March 7, 2007
WashTech News
Washington D.C. - Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates told U.S. Senators today that the country is facing an "acute crisis" in its shortage of engineering professionals and those professionals with the right skills will be guaranteed a good paying job.
Gates declared, "The demand worldwide will guarantee them all jobs. Anyone in the United States, not only will they have a high paying job; they will create many around them. We are increasing our employment."
Gates' rare appearance before the Senate Health Education Labor and Pension Committee today urged passage of a bill titled "Strengthening American Competitiveness for the 21st Century." The committee only heard testimony from the Microsoft Chairman.
On a number of occasions during the hearing Gates cited the salary figure of $100,000 as what his company is paying engineering professionals.
According to Gates, this worker "shortage" is hurting America's ability to compete in the global economy and the solutions primarily involve reforming the H-1B visa program and the U.S. education system to improve math and science curriculum. The Gates Foundation has focused on U.S. education reform as part of their grant making efforts.
The H-1B visa program allows skilled foreign guest workers to enter the country for up to six years to fill spot labor shortages in high skilled areas. Under current law, the program allows for 65,000 new H-1B visa guest workers a year, with some exemptions that can raise that number to 120,000. The program is highly controversial and is one of the biggest divides between labor and management in the technology sector. Labor groups argue that expanding the program creates a labor market where too many workers are competing for too few jobs which will have the effect of depressing salaries for professionals in the field.
From Gate's perspective, the majority of engineering professionals at Microsoft earn six figures a year or more, and he believes this is also true for guest worker employees under the H-1B visa program. For Gates, a $100,000 a year salary for a guest worker computer professional means "we should welcome as many as we can get."
One Senator asked Gates about what is a good number above 65,000 that the Senate should consider. "300,000 would be a fantastic improvement," was his reply.
Despite all of the outsourcing of high-tech jobs overseas the U.S. will still have a strong IT industry said Gates. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) cited a figure of 600,000 jobs lost in the high-tech sector.
Every Senator praised the Microsoft founder for his efforts in global health and the work him and his wife are doing with the Gates Foundation.
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WashTech News
Gates to Senate: "Guaranteed jobs" for Tech professionals; 300,000 H-1B Visas would be
By Marcus CourtneyWashington D.C. - Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates told U.S. Senators today that the country is facing an "acute crisis" in its shortage of engineering professionals and those professionals with the right skills will be guaranteed a good paying job.
 Take Action! Click above to contact Congress on H-1B Visas! |
Gates declared, "The demand worldwide will guarantee them all jobs. Anyone in the United States, not only will they have a high paying job; they will create many around them. We are increasing our employment."
Gates' rare appearance before the Senate Health Education Labor and Pension Committee today urged passage of a bill titled "Strengthening American Competitiveness for the 21st Century." The committee only heard testimony from the Microsoft Chairman.
On a number of occasions during the hearing Gates cited the salary figure of $100,000 as what his company is paying engineering professionals.
According to Gates, this worker "shortage" is hurting America's ability to compete in the global economy and the solutions primarily involve reforming the H-1B visa program and the U.S. education system to improve math and science curriculum. The Gates Foundation has focused on U.S. education reform as part of their grant making efforts.
The H-1B visa program allows skilled foreign guest workers to enter the country for up to six years to fill spot labor shortages in high skilled areas. Under current law, the program allows for 65,000 new H-1B visa guest workers a year, with some exemptions that can raise that number to 120,000. The program is highly controversial and is one of the biggest divides between labor and management in the technology sector. Labor groups argue that expanding the program creates a labor market where too many workers are competing for too few jobs which will have the effect of depressing salaries for professionals in the field.
From Gate's perspective, the majority of engineering professionals at Microsoft earn six figures a year or more, and he believes this is also true for guest worker employees under the H-1B visa program. For Gates, a $100,000 a year salary for a guest worker computer professional means "we should welcome as many as we can get."
One Senator asked Gates about what is a good number above 65,000 that the Senate should consider. "300,000 would be a fantastic improvement," was his reply.
Despite all of the outsourcing of high-tech jobs overseas the U.S. will still have a strong IT industry said Gates. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) cited a figure of 600,000 jobs lost in the high-tech sector.
Every Senator praised the Microsoft founder for his efforts in global health and the work him and his wife are doing with the Gates Foundation.
