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The H-1B Battle: The war within IEEE
15 comments- TAGS:American, engineering, H-1B, IEEE
- IT TOPICS:Business Intelligence, Careers, Government & Regulation, Management, Software
American engineers are feeling the sting of a stab in their backs from America's largest engineering society, IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers).
Last year IEEE-USA (the lobbying arm of IEEE) called upon engineers from all around the country to fly in to Washington D.C. to ask their Senators and Congressmen not to raise the cap on H-1B visas.
Once all the engineers sat down for a pre-lobby meeting, the chief IEEE-USA lobbyist, R.T. Harrison began explaining that what engineers should ask their representatives for is EB and F-4 visas instead of H-1B visas. EB and F-4 visas are a form of legal immigration for high-tech workers. Most engineers became upset and started to argue why they should ask for more green cards instead of asking for less H-1B guest workers. They argued that in both cases, American engineers are getting undercut by foreign labor.
Then the IEEE-USA lobbyist explained that legal immigration is better for American engineers because it takes "much longer" to process. So this would put the potential H-1B engineers on the slow track of legal immigration, which will give IEEE-USA time to lobby in favor of American engineers. He said that it is safer for America because legal immigrants must go through a rigorous background check for ties to terrorism. He argued that it is better for the foreign nationals and it is better for Americans.
Most of the engineers were confused but believed that IEEE-USA was looking out for their best interests. After all, nobody else seems to even care about American engineering careers. So off they went to speak with congressional representatives or their staffers about this new EB and F-4 agenda, hoping that it will bring some relief to their career problems.
Some activists warned that IEEE was using the engineers as pawns to push legal immigration for engineers in addition to guest worker programs. At the time, it was hard for most to believe that such a conspiracy existed. Now, almost a year later it is revealed that the chief proponent of H-1B visas, the SIA (Semiconductor Industry Association) has joined with IEEE-USA to support more green cards for foreign nationals with the caveat that they are fast-tracked. In other words, any foregn national who has a job offer at the time of graduation, gets an instant green card.
American engineers feel betrayed. Is it possible that IEEE used these engineers as pawns as part of a grander scheme?
Suddenly this slow-track green card alternative to H-1B guest visas has turned into an instant green card for every STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) graduate.
When asked for a statement, the IEEE-USA lobbyist, Mr. Harrison said that IEEE-USA's position is to favor legal immigration over guest workers. In fact, they want to convert all 500,000 H-1B visa holders to green card holders as soon as possible. So not only do they want to staple a green card to every foreign national graduating with a degree in engineering and computer science, they also want to grant immediate citizenship to all the guest workers already in the U.S.
The message to American students is do NOT study math, science or engineering. The message to American engineers is that you are not represented by IEEE or anybody else. And if you are over 40, find another way to make a living.
Why are American engineers and computer scientists being singled out for extinction? Why aren't they allowed to make a decent wage based on supply and demand like every other professional? Who is trying to discourage American citizens from entering STEM fields? Why would any American company pursue such an unpatriotic path?
The corporation
How did corporations convince IEEE to betray their own members?
After, the article titled "IEEE-USA vs. Bill Gates" was printed; a delegation of top Microsoft representatives went to IEEE. They told IEEE that they contribute financially to many IEEE programs and asked why IEEE-USA is fighting Microsoft on the H-1B issue. At the time, IEEE-USA representatives told Microsoft representatives that the H-1B issue was what engineers indicated was their most important issue. At the time, Ralph Wyndrum of IEEE told this author that they stood up to Microsoft to defend its members. What happened since then?
There is a documentary called, "The Corporation" which explains how corporations are living entities that exist only to make a profit. They have no national pride, no civic duty, no conscience, and no heart. The documentary shows how corporations have actually poisoned American citizens in the past without remorse because it was profitable.
When Michael Douglas' character in the movie Wallstreet said "Greed is good", it was a shock to the public at the time. The movie centered on a hostile takeover that sought to lay off thousands of Americans just because it was profitable in the short-term to do so. At the time this was a controversial method of business. Now it is common business practice.
After two decades, this short-sighted business practice has left most companies short of brainpower and completely lacking civic responsibility.
What affect does this have on the nation's youth? Do they feel valued or do they value others? Is there such a thing as right or wrong anymore? Or has right and wrong been replaced by legal and illegal, or worse, what you can and cannot get away with?
