Recent H-1B diaries make DKos look like FOX news
Before I even begin, let me get a few facts out. First, I am of Indian descent and I came to the US on a student visa, then was on an H-1B and now have a green card. I have followed the H1B debate on DKos andother websites like FreeRepublic closely and have thus far kept silent.
I will also concede without reservations that the H-1B program is an inherently flawed one since it does not adjust the annual quota depending on the employment situation in the US. I am not 100% certain whether the program was created in a way that would protect American jobs since in the early days of the program the economy was nowhere as bad as it is now. This has led to companies like TCS, Wipro, etc to abuse the program with impunity. American companies have also misbehaved to lard up their profits.
I get all that.
What I do not get is the sheer acrimony that is directed towards folks who hold the H-1B visa during the current crisis.
I do understand that plenty of Americans are upset that foreigners hold jobs that could be filled by citizens during such dire times. However, a lot of these folks on DKos were defending illegal immigrants during the immigration reform debate in 2007. AT the time, the greatest resistance came from two quarters: First, folks in small towards whose wages were being depressed by folks from Mexico and who had safety concerns with regards to the southern border. Second, from folks who basically feel uncomfortable with the idea fo low-wage brown-skinned laborers upetting the demographic balance of the country. During those days, DKos felt like a paragon of respect and tolerance. Today, things have changed and folks are livid at H-1B holders. With flaws and all, an H-1B holder is more educated and contributes to taxes without breaking laws as brazenly as folks who come in illegally. I find this contrasting treatment somewhat perplexing. Maybe, it is easy to call conservatives bigots when they trash illegals but when librals feel their jobs are threatened, their impulses are just as restrictive and protectionist in nature. There is nothing wrong with self-preservation. However, the way some folks on this site have conducted themselves basically creates a sense of equality with the folks on Free Republic. This simply is an example of people being less willing to be tolerant and welcoming when their own self-interests are at stake.
The fact of the matter is that when an American loses their job, it is easiest to blame the immigrant. There were folks complaining about the H-1B visa in 1999 as well. During the current crisis, most of the damage has been caused by a horrible banking policy and flawed fiscal policies that stretch back decades. Yet, folks on this site feel that somehow an individual who is working hard, paying taxes and who could well be your neighbor or friend is guilty of stealing your job.
BTW, I remember when I was growing up in Bombay in the 80s and the 90s, so many folks in local cotton mills lost their jobs when American companies came in with stuff made in China. Folks were upset but in due course people moved on and realized that there were too many concurrent factors at work to keep blaming the outsiders.
Now I love some suggestions that folks have had to improve the program. If you have a Masters from a US college, you should get a green card which innoculates from corporate slave labor. Paying folks equally for the same job regardless of visa status is also a no brainer.
I am not castigating the intentions or the honor of folks angry with the H-1B situation. What is wrong is this vitriol towards H-1B holders when in fact there is no ideal and easy way where folks can ever immigrate into the US. Now matter how they come in, there will be some disruption in the social and economic structure. Can we please try and at least not be as bad as those we morally look down upon in terms of our rhetoric?
UPDATE: For those looking for an example of Foxesque and Michael Savage-like rhetoric on this site, please read the comment (uscitizenvoter, Sat Feb 07, 2009 at 09:53:57 PM PST ) at http://www.dailykos.com/...