Here is the problem with this debate. On one hand, people say, "We need more H1B visas to handle the engineering workload in the U.S. There aren't enough skilled americans." They also say, "We must make engineering more attractive to Americans. Stop focusing on sports, et al and focus on creating brilliant minds."
Similarly, groups argue that outsourcing jobs is acceptable, another that it is not.
The problem is that we cannot have both. You cannot convince students in america to invest 6 figures into their education if they know those jobs will be filled with immigrants or shipped overseas. If there is no opportunity for jobs or an income that can absorb the investment in the education, then students will not enter that profession.
Technology employers in America argue that limiting H1B visas is stiffling creativity and the ability of companies in the U.S. to innovate. If this is the case, rather than paying individuals from other countries less to do the same job, pay locals more to do the same job. Give them more of an incentive to enter the work force. Value the work appropriately to the difficulty and investment level needed to complete the task. Being an engineer is difficult. Not everyone in the world, can, or wants to do it. There has to be an incentive to perform these difficult tasks.
The reason that we need to curb H1B visas and the outsourcing of jobs is precisely for the same reasons that the employers say we need to increase them. We need to curb them because we need america to remain more competitive.
There is a difference between America remaining more competitive and American corporations remaining more competitive. The former means american citizens and our nation remains strong. The later does not. If, for example, we continue to increase H1B's and off-shoring of technical work, then the logical conclusion is that there are no longer any native born americans to fill these positions. If this is the case, then America -- the nation -- is vulnerable to those countries with citizens and patriots to foreign entities who do have those skills.
This will leave America at an extreme disadvantage in the long run.
If engineers, who, arguably produce much more value to society than athletes or even CEOs were to earn as much money, the professions would be more popular. Instead, we have individuals who could make lasting changes to the benefit of our infrastructure, our technology, and our culture are entering other fields because they are more lucrative and are more appreciated by our society.
If we continue to outsource the jobs, it is a big sign that those who perform these tasks are not really appreciated. Engineers are not appreciated in America. They are appreciated in other countries. Compare our culture to Germany. Germany appreciates technology savants and the result is evident in their current account. Relatively speaking, they are the richest nation in the world.
And America is the poorest.