Digby: Bring on the immigrants

[erronis]

https://digbysblog.net/2022/03/15/bring-on-the-immigrants/

The single greatest advantage the United States has over China is that high-skilled immigrants would much rather move here.

Imagine if we reformed our immigration system to actually let them…

So much good information in this post.

Will make the RWNJ's blood boil, I'm sure.

[Amishman]

1. A fair number of the rightwingers I know light be ok with that

What they hate is chain mmigration, bringing family and especially non immediate family over.

I think they might be ok with a strictly merit based system if it meant there was no other way to come here or stay here

[erronis]

4. So basically a work visa. No chance for a family? They just want servants.

[Demsrule86]

9. That is what they want...and they don't want to allow citizenship and they want to make them go

home every two years...so no. Also, they want to lower wages by continuing to pay H1B visas less than Americans.

[Beastly Boy]

2. There is significant opposition to highly skilled immigrants from the left.

Especially in the tech sector. The argument is that high-skilled immigrants are willing to work for lower wages doing the same work, thus depressing wages for native US workforce.

Ironically, the same argument is being used by the right against low-skilled immigrants.

[erronis]

5. I've been in the tech sector for 50 years. I welcome individuals no matter their background.

Let's just pay qualified people with equitable wages.

Don't treat H1-B employees as less than US nationals.

There are naturally differences between cultures but figuring out the navigation is beneficial to all.

(And, I think that the US, especially the tech/defense sectors are way overpaying staff. That's so they can bill the cost+ to the employer/USG.)

[electric_blue68]

6. I worked with a bunch of provisionals (non civil service) in the NYS Labor...

Dept. 9/80 - 8/81 to ease the overload of cases. So all pre-Reagan changes.

I heard the term H1-B... (the desk group 2 sets over)

however I was not in the tech/sci section, nor manufacturing, or a couple of others.

I was in Household = live in maids, au pairs, and one other category = oh, gaaaawd!

Saving graces - many of my co-workers 👍👍👍 , the occasional Interesting int'l certificates (one from India in particular), and (the dept left in the mid '80's for Brooklyn).....

and...

The Glorious E, NE, N, NW, W, Views from the NE corner of the Windows of the (2 elevators) 73rd Flr of the South Twin💖Towers.
I took photos off & on that whole year, then accidentally left them when I had to move not realizing they were in with others slides I could leave.

Plus the fabulous Mezzanine Shopping area! My first 👍Borders Bookstore, Ben & Jerry's Ice💖Cream Stand! Other typical, and different stores, etc.

[Demsrule86]

8. Many think everyone else besides themselves are overpaid.

[Demsrule86]

7. This is because of the abuses which are legendary...especially by Sprint and HP...ETC

I have seen it with my own eyes...I have been fired on a Friday and been expected to 'train' my replacement from India for two weeks starting Monday...it was Sprint in Atlanta.

[Beastly Boy]

10. As is the case with low wage workers and right wingers,

the lion's share of antagonism is being directed towards the workers, who are more often than not victims of workplace abuse themselves, not the employers who are the sole perpetrators of abuse.

At least that's been my experience with the high-skilled foreign workers I know, no matter their immigration status.

[fescuerescue]

3. Plus it's a lot closer than China

That would be a hella walk to China.