Yesterday I posted a diary describing my own experience at having been laid off while a less experienced and less qualified H1B worker in the same job was retained to take over my workload.
Much to my surprise, the diary generated over 1600 comments. Clearly it touched a nerve, or perhaps a few of them. This was surprising to me because previous discussions I've seen here of the H1B issue generally tended not to generate much interest.
What a difference a recession makes!
It was good to see a vigorous discussion of the issue. It was also gratifying to see the outpouring of support not only for me but for everyone in a similar circumstance. However it was not all peaches and cream.
While I would say that it definitely brought out some of the best of this community, unfortunately it also brought out some of the worst as well. It showed me and I think all of us what a truly delicate subject this is.
Having said all of that, I would also say that my general sense of the response was that there is if nothing else a consensus here that the H1B system needs reform or at least re-examination.
I think it's very important for us as a community to focus on the productive and not on hyperbolic or racist rhetoric. AT it's core, this is not an issue about race or nationality. It's an issue about the displacement of American workers on our own soil, by temporary workers from overseas.
In times of plenty, I for one have no problem with the notion of sharing our national bounty with willing workers from abroad. But we are not in a time of plenty anymore. We are now in a time of scarcity. And as much as it might pain many of us to hear this, the fact is in such times we have to make a choice between supporting our own population or those of other nations. It's unfortunate to be sure, but to be just as sure, it is where we find ourselves today.
I could make a pretty strong argument about this problem based on national origin, I amassed a few sources and links to demonstrate the financial activity and behavior of certain groups to reinforce the point about how much get's spent here stimulating our economy and how much is remitted offshore. But I really don't think that's a productive place to make our stand. As I learned yesterday, it leads to some rather ugly discourse and works to demonize groups of very fine people who in some sense are victims of this system in their own right. I implore all of you, please do not make this about race. Make it about practical reality. In the final analysis this is about economics, not race, ethnicity, nor national origin. Let us debate this in civil tones on the economic realities.
The fact is this boils down to a policy which in better times may have been helpful in bridging a skill gap, but today, that gap no longer exists. As a nation we should not on our own soil allow this displacement of indigenous workers by those from other nations. We have to make a choice,and my choice is to come down on the side of the American worker.
So in conclusion, let me first thank all the people who sent me job leads. I've been in touch with several of them and I am grateful for the hope they have created. I'm still looking.