needs to implement this. Bush spends 60 billion a year on dept of ed. Maybe the bribe could be 4000! As current spending trends are keynesian this is the way to win on h1b, just turn up the dollar volume to win votes. we also need to through this big big instruct the bureaucracy to expedite approval of all h1b's green cards when they complete 6 years needs to be in the legislation to give something to everyone. today the government that gave us 195,000 h1b limit per year also fails to give promised green card status in 6 years today due to special legislation congress tookthe time to pass because the bureaucracy in the last 6 years hasn't had time to print out green cards for these people.

So, that's how pre-1996 newt gingrich would do it and that's how we should proceed.

Pennies from heaven.

[blueriver]

I think the best strategy on fighting h1b is as follows....

I think it would be a great success if they did not vote to increase the quota when the current level expires. Given the way things are going I do not hold out much hope.

What I think we should be pushing for is an American Worker Protection bill. This bill should have the following two provisions: 1. It would require a company that is laying of workers to first lay-off the H-1B temporary workers. 2. When a company asks for an H-1B petition or a green card they would have to prove that they did not lay off an American worker in the previous 12 months.

The additional two provisions would be an added bonus but are more likely just pipe dreams: 3. retroactively implement the first two provisions for the last 2 years. 4. give a tax advantage to hiring laid off American workers.

The first two provisions would go a long way in protecting American jobs while at the same time allowing companies to hire foreigners when they have a legitimate shortage of workers.

Regarding education, I do not think the government should get involved. Also, what would be the point of training kids for a profession where career and job prospects are questionable?