I think one of the keys to this debate is mobility. I know from my field, SAP Consulting, that clients are now able to offer rock bottom rates with the expectat

I think one of the keys to this debate is mobility. I know from my field, SAP Consulting, that clients are now able to offer rock bottom rates with the expectation of a "consultant" relocating or living with other "consultants" in order to avoid paying travel expenses. So while the salary remains the same, the expense equation is different. This is partly why folks like me lament the H1-B problem because it increased the supply of "consultants" which is frustrating because in the SAP space is very specialized and finding projects is very difficult, double that for regional projects. It sucks because it feels like companies can play on the international labor market yet American workers are limited to the regional ones.