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I doubt that is accurate. Generally speaking, most places which are hostile to new business ideas aren't going to become less hostile if they retain more of "th

I doubt that is accurate. Generally speaking, most places which are hostile to new business ideas aren't going to become less hostile if they retain more of "their" smart people, because the problems are not things that can be easily solved by simply having smart people around. I mean, if smart people stay in Russia instead of move to the US, is that going to change that rampant corruption and government control make it hard to run a legitimate business in Russia? If smart people stay in China instead of move to the US, does that mean that the oppression that the Chinese Communist Party engages in is going to go away through magic? If smart people stay in Greece instead of move to America, is that going to solve their sovereign debt problems? If smart people stay in Venezuela, how will they solve the problem of there not being enough food to eat? Those are all examples off of the top of my head. I'm certain less dramatic ones can be easily conjured up for any country where someone may decide to choose USA to start up.

basseq 9y ago
Maybe! After all, those "smart people" may turn to solving or changing the underlying limiting economic or business issues. Either as a focus of their efforts or by necessity of running a business. Or by contributing to innovation in more "traditional" channels.
- rarec 9y ago
  On the other side of it, why would these "smart people" want to bother helping their homeland versus helping them and theirs? Maybe it's worse for those countries, but in a world of globalisation, it's not irrational to pursue the opportunities in a place where you can get the most bang for your buck. You can always return if you want to, but that's not the path of least resistance.
  - basseq 9y ago
    For the context of this comment, this is if these "smart people" couldn't come to the U.S. instead. ("The argument being that as we skim the top people from the talent pool of other countries we reduce their capability to push innovation and ideas within their own infrastructure.") Basically, if these "smart people" couldn't come to the U.S., there would be no option. They wouldn't have any where else to go, and would have to help their homeland in order to help them and theirs. No other option if they couldn't come to the U.S. instead (if the theory is correct).
pyroinferno 9y ago
>If smart people stay in Greece instead of move to America, is that going to solve their sovereign debt problems? Yes, Greece would be closer to solving their financial situation if there were smart people in Greece. What kind of question is that?
- thehardsphere 9y ago
  Really? Please explain how having more smart people would fix the problem there. I don't think they have a shortage of high IQ people in Greece. They seem to have a shortage of money to spend, and a culture that is hostile to spending less money because of trust issues within their society. How do you throw smart people at that problem to make it go away?
  - pyroinferno 9y ago
    So you agree, we don't need visas.
    - thehardsphere 9y ago
      No, I said that more smart people would not fix the problems with Greek society that make starting businesses there vs. USA unpleasant. That doesn't say anything about whether or not "we need visas."

basseq 9y ago

Maybe! After all, those "smart people" may turn to solving or changing the underlying limiting economic or business issues. Either as a focus of their efforts or by necessity of running a business. Or by contributing to innovation in more "traditional" channels.

rarec 9y ago
On the other side of it, why would these "smart people" want to bother helping their homeland versus helping them and theirs? Maybe it's worse for those countries, but in a world of globalisation, it's not irrational to pursue the opportunities in a place where you can get the most bang for your buck. You can always return if you want to, but that's not the path of least resistance.
- basseq 9y ago
  For the context of this comment, this is if these "smart people" couldn't come to the U.S. instead. ("The argument being that as we skim the top people from the talent pool of other countries we reduce their capability to push innovation and ideas within their own infrastructure.") Basically, if these "smart people" couldn't come to the U.S., there would be no option. They wouldn't have any where else to go, and would have to help their homeland in order to help them and theirs. No other option if they couldn't come to the U.S. instead (if the theory is correct).

pyroinferno 9y ago

>If smart people stay in Greece instead of move to America, is that going to solve their sovereign debt problems? Yes, Greece would be closer to solving their financial situation if there were smart people in Greece. What kind of question is that?

thehardsphere 9y ago
Really? Please explain how having more smart people would fix the problem there. I don't think they have a shortage of high IQ people in Greece. They seem to have a shortage of money to spend, and a culture that is hostile to spending less money because of trust issues within their society. How do you throw smart people at that problem to make it go away?
- pyroinferno 9y ago
  So you agree, we don't need visas.
  - thehardsphere 9y ago
    No, I said that more smart people would not fix the problems with Greek society that make starting businesses there vs. USA unpleasant. That doesn't say anything about whether or not "we need visas."