Report tells programmers to put security over creativity

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Some additional thoughts...: Reduced availability of employment for US programmers probably began with the H-1B visa goldrush. When I worked at MS in Redmond, I was 1 of 3 native-born US (maybe even US citizens) in a group of 13. The others were from China, India, Pakistan and Russia. Employers who made extensive use of H-1B visas were never required to demonstrate that US programmers were scarce, unqualified or overpaid. Since the H-1B employees were paid "prevailing wage", they weren't particularly cheaper--although they were probably paid entry-level wages.

I always figured it was an issue of employer control over their workforce. If you're on an H-1B visa, with an opportunity to become a permanent resident or citizen, then you'll tend less to make trouble for your employer by engaging in company politics, agitating for a promotion, or looking around for another job--in other words, exercising the choices that the US employees have. Employers tend to prefer a regimented workforce, with creativity and individuality focused in a few areas where its expected and tolerated. Most programmers, in my observation, perform a more or less unexciting journeyman trade.

Lately US corporations have been grumbling about the low ceiling (65,000 I believe) on H-1B visas. Possibly the growth in offshoring is partly a response to US corporations desire for more non-US employees, for whatever reasons.

The corporations themselves are self-contradictory about their reasons for offshoring. At times spokespersons argue that it isn't about cost at all, but rather that too few qualified US IT professionals are available, and they go on disingenuously to urge US universities to produce more computer science and engineering graduates. Both Gates and Fiorina have made speeches like this. At other times you hear that offshoring is cheaper.

I think the cost of a some commodity in a particular place depends on a lot of factors like the costs of employee benefits, government taxation and regulation, cost and standard of living in the locale.

I believe that in return for access to US markets, corporations (especially US-based corporations) should not behave in ways that undermine the US economy. Currently corporations like Hewlett-Packard in particular make a ton of money marketing their stuff in the US, but offshore extensively as well as move profits to foreign subsidiaries in order to avoid paying US corporate income taxes. These are legitimate policy issues for US government.

I think that it is clear that the offshoring phenomenon is far more complex than the dollar wage or competence of US programmers.

But my original point was a different one altogether. I think it is a mistake to entrust foreigners with securing software and networks in which we have a particular national interest. This also is a legitimate policy issue for US government.; Posted by: FederalistPaperBoy Posted on: 04/02/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use