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Talkback on Article
Sep 6, 2007, 2:02 am
There are many candidates running for president of these United States. Do you know which ones favor increasing the cap on H1b visas and which ones are on record as opposing an increase?
M McClellan, Brentwood, California
M McClellan, Brentwood, California
Sep 1, 2007, 12:14 pm
Gates is a Gangster...Look at his teaming via MSNBC Universal with the Bronfman Crime family part of the Chicago Outfit. Look at his Executive on the Accenture Board of Directors the same firm that wiped out Enron. This thug should not be allowed to talk about anything except to his lawyers about his criminal defense for prosecution under RICO. Microsoft is a front for the Chicago Outfit this is an example of Organized Crime in the US High Tech Business. Wonder why the Media is so silent?
zack arbor, NYC
zack arbor, NYC
Aug 15, 2007, 1:38 am
America has third largest population in world so there is no need for foreign workers. Local people should be trained or educated to fill up the job market.
Rick, Chicago, USA
Rick, Chicago, USA
Aug 4, 2007, 1:45 am
JM of Ohio - more going on to things than just profit? Do you know what "peak oil" is? Or why we offshore so much manufacturing to other countries as well?
That doesn't add up either. The North American Union is another happy rumor flying around the internet.
Then add in all the bafflegab about "a new US civil war" and other nonsense and one thing is clear - there is no plot, nor is there a big bogeyman conspiracy.
Along with 3 or 4 others, I think it's safer to say that the most likely explanation is the simplest one: Cost. Aka Greed.
I can think of as many positive futures as negative ones anyway.
D C,
D C,
Aug 2, 2007, 12:59 pm
Bill Gates is a liar.
I hope Windows Vista is the last nail to Microsoft's coffin.
Their incompetence has no bounds.
Augustine, Lake Oswego, USA
Augustine, Lake Oswego, USA
Jul 20, 2007, 4:14 pm
So I read all of your comments and I have been an H1B worker. I had to compete fairly with others ( I am now AMERICAN) , had to be paid the FAIR industry wage ( that is the law , employers had NO OPTION on that , ALWAYS have paid Taxes , Medicare , SSN. My employer ALWAYS had to pay this so HR person and others you have been breaking the lay yourself by not paying these ... Where do you get your information . Go try and work in another country yourself and se if YOU can avoid taxes ! Compete f
Dave, San Francisco
Dave, San Francisco
Jul 11, 2007, 5:59 pm
Bill Gates is fool. $100K salary for H-1b??? He might be staying in dream world. H-1B means modern times prostitution..!
H-1B Worker, LA, USA
H-1B Worker, LA, USA
Jul 10, 2007, 8:58 am
After 22 years of being an Electrical Draftsman and seeing that field dry up in Northeast Ohio, I retrained to be a PC Tech. All sorts of money is being spent to train us to bring high tech to Ohio. I find that PC support jobs do not pay a living wage as promised. I see US citizens with degrees and certifications regarded as unable to compete with an outsourced labor pool.
US businesses do not support US workers, US officials do not support US citizens but are stuck on that word "globalization”
Arnold L. Johnson, Lorain, Ohio USA
Arnold L. Johnson, Lorain, Ohio USA
Jun 28, 2007, 7:10 am
I have been in the business of providing IT Consultants for 20 years, so I have seen it all. The recent H1-B Video of the Immigration Law firms procedures to basically defraud America was shocking....but no surprise to me. I knew this has been going on for years.
I would have to say what is more shocking and disgusting is seeing a great American Icon in Bill Gates, in front of the Senate, basically begging for more cheap H1-B resources for him and his company to make more money. America made him great and he turned the power that came with the greatness against the American People. Thanks to that now famous "H1-B Video", the masses will understand what we mean by corrupt and unfair to Americans. That video is going to do more good to our cause than thousands of posts on these blogs!!
I am planning on requesting an Amendment be added to the Immigration bill. I feel that my proposal should become America's Proposal. I would like to have the Amendment referred to as the "H1-B and L-1 Visa Social Security and Medicare Recovery Amendment".
