Comment by tired-turtle
11 hours ago
Hi Peter. I know a little about H1B1 visas and the process of getting one, having worked with many colleagues who are in the US on one, but I don’t fully understand the pros/cons of the H1B1 program from the perspective of the average American.
As one presidential candidate will likely direct his ire at the program if he wins, can you explain why such a program is compelling or vital for our tech industry? My H1B1 colleagues seem happy to be in the US (and have indicated such) but nonetheless appear exploited. My naive economic analysis is that the visa program depresses wages to the benefit of corporations, but I’m sure the situation is far more nuanced.
(I’d like something to offer my conservative friends/family who increasingly think all immigration should be verboten.)
Ask you conservative friends how they feel about Libertarians (bring up Rand Paul). If they say they like what Libertarians stand for, remind them that the official libertarian platform is for an open border and a welcoming America in keeping with America's tradition of being a nation of immigrants. Then remind them of your great grandma/aunt/nana with the funny accent and if she and her children should have been kept out because someone felt scared of the maybe/might/gut feeling threat she posed to them.
> (I’d like something to offer my conservative friends/family who increasingly think all immigration should be verboten.)
Not proberts, but observing left wing media in the States over the last 8-10 years I've seen a carpet bombing of the same concept: eliding the difference between immigration and illegal immigration. If you want to talk to your conservative friends and family I'd start by checking whether or not it's illegal immigration they're against. Even the Democrats seem to be noticing that people don't like open border policies and are scrambling to adjust campaign promises in light of this.
Oh yes it's just illegal immigrants that Republicans hate. That's why they spread lies about refugees and other legal immigrants, right?
The context was getting on with friends and family.
I understand you might not able to think in these terms when it comes to the hated enemy, but if you think of all people as people, even Republicans, then you might notice that they don't all think the same things. Or even that they don't hate illegal immigrants, but think that laws are a good idea and criminals should be punished, not rewarded. This is just understanding both sides 101, in case you do break out of this mindset.
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