Five reasons why the H-1B cap will be increased, revised

Source: Computerworld

President Barack Obama has signaled interest in taking up comprehensive immigration reform. And any push for immigration reform is almost certain to include an increase in the H-1B cap. One year ago, I outlined five reasons why the cap will be increased; this is a revised assessment.

One: H-1B opponents have no friends in the White House. President Barack Obama has appointed an all-star cast of H-1B and offshore outsourcing supporters, and this administration sees the visa as critical to avoiding a "competitive disadvantage." But let's step back just a little. Is the White House really a mirror of the Bush administration on the H-1B issue? During the campaign, Obama made it clear that he had problems with the offshoring of U.S. jobs, although it was mostly in the context of manufacturing. Obama is now trying to get some of those manufacturing jobs back. The massive federal stimulus includes $2 billion to underwrite the building of lithium-ion battery manufacturing plants to keep Taiwan and China from dominating this market. The tech industry isn't as vulnerable as the battery manufacturing industry, but it's still vulnerable. IBM's U.S. workforce is shrinking and expanding overseas. IT services firm Affiliated Computer Services Inc. said last fall it is moving "more complex and higher paying" jobs offshore. But the Obama administration has put in place appointees who believe the high-tech industry will grow fast enough to offset a shift of tech jobs overseas. The tech industry says that's achievable if it has unfettered access to H-1B visas.


Read more: http://blogs.computerworld.com/five_reasons_why_the_h_1b_cap_will_be_increased_revised

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read through it - it's pretty well written

and nowhere does he claim it has anything to do with fairness to American workers

The real question is this:

Is this the change voters were expecting?

The writer of the article does a pretty good job of laying out why the Obama admin. is so blind and deaf to the people on this. But I actually disagree a bit with his assertion that the pro H1B forces have won the PR war. Sure, they get a lot more favorable coverage in the NYT but you can't tell me that raising visa caps on skilled workers would poll well with the public right now. The cheap labor lobby fools no one but themselves. The people see right through their bullshit.

Some people still don't see through it (I've had to explain what a "H1B" is and without trying to get too biased one way or the other with the definition before I start to discuss the downsides to it), but most definitely do.

I don't think President Obama will be signing it either. Or, at least, I think he'll see a middle ground that supports both the US economy and US workers while also appeasing the H1B folks to a certain extent. Worst case scenario, he's been "blind/deaf", but I don't think he's been malicious or anything else. Not in his speeches, many of his signed actions have been US worker labor-friendly too.

And, of course, he's a thousand million times better with foreign relations - which has been a key issue for American politicians for the last 40 years. I've no qualms with my vote either way and any change is still going to take time.

There's no way he's going to stop outsourcing, even if he wants to. The prevailing theme of the G20 summit seemed to be ZOMG SAVE US FROM TEH EEEVIL PROTECTIONIZM!!1! Clearly, there are far too many entrenched corporate and political interests in keeping the 'free trade' scam going. Like you said, he's a thousand million times better than Bush or McPalin on foreign relations and as long as he can keep a nuke from going off somewhere I will never think my vote was wasted.

I've other God-given talents and skills, for which people have said I should be out there making 'real money' with. It's time for me to use them. Which is why I've gone back to school to earn a higher degree, along with it being the patriotic thing to do.

:patriot:


Edited: Grammar

Haters should be BANNED.

Disclaimer: My response to you is not
:sarcasm:

From now on, I will be tirelessly advocating for the banning of ANYONE who thinks they can come on here and bash Obama or question his wisdom on ANYTHING.

n/t

of dittoheads and cheerleaders.

Are you sure you're not kidding?

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=bush+h1bs&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&oq=

And your sig line paints him as being "Commander Cuckoobananas".

:shrug:

Damn, my new MO is sooo much less intellectually tiring than having to gather up facts and utilize critical thinking.


Aahhhhhhh.

the first response out of people in lockstep is to say OH SO YOU WANT MCCAIN?
rather then present some intelligent discourse on the subject.
put your pom poms down, I cant see the thread.

Oh yes.

Of course, if I WAS my old self, I would merely point out that Obama is doing what every pol with a stable of neoliberal economists would do, which is pay homage to the great beast of Outsourced Globalization.

But since I am now converted, I will sit back, take a deep breath, and enjoy the puppy pics.

:patriot:

I'm also thinking about taking the blue pill.
Life would be so much simpler.
You don't have to STAND for anything, and get to insult those who do.

Whoops, wrong definition for blue pill...

All I have to do is tap my shoes together three times...
stick a pencil in one ear, and out the other...
and finally... (if i am still able to raise some pom poms over my head) sign a blank check over to this administration and demand NO accountability.

No more stress... Just cute puppies and that wonderful Shamwow thing!

In fact, he had better lower it or eliminate it altogether.