In order to bring some equity back to the American tax paying workers, we at Peningo Systems would like to propose the following as the "H1-B and L-1 Visa Social Security and Medicare Recovery Amendment":
- Any company that hires an H1-B or an L-1 Visa to work in the United States must pay a tax that is equal to 100% of the “Employer and Employee” portion of the Social Security and Medicare tax. This is important, since it takes away one of the “MAIN” incentives to fire an “AMERICAN WORKER” and replace them with an H1-B or L-1 Visa based worker. As it is, all H1-Bs, L-1s and their respective employers ARE EXEMPT FROM PAYING SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE TAX! This practice must stop. This Proposal is also very important, since it addresses an issue that is near and dear to every American, and that is, supporting Social Security.
- To combat the abuse of low pay to the H1-B and L-1 Visa holder, which results in the under cutting of the American based worker, which is a violation of the letter of the law, the Federal government must come up with a “Up To Date” Salary survey that would accurately reflect what an American actually would get in the free market place. Then the H1-B or L-1 Visa holder MUST be paid in the UPPER 10% of the Salary range...that's right.... the H1-B MUST be paid in the UPPER 10% of the Salary range. This would insure that H1-B are treated, in terms of cost, the same as an American and that the H1-B is truly a talent that is needed!
If we implement these 2 proposals, then the H-1B would compete with an American based worker on the merits of his/her abilities and not solely based on the fact that the H1-B's resume looks good and the H1-B is 10s of thousands of dollars cheaper than the American.
This is a fair way to bring equity back into the US as well as protect our Tax Base from the Tax Evading scheme of hiring foreign workers and avoid paying for Social Security and Medicare tax.
If you and your readers think this proposal for a bill amendment is a good idea, please feel free and spreading the word!!
If you have time, please check out my Blog at Peningo Opinion Blog
Thank you
Edward, Rye, NY
Edward, Rye, NY
Jun 24, 2007, 8:03 pm
I am in a department of programmers that is 70% from india, most start with H1B and get their green cards. They are nice and hard working. Their strength is in science and technology their weekness is in creativity. Indian education frowns upon creative fields and shines for technology and science. The US education system slants in a more creative direction and frowns on science. As an US born programmer I offer creative thinking and fill a huge void my indian friends cannot seem to grasp!!
JR, Cincinati. USA
JR, Cincinati. USA
Jun 15, 2007, 9:27 pm
I don't buy all of this crap. I have a Bachelor of Electrical Engineer degree with great skills. Yet I remain laid off now for 5 1/2 years and can't get job interviews; electrical engineering or IT.
I tell employers I will work for less than any guest worker, etc. I will take entry level pay, I just want to get back to work. They still ignore me. There must be something more going on than maximizing profits and outsourcing.
JM, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
JM, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Jun 5, 2007, 8:16 pm
I wanted to thank you for the time you spent building this page. I will visit your website again. Thank you
Gay Blowa, Gay Blowa
Gay Blowa, Gay Blowa
May 22, 2007, 9:54 pm
300,000 ?!? (x1000) I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! 300,000?!? THIS MAN IS A PIG!!!!!!!!!!! YES, I KNOW, I'M SHOUTING! I'M SURPRISED NONE OF YOU ARE SHOUTING! THIS MAKES ME VERY ANGRY! 195,000, WHICH IS WHAT MOST OF THESE H-1B PIGS WANT, IS ABSURD! BUT 300,000?!? I HATE BILL GATES MORE THAN I HATE OSAMA BIN LADEN!!!!!!! OH, OH, I JUST CAN'T SAY ANY MORE!
Edward, Lisle, IL
Edward, Lisle, IL
May 14, 2007, 9:52 am
I have an Electrical Engineering degree and I have been working in IT for the past 15 years. I have been laid off on the average of every 2 - 3 years!!!! My income has been stagnant for the past 10 years, but imagine working next to a couple of H1Bs who are actually PAID MORE than I am and their medical insurance cost them $15 per payperiod! These guys showed up late, too long lunches and long breaks, left early and spent 60% of their time doing day trading on the internet instead of coding.
DR, Jacksonville, FL
DR, Jacksonville, FL
Apr 16, 2007, 10:57 am
Gates: Is Part of the Jewish Mafia, Balmer is on the board of directors for Accenture (Arthur Anderson Consulting). They won the $10 Billion Homeland Defense deal...Look at the Katrina Mess. Gates vendor for all subcontract labor is Volt. They are part of the Gambino Family. This man is a gangster. He has no credibility! We are now in a war over the actions of these SOBs.
