4 ms·

The h1b visa is a govt program that allows corporations to control who is allowed to move to the US and the conditions under which they are allowed to remain he

by geebee 8y ago

The h1b visa is a govt program that allows corporations to control who is allowed to move to the US and the conditions under which they are allowed to remain here. Corporations use this state bestowed power to prevent their workers from participating freely in labor markets. I am bewildered that anyone thinks there is a libertarian argument for this program. It’s power of the state, harnessed by corporations, to create a captive workforce shut out of full participation in a free economy.

conanbatt 8y ago
If you only made the H1B program costs on the account of the state, american citizens would do away with the whole thing altogether in a heartbeat.
1024core 8y ago
> I am bewildered that anyone thinks there is a libertarian argument for this program. Everyone's a libertarian until it's their own job on the line. Then they suddenly become conservative.
- geebee 8y ago
  Maybe so. But you know, my impression is that it's stronger in the other direction, at least in tech. By and large, tech workers don't seem to think the world owes them a job, where they want to live, on the projects they'd like to pursue, at the wage they've decided is proper. Tech workers seem to understand they have to work hard to earn these positions. It seems to be the employers who think that the world owes them a worker where they want to locate, on the projects they decide should be done, at a wage they think is proper. Tech employers asked the market for lots and lots of developers in the valley at salaries too low to buy a house and raise a family, the market said no, so tech employers had the government ask the market for them. The government responded by creating a program where high tech controls skilled immigration through their HR departments, deciding who is allowed to live and work in the US and the circumstances under which they are allowed to remain. Sometimes I think libertarians get so caught up in unions and "socialism" that they are blinded to the antics of corporations and their unholy flirtation with state supported corporate control over workers' lives.
  - conanbatt 8y ago
    As a foreigner, I did take notice of the anti-H1B propaganda on Bart. It was also a call for tech unionization.
- conanbatt 8y ago
  Yup, this is most present in HN arguments. But that must be how lots of people feel but dont express in real life.
- scarejunba 8y ago
  Freedom of labour and freedom of capital. To quote from lp.org > A truly free market requires the free movement of people, not just products and ideas. But there are certainly lots of Conservative-lites pretending to be libertarians certainly.

by geebee 8y ago

conanbatt 8y ago

If you only made the H1B program costs on the account of the state, american citizens would do away with the whole thing altogether in a heartbeat.

1024core 8y ago

> I am bewildered that anyone thinks there is a libertarian argument for this program. Everyone's a libertarian until it's their own job on the line. Then they suddenly become conservative.

geebee 8y ago
Maybe so. But you know, my impression is that it's stronger in the other direction, at least in tech. By and large, tech workers don't seem to think the world owes them a job, where they want to live, on the projects they'd like to pursue, at the wage they've decided is proper. Tech workers seem to understand they have to work hard to earn these positions. It seems to be the employers who think that the world owes them a worker where they want to locate, on the projects they decide should be done, at a wage they think is proper. Tech employers asked the market for lots and lots of developers in the valley at salaries too low to buy a house and raise a family, the market said no, so tech employers had the government ask the market for them. The government responded by creating a program where high tech controls skilled immigration through their HR departments, deciding who is allowed to live and work in the US and the circumstances under which they are allowed to remain. Sometimes I think libertarians get so caught up in unions and "socialism" that they are blinded to the antics of corporations and their unholy flirtation with state supported corporate control over workers' lives.
- conanbatt 8y ago
  As a foreigner, I did take notice of the anti-H1B propaganda on Bart. It was also a call for tech unionization.
conanbatt 8y ago
Yup, this is most present in HN arguments. But that must be how lots of people feel but dont express in real life.
scarejunba 8y ago
Freedom of labour and freedom of capital. To quote from lp.org > A truly free market requires the free movement of people, not just products and ideas. But there are certainly lots of Conservative-lites pretending to be libertarians certainly.