3 ms·

I should have been more clear when I referenced H1B. My personal opinion about the program is that it is deeply flawed, mostly because it is a sort of legalize

by bcg1 10y ago

I should have been more clear when I referenced H1B. My personal opinion about the program is that it is deeply flawed, mostly because it is a sort of legalized indentured servitude. I doubt Trump has those same feelings however, as he hires H1B works at his own club in Palm Beach instead of Americans. If he was morally opposed to the program, I doubt he would do that. I brought it up because he talks about it in a way to scapegoat foreigners, appealing to the darker angels of people who have racist tendencies and are looking for someone to blame. I find such a tactic reprehensible, and I personally do not draw a distinction between someone who acts on racist feelings and someone who makes racist appeals to those who act on racist feelings.

Inconel 10y ago
Thanks for the response. I agree with you that at best Trump seems hypocritical to denounce the H1B visa program after having employed those holding H1B visas, and at worst much more nefarious for using those immigrants as scapegoats. At the same time, my main concern with your original comment was that you used his stance on the H1B program as an example of his racism. Now, in Trump's case that very well may be true, but by using his stand against H1B's as your reasoning you basically imply that anyone against the H1B program is also racist. I understand that wasn't what you meant to imply but it highlights to me one of the dangers of the current political climate. Namely, a person might have a specific stance on an issue based on very legitimate reasoning, in this case the H1B program being indentured servitude, and if someone else comes along who happens to hold those same views for perhaps less legitimate reasons, lets say racism, we tend to automatically discount the stance as being racist or otherwise illegitimate. Being labelled a racist is a pretty serious charge for most people who don't have wealth or power and actually have to live and work with a diverse group of people. I would hate to be called a racist due to being against the current way the H1B program is administered just because Trump is against it as well. Again, I'm sure that's not actually what you meant, but it points to the importance of using very clear language when leveling these kind of accusations.

by bcg1 10y ago

Inconel 10y ago

Thanks for the response. I agree with you that at best Trump seems hypocritical to denounce the H1B visa program after having employed those holding H1B visas, and at worst much more nefarious for using those immigrants as scapegoats. At the same time, my main concern with your original comment was that you used his stance on the H1B program as an example of his racism. Now, in Trump's case that very well may be true, but by using his stand against H1B's as your reasoning you basically imply that anyone against the H1B program is also racist. I understand that wasn't what you meant to imply but it highlights to me one of the dangers of the current political climate. Namely, a person might have a specific stance on an issue based on very legitimate reasoning, in this case the H1B program being indentured servitude, and if someone else comes along who happens to hold those same views for perhaps less legitimate reasons, lets say racism, we tend to automatically discount the stance as being racist or otherwise illegitimate. Being labelled a racist is a pretty serious charge for most people who don't have wealth or power and actually have to live and work with a diverse group of people. I would hate to be called a racist due to being against the current way the H1B program is administered just because Trump is against it as well. Again, I'm sure that's not actually what you meant, but it points to the importance of using very clear language when leveling these kind of accusations.