Further, with e.g. public state university funding being gutted while large corporations receive never-ending tax breaks, one might argue that, in the larger pi

Further, with e.g. public state university funding being gutted while large corporations receive never-ending tax breaks, one might argue that, in the larger picture, the same entities are creating the shortages that they then seek H1-B's to "solve". Only... I believe the disconnect occurs before this point. There are U.S. candidates. Companies -- for reasons of cost, control, lack of reciprocity and commitment, ageism, etc. -- simply don't want to hire them. I've watched very competent U.S. staff replaced by inferior foreign staff. This is often NOT a matter of "the most qualified candidate".