4 ms·

America's government is as cruel as it can possibly be lately. This is just punitive and disgusting.

by beedogs 9y ago

hcknwscommenter 9y ago
It is both punitive and disgusting, and it benefits no one.
- marchenko 9y ago
  I think it is meant to benefit US mid-tier tech workers, who are expected to experience less competition and downward wage pressure as the attractiveness (and even feasibility) of work in the US is substantially decreased for couples not consisting of at least one 'superstar' (persons earning well over $100k as an individual, or couples in which both members are earners at the top end of the ability distribution). I guess we'll see if that expectation bears out, of if companies respond by offshoring.
- hiram112 9y ago
  Except for the US citizens who now might have a job or even a bit of wage growth after 30 years of non-stop immigration from mostly low wage countries, with the ensuing wage arbitrage used by US businesses.
  - craftyguy 9y ago
    You are completely wrong if you think no US citizen has gotten a job or not experienced wage growth in the last 30 years.
    - TheAdamAndChe 9y ago
      Individuals may do better than average, but the trend in the US has been a widening gap between the upper class and everyone else combined with stagnant wages[1]. This has been due to many reasons like outsourcing, (illegal) immigration, automation, dissolution of anti-trust legislation, and the trend away from unionization in most industries. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-class_squeeze https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-class_squeeze
bborud 9y ago
For me as a European this is really simple: foreigners are not welcome in the US so I won't bother the US with my presence. If I'm going to be selfish: the US establishing itself as a politically unstable and inconsistent country means more opportunities closer to where I live. More talent staying in Europe, more talent attracted to Europe. If I were American I would worry about important talent pools now finding more opportunities in Asia.
- tehlike 9y ago
  Definitely, but there is something about western life that attracts people, too.
  - NTDF9 9y ago
    I assure you that Europe and Australia are quite western.
    - akhatri_aus 9y ago
      Even these are tightening down on immigration.
    - tehlike 9y ago
      Sure, but let me change it a bit: american way of life has its appeals.
      - bborud 9y ago
        It has its appeals for people from some parts of the world. I'm from Scandinavia. The US isn't terribly appealing when you live in a part of the world where stuff works and people tend to be rational.
tehlike 9y ago
For a long time h1b spouses werent even eligible for work, i think this brings it back. Cruel? Yes, but situation wasnt different just 2 yrs ago

America's government is as cruel as it can possibly be lately. This is just punitive and disgusting.

hcknwscommenter 9y ago

It is both punitive and disgusting, and it benefits no one.

marchenko 9y ago
I think it is meant to benefit US mid-tier tech workers, who are expected to experience less competition and downward wage pressure as the attractiveness (and even feasibility) of work in the US is substantially decreased for couples not consisting of at least one 'superstar' (persons earning well over $100k as an individual, or couples in which both members are earners at the top end of the ability distribution). I guess we'll see if that expectation bears out, of if companies respond by offshoring.
hiram112 9y ago
Except for the US citizens who now might have a job or even a bit of wage growth after 30 years of non-stop immigration from mostly low wage countries, with the ensuing wage arbitrage used by US businesses.
- craftyguy 9y ago
  You are completely wrong if you think no US citizen has gotten a job or not experienced wage growth in the last 30 years.
  - TheAdamAndChe 9y ago
    Individuals may do better than average, but the trend in the US has been a widening gap between the upper class and everyone else combined with stagnant wages[1]. This has been due to many reasons like outsourcing, (illegal) immigration, automation, dissolution of anti-trust legislation, and the trend away from unionization in most industries. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-class_squeeze https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-class_squeeze

bborud 9y ago

For me as a European this is really simple: foreigners are not welcome in the US so I won't bother the US with my presence. If I'm going to be selfish: the US establishing itself as a politically unstable and inconsistent country means more opportunities closer to where I live. More talent staying in Europe, more talent attracted to Europe. If I were American I would worry about important talent pools now finding more opportunities in Asia.

tehlike 9y ago
Definitely, but there is something about western life that attracts people, too.
- NTDF9 9y ago
  I assure you that Europe and Australia are quite western.
  - akhatri_aus 9y ago
    Even these are tightening down on immigration.
  - tehlike 9y ago
    Sure, but let me change it a bit: american way of life has its appeals.
    - bborud 9y ago
      It has its appeals for people from some parts of the world. I'm from Scandinavia. The US isn't terribly appealing when you live in a part of the world where stuff works and people tend to be rational.

tehlike 9y ago

For a long time h1b spouses werent even eligible for work, i think this brings it back. Cruel? Yes, but situation wasnt different just 2 yrs ago