He is a threat to the security of our nation.
Jim Walsh, Los Angeles, CA
Jim Walsh, Los Angeles, CA
Mar 28, 2007, 5:22 pm
As a Human Resources rep, I see how the H-1B visa and employment based green card programs actually work in tandem to displace U.S. white collar workers from their jobs and even their careers. H-1B is a dual intent visa, so employers may sponsor H-1Bers for an EB green card for legal permanent resident status. Companies routinely game the labor certification process for GC sponsorship to defraud qualified citizen job applicants. Citizens should demand that both the H-1B and EB green card programs be abolished.
NO REFERER
HR Professional, Atlanta
HR Professional, Atlanta
Mar 28, 2007, 7:17 am
Don't expect any reciprocity from the corporate world that you have so loyally served. This is all about maximizing profits and although product and services may suffer as a result of the decisions to move everything offshore, short term gains will be made; workers and consumers will suffer. The need for a constant flux of H1B has more to do with moving increasingly higher layers of skill offshore than it has to do with any real labor shortage.
David Stillman, Western PA
David Stillman, Western PA
Mar 23, 2007, 12:40 am
Tech salaries have increased only a steady ~3% rate for the past 5 years. If there truly was a labor shortage, basic economic theory dictates that we would be seeing a much higher increase in salary levels. Gates is full of crap! And furthermore, a demand for jobs must be present before people in this country will invest in the skills and knowledge to work those jobs. If we simply go overseas to fill the need, local deman never increases and people chose other fields of study where there is need
Ryan, Peoria, AZ USA
Ryan, Peoria, AZ USA
Mar 22, 2007, 2:47 pm
Bill Gates is great. One of his programs helped my son get an education I could not afford to provide him as an unemployed Software Engineer.
NO REFERER
Mitch, Portland Oregon
Mitch, Portland Oregon
Mar 19, 2007, 1:59 pm
Bill Gates is a corporate globalist (a socialist with a greedy perspective) that seeks a world monopoly instead of just something as small as a nation/state like the United States. It makes perfect sense to Gates to bring in H1-B's and offshore work in the name of world economic equality and diversity while getting the added backdoor benefit of a global syndicate.
You can see in his actions his lack of concern for American workers. Example: the Gates Foundation ban on middle class kids getting a scholarship or other material help through his "charities".Bend over and get ready to take another hit on your Amercan way of life.
NO REFERER
Dennis P, Detroit, New World Order
Dennis P, Detroit, New World Order
Mar 16, 2007, 2:53 pm
Is there a list of degreed IT workers that have been displaced? Wouldn't some sort of class action suit be possible? What about all the time & money invested in a career. And even more distressful to me is, what do I tell my kids about what kind of career they might want. I see that IT is stillbeing touted as one of the the fastest growing fields. Before investing the time and $$ in an education, there should be a warning: WARNING: US Department Of Labor could give your job away anytime.
S Smith, Newtown, CT
S Smith, Newtown, CT
Mar 16, 2007, 10:50 am
Gates' strategy is to flood the US market with engineers by importing them and thereby bring down wages. Except for Jim Webb & Byron Dorgan, there are no advocates in Congress for the American people. Wish we could throw those bums out.
VM, Rochester, MN
VM, Rochester, MN
Mar 13, 2007, 12:56 pm
MSM outlets are reporting pro-corporate welfare views and not those of the millions of educated, white collar professionals that the
"infinite" (to quote Bill Gates) H1b visas that the tech lobby is pushing the Senate to drive down wages and eliminate our jobs. See
http://tootruthy.blogspot.com/2007/03/bill-gates-cant-get-enough-burnt-fries.html
2Truthy, CA
2Truthy, CA
Mar 11, 2007, 2:18 pm
Bill Gates has given up on MS and the US. We need to insist that our elected representatives get the picture; for global corporations, our national interests are trivial. It is tempting to be cynical, but I think we should continue to fight back against the deconstruction of our economy. One look at the history of manufacturing in the US tells us where we are going with IT. First the managerial class sends the jobs abroad to save money, then, in a generation, the domestic expertise and market is gone.
