American Idiocy

[Synch]

The Economist (http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=8892559)


America also makes life difficult for them. Since the mid-1960s the immigration system has been skewed to uniting families rather than to attracting talent. And in recent years it has been driven by a combination of fear of terrorism and rising protectionism. In 2003 Congress reduced the number of H1B visas (temporary visas for highly skilled workers) from about 200,000—well below the number needed—to 65,000.

Potential graduate students and high-tech workers tell nightmare stories of waiting for months for the right bits of paper. And high-tech companies relentlessly complain about not being able to get visas for some of the world's best brains. A few attempts have been made to fix the system. Bill Gates and other high-tech barons have lobbied Congress to create a more flexible process and make it easier for foreign students to stay in America on graduation. But so far all attempts to sort out legal immigration have been swamped by Congress's inability to deal with the illegal kind.

[slapnpopbass]

Well guess what, pal. We got a lot of shit on plate right now. No immigration system is perfect.

[Burningnun]

Not perfect seems to be a bit of an understatement for the one America has in place at the moment.

[Henkie]

Well guess what, pal. We got a lot of shit on plate right now. No immigration system is perfect.

The point they're trying to make is: "You're doing it wrong!"

While you don't need illegal immigrants, you do need legal immigrants (i.e. smart people you actually need). Congress, however, is trying to stop legal immigrants while not actually solving illegal immigration.

[Sketcher]

The point they're trying to make is: "You're doing it wrong!"

While you don't need illegal immigrants, you do need legal immigrants (i.e. smart people you actually need). Congress, however, is trying to stop legal immigrants while not actually solving illegal immigration.

We need to slow down both. Hell, the people here now, both Americans and legal immigrants, are having a hard enough time finding jobs as it is without all the extra imported labor.

What do you think happens when we import workers just as fast as we're out-sourcing jobs?

[YouEnjoyMyself]

I think we need to work on our education system so we don't need to accept people from other nations for intelligence.

Of course I want the smarters people in other nations working for the best interests of America, but we should try to crank more out on our own.

[jn_powell]

Of course I want the smarters people in other nations working for the best interests of America, but we should try to crank more out on our own.

Sorry man I couldn't pass it up.:p

[YouEnjoyMyself]

Hahaha I didn't even see that.

[Synch]

We need to slow down both. Hell, the people here now, both Americans and legal immigrants, are having a hard enough time finding jobs as it is without all the extra imported labor.

What do you think happens when we import workers just as fast as we're out-sourcing jobs?
Both outsourcing and importation of skilled labor leads to a net creation in jobs, as greater efficiency leads to greater growth in businesses. Case in point, after the economic borders in the EU were liberates Ireland opened its doors to Polish and other Eastern European immigrants while France closed its doors. Now compare the unemployment rates...

Not to mention immigration of skilled laborers boost GDP per capita and generates more tax revenue.



I think we need to work on our education system so we don't need to accept people from other nations for intelligence.

Of course I want the smarters people in other nations working for the best interests of America, but we should try to crank more out on our own.

I agree, but our current government is not helping. Case in point, the Democratic governer of Ohio is shifting funds away from voucher and charter schools, eliminating competition and dooming our progeny.

Also, most intelligence is innate, it's impossible to increase our net inherent intelligence without importation.

[david_slupper]

That's just ridiculous. They're keeping out the wrong people.

[GotheriK]

Why do we need ANY more Mexicans?

[YouEnjoyMyself]

I agree, but our current government is not helping. Case in point, the Democratic governer of Ohio is shifting funds away from voucher and charter schools, eliminating competition and dooming our progeny.

You take tax money going to send some kid to a religious school and you'll find me being one more possible fan of it. At this point I'm against the idea of paying for a kid to get an education — no matter how good — that has a one-sided religious twist. Learning about religion is great, but I don't want to pay for a kid to go to a school of any religious doctrine.

As for competition, I really feel education should be about self betterment and personal advance instead of trying to beat the next guy.

Also, most intelligence is innate, it's impossible to increase our net inherent intelligence without importation.

You mean we can't work toward higher education? We can't provide more means for a person to become smarter?

[david_slupper]

Why do we need ANY more Mexicans?

Actually most of them are Asian or European.

[Fag Boy]

You take tax money going to send some kid to a religious school and you'll find me being one more possible fan of it. At this point I'm against the idea of paying for a kid to get an education — no matter how good — that has a one-sided religious twist. Learning about religion is great, but I don't want to pay for a kid to go to a school of any religious doctrine.

As for competition, I really feel education should be about self betterment and personal advance instead of trying to beat the next guy.



You mean we can't work toward higher education? We can't provide more means for a person to become smarter?

Its only for kids whos local school under performs, not just anyone. Also I dont know what idea you have in your head but just because its a private school dosnt mean its a religious school. Also many of the kids who go to religious schools arnt even part of any religion. They go there becuase of the school, not the church.

[slapnpopbass]

Actually most of them are Asian or European.

Mexicans come from Mexico. :dunce: He was referring to the illegals that raise crime and no speaky english. We do need more intelligent minds from around the world, customs officials just cant look and see a man with a gift in Astrophysics.

[Synch]

Mexicans come from Mexico. :dunce: He was referring to the illegals that raise crime and no speaky english.
Yes, Mexicans are using all those H1B visas for high skilled workers, he must've read the article.

[Midfielder1]

I think we need to work on our education system so we don't need to accept people from other nations for intelligence.

Of course I want the smarters people in other nations working for the best interests of America, but we should try to crank more out on our own.
Synch

That is probably the best bet! Many high tech workers may be able to find well paying jobs in their own backyards in the future and may not immigrate anyway.

This will put the US at a disadvantage, foreign students are no longer as drawn to top-tier U.S. institutions, now. A wealth of engineers are graduating from other places around the globe. Looks to me like the United States is really in danger of losing its premier position as the world's science and technology leader.

Funny though when I was living in NYC, CEOs who were (still are) trying to belatedly sound the alarm over the decline of American high tech dominance are the exact same crowd of folks who are most responsible for it! They wanted H1Bs raised in order to fuel the late 90's boom market for low-cost, foreign "indentured" tech servants.

(Work for peanuts for a guaranteed length of time in exchange for the possibility of a green card.)

Instead they could have tried to promote high tech study in the USA. Why didn't they. They were promoting money in their pockets!

Now they are crying.

"work on our education system"

No England's no better, but as someone that loves America too and lived there, kinda a shame ain't it.

[Dayve]

It's a shit system i will agree, but it's 100% better than how our British government does it. 9 out of 10 immigrants let into this country have absolutely no skills and just end up working shitty factory/warehouse jobs for £3 an hour. At least America makes an attempt to let in the intelligent ones who will be of value to the country and society.