Posted on 05/16/2003 4:49:38 AM PDT by harpseal
The job market for tech graduates is tight and getting tighter. People with years of technical experience are working at flipping burgers and saying “Welcome to Wal-Mart.” Outsourcing every corporate function except senior management to low wage nations such as India and China has become the latest fashion in the executive suites. There are many reasons why this has become the fad du jour but if the USA is to remain a livable nation it is time for Government policy to change in order to maintain the American economy. Those technical jobs that remain inside the USA are being given to low cost “Guest Workers” under the H1B program or if companies have gotten squeezed by the minor contraction of the H1B program they bring in people under the L1 visa program. In the interim totally qualified Americans are pounding the pavement looking for these same jobs. The means to maintain the American economy as the engine that drives the world are there but there are some government policies that must be changed. I am proposing a ten point program that will put the American economy in the front again.
First, and foremost the H1B visa program should be eliminated today. ALL H1B VISA SHOULD BE ENDED TODAY AND THOSE PEOPLE IN THIS NATION ON THAT PROGRAM SHOULD BE ON THE NEXT FLIGHT OUT OF THE USA. If this causes a hardship for some companies, oh well, the H1B program was based on the supposition there were NO Americans who could do the job. So they lied and they should pay a price for their misrepresentation.
Second, the cost of outsourcing should reflect its true cost to these companies. Revise the tax code so that the investment tax credit does not cover any development done outside the USA unless such development can not be done inside the USA. Fraud in such certification should be considered a felony and prosecuted.
Third, get rid of section 1706 of the IRS code that made it almost impossible for the independent IT consultants to do business directly with companies.
Fourth, the temporary visas for engineers coming into the USA to learn what the jobs of current IT workers are should not be granted.
Fifth, simplify the tax and regulatory environment so that contractors can be employed more readily. (See comments on section 1706).
Sixth, tighten the L1 visa program so that it is not used as way around the H1B program. In short no L1 visas will be issued to facilitate moving American jobs offshore.
Seventh, prosecute anyone who has certified falsely that they were unable to find American workers for a job when all they were doing was trying to save money by bringing in H1B low wage guest workers. A few felony convictions in this realm will do wonders for stopping future false certifications.
Eighth, repeal all government subsidies for foreign investment, and institute tariffs against those nations which only will purchase American products if we build facilities in their nations. Such restrictions by foreign nations are an infringement on the free market and must be fought. More factories in China will do nothing to improve the American economic condition. Now even Mexico is feeling the pinch the investment by American firms in the People’s Republic of China. In short access to the American Market should be dependant upon free access of American firms to the market in other nations. If guest workers from a nation are to be allowed in the USA then Americans must be allowed to work in that nation.
Ninth, the American system of higher education should be focused on Americans first and foremost. If foreign students wish to come to the USA to study that is fine if there is space available, but only on a space available basis. Priority must go to those students who will be graduating as American citizens and the public funding of higher education should not be expended on students from other nations who seek to come here study and take the knowledge back to another nation to compete with the USA.
Tenth, we as a nation must revise our overall tax and regulatory environment. We must get away from the soak the rich formulas. We must no longer have the legal system seek to micro manage every action of every person. Rule of law is important but the law should not concern itself with trivialities. We need to restore balance in our tax laws and regulatory system.
These ten points are based on come very sound principles and are a natural conservative agenda in my opinion. They are based on controlling our borders. They are based on not subsidizing foreign nationals at the expense of the basics of American citizens. They are based on demanding free markets from our competitors. They are based on returning sanity to our tax and regulatory systems. They are based on demanding responsibility and truth from our nation’s companies in their dealings with our immigration policies. They are based on holding companies accountable for their actions.
No, none of this is a giveaway program. They are not based upon taking away a free market but rather on expanding a free market. India and China in fact the entire world has a sound basis to become sound stable and prosperous economies at present. The USA should not experience deflation and depression to subsidize these nations.
The political implications of the above proposals should be clear to everyone. Advocacy of these proposals would appeal to a broad cross section of the American electorate. They could be enough to insure a long term governing plurality for the political party that adopted them. It is my hope that the Republican Party will take them to heart.
Very good point.
This is why Belloc and others advocated the revival of the Guild system, a syndicalist, distributist political economy in which industry would be controlled and regulated by guilds made up of small independent capitalists.
I would prefer a system where accumulation of capital by lower classes is encouraged - primarily via the tax code, by exempting low income taxpayers from taxes on dividends and capital gains as well as with a generous protection of property (a nationwide homestead & IRA exemption in a bankruptcy.)
Plenty of nurses have left, and continue to leave, the profession for better paying jobs that require less skill and education than that of an RN. I can't give you statistics, but I know two personally.
Not true. Last time I was laid off (in 2001) it took me 8 months to find a job, and this was when I was actively seeking employment at many areas of the country. I have a sterling resume, so you can't blame the long job search for lack of willingness to relocate, or inadequate qualifications.
I have been accused of not understanding economics when I called for an end to subsidies of foreign governments and nationals.
People form India have accused me not wanting Free Markets when I have called for an end to their currency controls that prevent capital from flowing out of India.
I have determined that if someone thinks they are getting some financial benefit from the status quo all their priciples get thrown out the window. Ifd someone thinks they can gain a temporary financial benefit from the status quo any threat to that benefit get shot at with every vile word in the book. Was I surprised? No. It is merely a demonstration of people trying to defend their own interest in not changing the status quo when they are making a profit but the world is constantly changing and we as a nation must adapt or be left behind being left behind has consequences too horrendous to imagine given the worlds penchant for totalitarians.
This humble essay was but a start to propose some measures that will help keep the USA economically independent over the coming years. We need a population that is predomninantly middle class and we need a high level of technical expertise in all the fields from medicine, and the engineering disciplines to finance. We need tax policies that encourage industry within the USA. We need regulatory policies that encourage industry within the USA. Those institutions or persons who do not wish to see a strong American economy that produces goods and services are not pro-American and should feel the wrath of Americans. /rant
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