Susan P., Seattle, WA
Susan P., Seattle, WA
Mar 11, 2007, 3:02 am
A funny perspective is that the American IT worker is the person pushing Gates's software to the business owners and corporation executives. Maybe if Bill did not charge so much for his software and add to that the cost of keeping the many bugs, viruses and security flaws at bay the cost of IT operations would come down.
I think the main reason Bill wants so many H1-B workers is that they will not question what actual product is being used. With Linux maturing daily it is only a matter of time
Joe, Austin, TX
Joe, Austin, TX
Mar 10, 2007, 9:35 pm
Forget about the United States, it's a lost cause. Learn another language,relocate to another country. When are you people going to get it through your heads that there is no elecorate that represents you? There is the elite wealth and then there is the rest of us. These elite are just skimming off the global economy all the while just wage busting in first world countries. Give this up, leave this awful place. Go where life is simple, as far away from technology and this capitalist pyramid.
Zekewolfy, Charlotte,NC USA
Zekewolfy, Charlotte,NC USA
Mar 10, 2007, 12:53 pm
I thought the foreign workers were supposed to do the jobs Americans DON'T want to do?????
KAS, Southern California
KAS, Southern California
Mar 9, 2007, 3:06 pm
Bill Gates - what a two-faced, lying hypocrite. He tours the country's universities, encouraging students to study Computer Science, telling them lies about IT careers, then goes to Congress asking for massive increases in H-1B visas, to displace even more American IT workers. Why would any American study CS today? This man is a snake, and a traitor to his country. Boycott Microsoft products! My next computer is either Linux or a Mac. No more bug-ridden, insecure Microcrap software for me.
NO REFERER
Anonymous, Chicago, IL USA
Anonymous, Chicago, IL USA
Mar 9, 2007, 12:39 am
Parts 1 and 2 of the 3/7/2007 Lou Dobbs show on the Bill Gates testimony can be watched by going to the following links:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9183967286974233731
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3581912965027051739
Rob Sanchez, Phoenix, Arizona
Rob Sanchez, Phoenix, Arizona
Mar 8, 2007, 6:28 pm
The reason young people are not going into Information Technology and Engineering is because they see older people being replaced with h1b's or having the work outsourced. Even h1b immigrants currently in IT see to that their American born children have nothing to do with the field. They know the deal.
You will get more American young people into IT and Engineering if you put a ban on all technical h1b visas. Gates and other like him caused American young people to focus on other areas.
Mike Werner, Trumbull, CT
Mike Werner, Trumbull, CT
Mar 8, 2007, 4:38 pm
Let Gates define exactly what he means by "qualified", and that he will guarantee people jobs and put in writing. I will take any classes necessary to meet these requirements.
Michael, San Francisco, USA
Michael, San Francisco, USA
Mar 8, 2007, 11:38 am
Bill Gates ought to give me a small % of his billions if he thinks we are going to continue to buy this worker shortage crap. Only problem is that the politicians have all bought it. I have an MCSE+I combined with a CCNP and I no longer work in the IT industry because there are no more well paying jobs. Have you seen those job postings for a desktop support person who has a degree? That is were they are getting their numbers.
RB, Houston, Texas
RB, Houston, Texas
Mar 8, 2007, 6:19 am
I lost my job and in fact, my entire office was closed down because our jobs were shipped to Manila.
My (former) company, Panasonic, sold our office to a local firm called ITC Group, Inc. who then led us to believe that after our office closed we would just move to another location.
What really happened?
We were outsourced that's what.
So now if you buy a Panasonic Fax Machine here in the states and you need some assistance you can call this 800 number and talk to someone in Manila.
P. Edward Murray, Yardley, PA
P. Edward Murray, Yardley, PA
Mar 8, 2007, 1:27 am
This is how bad it is...a woman programmer goes out on pregancy leave and then comes back paper work wise..but never works a day..she got the reduction in force memo. After she loses her job 2 weeks later a person is hired from India. I allege... Bill Gates monopoly has destroyed more US people then it has created jobs for.. Think about all the US companies he wrecked by illegal and unfair business practices...that's a lot of people laid off . Gates is wrong ask his own stressed out people.
Jake, San Diego, CA
Jake, San Diego, CA
Mar 7, 2007, 9:41 pm
We need to replace the people in Congress who continue to sell out American workers. We need to make this a priority for the upcoming 2008 elections.