Corporations want cheaper foreign engineers for short term gain. Doing this discourages American citizens from studying math and science. American citizens will lose interest in these fields, and then what is left for them?. If we allow American corporations to undercut American engineers in this way, natural-born Americans will eventually end up being just a bunch of paper-pushers with no ability to create or build anything.
Does America exist anymore?
Is it possible that there is no country called America, that the world is truly flat? Is it possible that there is just an agglomeration of super-wealthy international corporations who claim to be American companies but are actually countries without borders? Do these corporations care about America or the American people? Do they control America?
Are we really fighting Islamo-facist terrorism? A large percentage of H-1B holders and potential F-4 holders are Muslims from Southeast Asia. Most are peaceful people who want to immigrate to America for a better life just like everyone else. But it is easy to see that terrorists from Southeast Asia will try to use this fast track visa to enter this country to do harm to American citizens. Did we forget that many of the 9/11 terrorists were here on student visas?
How can IEEE-USA even consider such an absurd proposal?
Is there any American company or organization that cares about encouraging America's young people to endeaver to be smarter?
IDIOCRACY
News like this is making its way to America's youth and enrollment in engineering, mathematics and computer science has plummeted. Young Americans do not want to study so hard for a career that is under siege by the most powerful forces in society.
There is a movie called "Idocracy" which shows the world getting more and more stupid because society does not reward intelligence. This is what is happening to America now.
If intelligent Americans do not pursue STEM degrees (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), we will eventually crumble under our own weight. Ask engineers if they would encourage their own children to study engineering and you will get frightening responses.
How long can America depend on others to build our roads, our planes, our buildings, our software and everything else? Remember that it was Roman engineering that built the empire, but it was Roman debauchery that destroyed it.
The movie, "Idiocracy" is a comedy, but what is happening to American engineers right now is a tragedy.
The movie also shows how corporations have completely taken over America's government. It is a not-so-subtle statement about what is happening today.
The United Corporations of America
This is no longer a battle for the H-1B visa cap. The H-1B visa cap is now moot because there are so many other fast-track proposals to bring in foreign engineers, computer scientists and other high-tech professionals. Other professions are next. Nurses, doctors, accountants and every other profession are also being targeted. This is now a fight for the heart and soul of America and what it stands for.
There are some people who are truly fighting for the rights of high-tech workers and other American professionals. Lou Dobbs of CNN and Kim Berry of the Programmers Guild have been trying to bring this issue to the public. Marcus Courtney of Washtech has also been trying to raise awareness. Other labor organizations such as AFL-CIO, CWA, Compete American Workers, The American Engineering Association, TORAW, and Techsunite, are also fighting the good fight.
All these organizations are asking the government to do is stay out of the engineering business. Allow supply and demand to take effect. When engineering and computer science salaries go up, students will flock to those fields, and engineers who have left will return. Corporations do not need welfare from the United states government and the government should not be in bed with American corporations. This is not "The United Corporations of America". This is a country founded on the the principles, "by the people" and "for the people".
All Americans want is their country back. Sadly, this is an uphill battle. Only the American voters can possibly save high-tech workers of the present and of the future.
The 2008 election cycle
Do Americans watch their country get sold out to the lowest bidder or do they get politically active? Do Americans allow corporations to control our country like some invisble politbureau or do we stand up and fight with our only weapon, our votes?
Take two prominent U.S. Senators who are up for re-election in 2008 as an example. Senator Cornyn (R-TX) has been pushing for increases to the H-1B guest worker visa cap for many years while Senator Durbin (D-IL) has been fighting to protect American engineers by investigating H-1B fraud and abuse.
American high-tech workers can use their internet skills to make sure that Senator Cornyn's constituents know that he is betraying American workers, and they can help Senator Durbin by letting the public know that he is protecting American citizens. It is up to the voters to decide who they want to represent them, and it is up to all of us to spread the truth to the voters. Through web postings, message boards, emails and other methods the average American can have a powerful impact on these elections, regardless of where they reside. They can do this by using the internet which, by the way, was invented in America by American engineers.
This 2008 election cycle is a test for all American voters, corporations and politicians to see who will be holding the flag when it is over.
God bless us America! We'll need the help.
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