No need for H-1B Visas with Unemployment Rates at new highs...right??? (student loan, pension)

[mimimomx3]

I mean, why should anyone be in the US right now who isn't a citizen or permanent resident? That would be a good start in bringing down the unemployment rate...but will our spineless government stand up to big business??

Bye, bye: Layoffs mean more than lost wages for H-1B visa holders - San Jose Mercury News

[StoneOne]

So let me get this straight, you want a society in which government dictates to business and the citizenry, rather than the other way around?

That's been tried before, and it's been a MISERABLE FAILURE.

[Hasdrubal]

afaik there's a lack of several professionals in the USA, especially on the healthcare field. Of course, if becoming a doctor/pharmacist/nurse/dentist didn't cost you a kidney at American universities, there might be more US-born professionals employed in those areas. Take in mind that an European doctor pays very little to become such, whereas an American one is likely to be paying his student loans back for quite a number of years after he majors.

[Woof]

There's no lack of professionals who are citizens, there's a lack of American professionals who will be satisfied with no benefits and a low salary.

As for the notion that govt should never dictate to industry, that's on a par with other fairy tales and children's myths such as the Easter Bunny. Deregulation is what got us into this mess, and several of the European countries have managed to give their citizens a higher standard of living than the US, with great pensions, longer vacations, and universal health care.

But for all that, they seem like they're going to weather the storm we caused better than we will.

[HappyTexan]

So gov't shouldn't dictate rules to corporations ?
Yet it's ok for government to bail out corporations for relaxing their own rules and getting in trouble because of it ?

Makes no sense.

[oleo]

Originally Posted by mimimomx3

I mean, why should anyone be in the US right now who isn't a citizen or permanent resident?

Because they are skilled and can perform jobs better than most Americans.

[bentlebee]

You might think about another side....what if all other countries around the world will start to think the same...Have you given a thought how many Americans are making a living abroad? Some are there to set up American businesses who bring the profits back here to their family and are only working there for a couple of years and will return here...

You can't just blur out something without considering the other side...

[sheenie2000]

Originally Posted by oleo

Because they are skilled and can perform jobs better than most Americans.

That's not a fair statement. Are they smarter than us? I don't think so. I think we all have similar capabilities no matter where someone grew up.

What would help is training and a support system.

I graduated knowing jack from my CS degree. I had a horrible time looking for a job as I graduated right after the dotcom bust. Yet all these indians were coming from abroad making more than I was. Why? Because they lied on their resume and have a great support system. They help each by moving heaven and earth. We don't do that.

We need to set up a similar training/support system for ourselves, our colleagues and our future generation.

[wanneroo]

In the ski industry, H-2B visas started to become common as you could never get enough workers from the USA for the main season in winter. Keep in mind the USA has had full employment(5% unemployment) for many years. The company I worked for had a cadre of year round Americans and then for the winter our workforce would be 75% foreign(australian, kiwi, UK, South Africa) and 25% American. At first the workers were coming over on a 4 month visa university students can use then the company petitioned the USA government for H2B visas eligible for 5-9 months at a time. It worked for everyone as we could never attract enough Americans despite offering good pay and benefits for a ski town.

Now it's hard to say what will happen as this winter the number of H2B's got cut, yet they still have a hard time getting Americans. If the economy keeps shrinking it will be interesting to see if they can attract Americans to work. Also I wonder if the guvment will cut the knees off of the H2Bs.

[sheenie2000]

In my team at my old company, we all became very close friends. There was 7 other people on the team. ALL SEVEN LIED on their resumes. 6 of them said they had 5 years of experience when they started out, when they really had ZERO years.

It took me 6 years to get to a level of work they were doing because I was stupid and told the truth on my resume. And I ONLY got the job because my husband was working there and the manager LOVED him so she hired me as well.

Honestly, I felt so stupid working for peanuts for years when I could have just done what they did years and years ago.