This is yet another attempt on the part of moneyed interests in the USA to end the American middle class for their personal gain. Replacement of American workers by foreigners who enter the country on visas must end. We need to stop it now.
SN, SC, USA
SN, SC, USA
Mar 7, 2007, 9:16 pm
Go to http://www.write-me-in.org and support the move to replace all current politicians with non-party candidates in 2008. Let us turn the tide with real people elected for the people by the people and not for the corporations by the corporations and send a message to both Senators McCain and Kennedy that they should say NO to H1B increase cause Bil Gates is a liar and a traitor and the new day bendedict arnold that needs to be tarred and feathered.
Ken Ward, here
Ken Ward, here
Mar 7, 2007, 8:58 pm
H1-B's work for next to nothing. No wonder Mr. Gates wants more of them. Educated IT professionals of the USA can't get jobs in IT but somehow or another we have a shortage of IT professionals that needs to be fixed with more low-paid foreigners. Yeah, right. People, open your eyes and make some noise. Call your Congressmen/women and let them know that you are NOT happy with this situation. Offer jobs to qualified Americans before bringing in foreigners to do the same job.
Andrea K., Olathe, KS, USA
Andrea K., Olathe, KS, USA
Mar 7, 2007, 8:46 pm
Isn't Gates referring to "knowledge workers" (BS Degree -- 30% U.S. shortfall)? I think it's the "high-skilled workers" (No BS Degree) area that we DO have available skills for hire. Maybe TechsUnite should keep two categories of statistics. My concern is that China and India are awarding 6 million BS Degrees per yr (U.S. = 0.2 million) and Gates wants to double workforce in 10 yrs and will move offices to Asia to hire BS Degree workers there. New immigrants are filling those BS Degree jobs here
JE, Redmond USA
JE, Redmond USA
Mar 7, 2007, 8:34 pm
As it is, it is hard enough to find a job in America (this goes most industries). The government should not make it any harder. Over the past 35 years globalization has decreased real wages. Let's put a stop to it!
Charlie G., Kent, Ohio
Charlie G., Kent, Ohio
Mar 7, 2007, 7:56 pm
The outsourcing of American middle-class jobs is part of a much larger agenda, called the New World Order. Complaining doesn't help, because our leaders aren't listening. Educate yourself and others - what they fear most is being exposed by the people:
www.propagandamatrix.com
www.prisonplanet.com
www.infowars.com
www.rense.com
www.henrymakow.com
www.conspiracyplanet.com
www.conspiracyworld.com
www.judicial-inc.biz
www.iamthewitness.com
www.erichufschmid.net
http://stj911.org
NO REFERER
Anonymous, Chicago IL, USA
Anonymous, Chicago IL, USA
Mar 7, 2007, 6:23 pm
This is awful. I know places where H-1B's are being hired to do mainframe development work for $15 per hour and everybody is happy except misplaced American workers . Things will become even more worse when these people will become managers and that is already happening. I do not want to continue because I can be accused of being politically incorrect.
BM, West Bloomfield,MI
BM, West Bloomfield,MI
Mar 7, 2007, 5:36 pm
Four years ago I abandoned my IT career to become a secondary teacher. Many of my students have parents and other family members who had IT careers and are now delivering pizzas. They are not stupid. They know that the chances for a secure career in IT are exceedingly slim.
The H-1B program is nothing more than a government- and worker-subsidized opportunity for US corporations to cash in on an offshore labor market.
EJ, Boulder County, Colorado, USA
EJ, Boulder County, Colorado, USA
Mar 7, 2007, 5:17 pm
NO! NO! NO! NO!
Already several hundred thousandsof cheap foreign labor is here with H1B AND L1 visas.
(L1 visas are not even regulated.)
STOP THIS MADNESS! I BOYCOTT MS, PICKET MS or Write to your Congressman/senator.
STOP BILL GATES , the EVIL!!!
AR, Atlanta, GA
AR, Atlanta, GA
Mar 7, 2007, 4:23 pm
How can there be a shortage when the US has not created one net new high tech job in the last 6 years? Here is the latest government data. http://www.mbginfosvcs.com/pdfs/usjobs.pdf
My father, myself and several others I know are highly educated and experienced and have been out of work for years.
