One or two members have used a quote from Mark Twain that no ones life, liberty, or property etc. are safe, so long as a Legislature is in session. The Founding fathers understood this well. That is why our Constitution is there -- to protect us against our Government.
Now it seems there is a Bill in the Senate with the curious title Emergency Relief Competitiveness Bill 2008 or such. This is an evil Bill, and I will explain to you why I feel so strongly about why not only should the Bill be defeated, but any Senator of any Party who supports it should be voted out of office. While I generally don't believe in raising single "litmus test" issues for our elected or want to be elected representatives, this Bill so outrageously defies all public trust and the most basic of American values as to why exactly our representatives are there.
The argument for this Bill is that there is a "shortage" of American skilled workers --specifically hi-tech workers --that it is necessary to bring in foreigners to fill those Tech jobs - as Americans are just not up to it. The fundamental principal, if you follow the logic and Title of this Bill is that for America to compete in the World Arena, it must bring in non-Americans to fill Tech jobs. How far away is this from arguing that the best way for America to compete is to stop being America?
As most of you know, these tech workers who are presently working under these special visas are paid about half of what the Americans that they replaced are being –or were, perhaps more accurately -- being paid. Of course, once they are “in country”, very few Americans would probably want them to be broadly fired, and put on an airplane as they are no longer without Visa.
Of course, these “special visa” workers can’t complain or get fired, because they then lose the very Visas that give them the right to live in America.
Does this sound like Indentured Labor to you, where a worker was hired under a seven year Contract and then had to “work 0ff” the terms of that Contract –or be deported or otherwise penalized. We did away with Indenture of labor in the USA. This unfortunate Bill would bring it back under the false guise that it is to fill jobs that skilled tech Americans cannot do.
Anybody know of any Americans –with good skills –who are having difficulty finding jobs that are reasonably within their skills? Of course there are unemployed Americans –with high or technical skills, and there is also a reasonable “transfer of training” well-known to psychology. This Bill would bypass them and use foreign imported workers who can stay here so long as they are employed in the jobs they are in effect “sponsored.” At half-price. Instead of unemployed Tech or trainable unemployed Americans.
Find out more about this Bill and vote against any and all Politicians who would support them. A few “fired” Senators might make them think twice about who they work for. America? Or big tech Corps who can well fill their jobs with Americans. We might also consider making post-secondary education affordable without having huge Student Loans to pay off. Many foreign universities are free for their citizens. Adress these issue before resorting to indentured workers to replace freeman American workers --high Tech or low Tech.
This is not a Competiveness bill if it discourages people from investing in a difficult technical education, if they know the jobs there are reserved for foreign imports , by elected representatives who have forgotten who they work for.
MegalosSkylaki