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Obama likely to expand a foreign-student pipeline the high-tech industry loves

washingtonpost.com

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Re: Obama likely to expand a foreign-student pipeline the high-tech industry loves

#11

Post by thetrumanshow »

LLWM wrote: post #7
cryoshon wrote: post #6

If Obama's drive for immigration reform uses the logic of "STEM SHORTAGE!!!" as a basis for expanding OPT, it means that hyperbole has won, and we here at HN will suffer lower wages and a more competitive job market as a result. I'm not actually sure that this is what the rhetoric is going to look like, but the rest of my comment assumes that it will look that way as it pertains to the expansion of OPT. There is no S…

It's a bit sad that you see competition on a global scale as "being fucked over". If someone else can do the same job just as well as you, you think employers should be forced to hire you instead just because you happened to be born in the right country? That's just selfishness that harms everyone else.

("It's a bit sad..." seems passive-aggressive to me, but I give you the benefit of the doubt here)

No one wants their advantages whittled away, regardless of whether it helps other people or not. This is simple self-preservation. It is a type of selfishness, yes, but I personally don't consider it a dishonorable type of selfishness.

Re: Obama likely to expand a foreign-student pipeline the high-tech industry loves

#13

Post by vj44 »

48 month OPT/STEM extension will be huge for international students here - great move! Since OPT has few limitations and allows internationals to become self-employed, hopefully more international students will end up on the entrepreneurial path. And for those in "regular employment", more chances to apply for H1B and more time to figure out other, more permanent options (if needed). Lastly, hopefully, more smart graduates will decide to stay in this country and contribute to the economy & innovation, instead of contributing somewhere else. Win-win-win situation. Looking forward to the update tonight.

Re: Obama likely to expand a foreign-student pipeline the high-tech industry loves

#14

Post by waterlesscloud »

LLWM wrote: post #7
cryoshon wrote: post #6

If Obama's drive for immigration reform uses the logic of "STEM SHORTAGE!!!" as a basis for expanding OPT, it means that hyperbole has won, and we here at HN will suffer lower wages and a more competitive job market as a result. I'm not actually sure that this is what the rhetoric is going to look like, but the rest of my comment assumes that it will look that way as it pertains to the expansion of OPT. There is no S…

It's a bit sad that you see competition on a global scale as "being fucked over". If someone else can do the same job just as well as you, you think employers should be forced to hire you instead just because you happened to be born in the right country? That's just selfishness that harms everyone else.

Heck, why have any immigration controls at all? Why have citizenship requirements for any job, up to and including President?

Re: Obama likely to expand a foreign-student pipeline the high-tech industry loves

#15

Post by [deleted] »

thetrumanshow wrote: post #11
LLWM wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a bit sad that you see competition on a global scale as "being fucked over". If someone else can do the same job just as well as you, you think employers should be forced to hire you instead just because you happened to be born in the right country? That's just selfishness that harms everyone else.

("It's a bit sad..." seems passive-aggressive to me, but I give you the benefit of the doubt here) No one wants their advantages whittled away, regardless of whether it helps other people or not. This is simple self-preservation. It is a type of selfishness, yes, but I personally don't consider it a dishonorable type of selfishness.

[deleted]

Re: Obama likely to expand a foreign-student pipeline the high-tech industry loves

#16

Post by vj44 »

the_real_bto wrote: post #10
LLWM wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a bit sad that you see competition on a global scale as "being fucked over". If someone else can do the same job just as well as you, you think employers should be forced to hire you instead just because you happened to be born in the right country? That's just selfishness that harms everyone else.

Oftentimes, foreign citizens working in the US are not able to freely participate in the job market. If they can't freely move from job to job (as US workers can), then they will be paid less money. If they want to be in the US badly enough, this will still be their best option. Everyone wins except the local worker who is now competing with an indentured servant. [0] Indentured Servant is probably an exaggeration: b…

Most visas (in particular, the OPT in question and the H1B) allow very easy work-permit transfer to other employers. So the wage decrease won't apply here.

Re: Obama likely to expand a foreign-student pipeline the high-tech industry loves

#17

Post by bsg75 »

LLWM wrote: post #7
cryoshon wrote: post #6

If Obama's drive for immigration reform uses the logic of "STEM SHORTAGE!!!" as a basis for expanding OPT, it means that hyperbole has won, and we here at HN will suffer lower wages and a more competitive job market as a result. I'm not actually sure that this is what the rhetoric is going to look like, but the rest of my comment assumes that it will look that way as it pertains to the expansion of OPT. There is no S…

It's a bit sad that you see competition on a global scale as "being fucked over". If someone else can do the same job just as well as you, you think employers should be forced to hire you instead just because you happened to be born in the right country? That's just selfishness that harms everyone else.

How many countries place no restrictions on non-citizens being able to enter and work for long terms?

Re: Obama likely to expand a foreign-student pipeline the high-tech industry loves

#18

Post by NhanH »

waterlesscloud wrote: post #14
LLWM wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a bit sad that you see competition on a global scale as "being fucked over". If someone else can do the same job just as well as you, you think employers should be forced to hire you instead just because you happened to be born in the right country? That's just selfishness that harms everyone else.

Heck, why have any immigration controls at all? Why have citizenship requirements for any job, up to and including President?

I'm not sure if this is sarcasm, but I will assume that it's not and I will bite anyway: because the President necessary put the good of the US States over everything else, including his own family (if necessary), "unquestionable loyalty to the US", basically.

That requirement is pretty much impossible to clear if you wasn't born in the US (and hence your relatives isn't US citizen). So for all practical purposes, you might as well codify it.

For private sector job, however, there seems to be no difference in motivation between a citizen and a non citizen in working for the organization (we're there to make some $$$ and keep on with our lives). So yes, I'd love to see the damn requirement get removed :-).

Re: Obama likely to expand a foreign-student pipeline the high-tech industry loves

#19

Post by cryoshon »

LLWM wrote: post #7
cryoshon wrote: post #6

If Obama's drive for immigration reform uses the logic of "STEM SHORTAGE!!!" as a basis for expanding OPT, it means that hyperbole has won, and we here at HN will suffer lower wages and a more competitive job market as a result. I'm not actually sure that this is what the rhetoric is going to look like, but the rest of my comment assumes that it will look that way as it pertains to the expansion of OPT. There is no S…

It's a bit sad that you see competition on a global scale as "being fucked over". If someone else can do the same job just as well as you, you think employers should be forced to hire you instead just because you happened to be born in the right country? That's just selfishness that harms everyone else.

The free market favors the wealth of corporations at the detriment of individual people.

The tech companies would absolutely love it if they could get away with paying their workers as little as the developing countries do; decreasing wages results in increased profits, which are the only thing that matter to them.

I don't see a reason why we have to abide by their greed when we have so much to lose and nothing to gain.

Re: Obama likely to expand a foreign-student pipeline the high-tech industry loves

#20

Post by thetrumanshow »

frozenport wrote: post #9
cryoshon wrote: post #6

If Obama's drive for immigration reform uses the logic of "STEM SHORTAGE!!!" as a basis for expanding OPT, it means that hyperbole has won, and we here at HN will suffer lower wages and a more competitive job market as a result. I'm not actually sure that this is what the rhetoric is going to look like, but the rest of my comment assumes that it will look that way as it pertains to the expansion of OPT. There is no S…

The alternative is an innovation shortage which will destroy your lively hoods in the long term. We are in many ways loosing this battle in manufacturing, I do not want it to happen to software.

There is no innovation shortage necessarily. There is a shortage in the ability to capture market value from new innovations, typically due to undercapitalization.
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