Michael, San Francisco, USA
Michael, San Francisco, USA
Mar 7, 2007, 4:15 pm
Whatever happened to homeland security? Are we pawning it off for a dollar? Our gov cannot even track 65,000 how well are they going to do with 300,000. As for the $100K jobs, give me a break. I am already working for 60% less than I was earning in 2000. I guess I can consider myself lucky to have a job, can't say the same for many others.
Frank, Dallas, TX USA
Frank, Dallas, TX USA
Mar 7, 2007, 3:53 pm
I am a highly skilled consultant saddled with having to train a 25 yo Indian H1b who knows nothing. He has to read the manual to understand how to do anything. Management constantly sings his praises and wants to hire more H1's to replace all the American workers. We just get to train them then get the shaft!
Robin Hodge, Los Angeles, USA
Robin Hodge, Los Angeles, USA
Mar 7, 2007, 3:42 pm
Of course bill gates loves H1B workers no Taxes to payout no benefits no Medicare to payout.
100K taxed at say 28% = Loss of income by US of approx. 28K + No SSN + No Medicare Collected. SSN = 14.5 % and SSN = about 2.9 % so micorsoft saves 17,500 per worker if they paid them 100K.
What a bunch of CRAP!
Just Microsoft watching out for their bottom line ..... AS USUAL!
Neal Folgers, Rock Falls IL
Neal Folgers, Rock Falls IL
Mar 7, 2007, 3:37 pm
Reasonable expectation of employment that utilizes ones investment in costly education and training is the best way to encourage improvement in math, science and engineering programs in our institutions of higher education and high schools. Our best and brightest talent are not foolish enough to make "sucker's bets".
Louis A. Carliner, Masaryktown, FL, USA
Louis A. Carliner, Masaryktown, FL, USA
Mar 7, 2007, 3:18 pm
Let's see, my wages have dropped to the point I have taken a 9 year step backwards in pay, yea lets bring in more cheap foreign labor. I guess this equation is not so bad when you are the richest man in the world, but when you are a working stiff trying to raise a family on less money than you made the previous year it SUCKS!!!
Mark, Louisville, USA
Mark, Louisville, USA
Mar 7, 2007, 3:18 pm
I agree. We should be picketing Microsoft for saying this kindof garbage.
I for one-- have been FIRED from Microsoft _TWICE_ just because I had a backbone. I worked in 'MSN Quality of Service' and I was fired for complaining about losing 13 emails where hotmail says 'i cant find the hotmail server'
MS just needs to stop firing people with a backbone; instead of hiring a bunch more foreigners.
-Aaron Kempf
aaron_kempf@hotmail.com
Aaron Kempf, Seattle, WA
Aaron Kempf, Seattle, WA
Mar 7, 2007, 2:58 pm
I am well aware of Gates' plan. I've been there and I see H-1B's caught in a 'slave' situation waiting for green cards; domestic tech workers being laid off while H-1B's are retained. Comparing wages we know they work for less; usually they don't even know that they do.
Crowded conditions for contractors. H-1B's will take all the OT. Nobody wins except MS and other such companies that exploit this situation.
BTW, there is a lot of re-work due to using offshore teams...where's the savings?
paulamae, seattle
paulamae, seattle
Mar 7, 2007, 2:47 pm
Just say NO more coporate politics, support real citizens for all elected positions and turn the tide of H1B's www.write-me-in.org
Let us put the effort in to replace all senators and representatives with real people not seasoned (corrupt) politicians.
Then we the people can reclaim government from the corrupt politicians that sell us out.
Ken Ward, Queen Creek, AZ
Ken Ward, Queen Creek, AZ
Mar 7, 2007, 2:42 pm
Just say NO to Gates addiction
We as a country need to take back our seats of government from the politicians that catered to the corporations and elect representatives of the people for the people that will work for the people and not the corporations. So we need to counter the status quo politico's with Write Me In candidates for all elected positions from the cities and our counties and our states then the House and Senate and Presidency will be for the people and by the people and not not beholden to the corporations for the corporations by the corporations.
We need to change the Electoral process and we need to start NOW.
Ask not what the corporations can do for you but ask what the people can do for the people.
Ken Ward, Queen Creek , AZ
Ken Ward, Queen Creek , AZ
Mar 7, 2007, 2:41 pm
Just say NO to any H1B increase period, in fact just say NO to the whole program.
We are united, for the people, by the people and not ‘for the corporations, by the corporations and of the corporations’ as our current party politicians are beholden to all the corporate monies that are polluting the government of our country for policies that only benefit the corporations and not the people of our country and now is the time for every citizen of this great country to take that stand and bring the goal of government to benefit the people and not the corporations.
Ken Ward, Queen Creek, AZ
Ken Ward, Queen Creek, AZ
Mar 7, 2007, 2:23 pm
If we have people trained in the US that can do the work, why aren't they being hired. It seems that if they are paying $100,000.00 annually for these jobs US workers would be all over them. Since this type of work could allow for stay at home workers, maybe a group should form that can sub their labor to these companies. If the government was presented with a list of available workers in the US that would show there are enough people to supply most of the demand, they could make a decision.
Jim Hall, Kahului, Usa
Jim Hall, Kahului, Usa
Mar 7, 2007, 2:23 pm
Bill must be in cahoots with our current regime.! 100K, Humm, FORBES just reported that the average salary was 65K at Microsoft? I'm lucky and thankful to God I still have a job as a DBA, and good paying but if all of us keep sitting around and let the lying politicians and Corporate Robber Barons sell us out were all gonna be flippin' Burgers!
Jeffery H Yoder, Atlanta GA
Jeffery H Yoder, Atlanta GA
Mar 7, 2007, 2:15 pm
NOW On my current project from 120 professionals, there are 116 (!) from India.
Do we need more H1B visas?
Sinitsky, Michael, los angeles, USA
Sinitsky, Michael, los angeles, USA
Mar 7, 2007, 1:55 pm
If Bill Gates has his way, the entire Data Processing industry of several millions jobs will be lost to globalization, which really means fire americans and send the jobs to India, and whatever jobs are left, bring the
Indians here. Anyone in a technical industry can testify to Congress, that all of our technical industries are being destroyed by globalization. Frankly I think Congress should be outsourced to China and India, since that is all Congress is interested in.
Respectfully,
Allen
allen cohen, st pete beach, usa
allen cohen, st pete beach, usa
Mar 7, 2007, 1:50 pm
There have been 100's of thousands of tech jobs lost in the last 10 years. Raising the h1-b visa level to 300,000 seems to fit Mr. Gates' agenda just fine. He bacame the world's riches human by bending the rules where it suited him. I think these politicians are more interested in filling their campaign coffers than in considering the harm that this program would do to our own future generations.
eugene schreiber, hamden, ct usa
eugene schreiber, hamden, ct usa
Mar 7, 2007, 1:48 pm
This just goes to show you who our congress is working for. They don't know me from just any old 'Joe Smoe', but when Bill Gates speaks they listen. My company, is outsourcing jobs as fast as they can. Not because they can't get skilled workers, but becuase they can't get skilled workers for the price they want to pay. They want to bring them over here and water down the wages by increasing the supply of labor. I have not had a raise in YEARS. When I have had one, it was not cost of living
Scott, Plano Texas - USA
Scott, Plano Texas - USA
Mar 7, 2007, 1:46 pm
NO! NO! NO! NO!
OUR COUNTRY SERVES TO OUR OWN AMERICAN PEOPLE FIRST, SECOND, THIRD, AND SO ON!
RONALD GELDEN, LONGMONT COLORADO
RONALD GELDEN, LONGMONT COLORADO
Mar 7, 2007, 1:38 pm
I work in computer technical support. I would love to work as a developer, and have a development education, but I have been recommended away from it for exactly this reason. H1-B visa holders take the jobs at a lower salary, preventing me from competing.
Dave Hall, Westford, MA
Dave Hall, Westford, MA
Mar 7, 2007, 1:38 pm
I am a MCSE and a .NET developer with a 4 year degree. I would like a job. This just can not be true. I am not able or any white male in my class has been able to get employment. This guy wants to bring in more people from other countries! Bill how about a training program for the millions of people out of work!!! .
708-743-2024 I need a job
Joe Ciechomski, Chicago
Joe Ciechomski, Chicago
Mar 7, 2007, 1:33 pm
Hell with Bill Gates. He wants cheap labor force at the expense of current employed US tech. workers. There are so many US engineers out of job or working on a sub par wages already due to out sourcing. He wants to put a further dent on the middle-class tech workers. Voice your opinion and stop this bill.
SK, Naperville, USA
SK, Naperville, USA