H-1B Caps and Baseball

Here we are in the last days of May 2009, California has run out of money, the Governator threatens to release inmates, police, firemen, and teachers because there's no more paycheck funds. Will the last one out please turn off the lights?

Today I would like to comment on an 11 May 09 (information week) article entitled "What if Major League Baseball Had H-1B Caps?" In this article credited to "Rob Preston, editor in chief of information week, suggests that if Major League Baseball had (American only) restrictions on recruitment then the quality of the baseball game would "become second-rate league in no time". Guess he has a point ... at least if we're talking about baseball, an entertainment gig. If someone from Cuba, Russia, or whatever is a better sports talent then any one we can find here, then why not hire that player? But wait.... again, we are talking about entertainment here not about people who live normal lives seeking a regular paycheck and paying bills. The way I look at this logic is ... if we just focus on sports there's a big difference between hiring someone for a baseball team and providing American job opportunities.

In alignment with my premise that the "greed factor" ( manifesting as a focus on cheaper labor and favorable tax advantages) originally drove corporate America to outsource jobs and manufacturing to other countries. The result of that action, as I have supported in this blog, is that, compared to the American workforce, H1-B resources have had GREATER opportunity for education, training, and job security resulting in a more QUALIFIED H1-B force ! See what I mean? This is not about "talent" ... this is about developing a long range plan to provide an American work force the opportunity to develop skills through education and actual job experience. This is about undermining the greed factor presented in these writings and changing the tax laws and profit incentive that encourage the outsourcing of jobs. This is about having a long range program for encouraging more young Americans to get into math and science at an early stage. This is about motivating and preparing an American workforce that will be competitive and supportive of a vibrant American economy. If this country does not promote this positive environment for education, training and job security for an American work force, where do these "qualified" people come from?

Concluding his article, Mr Preston says " So let's have a sensible H-1B visa process that brings in what we need and gives them a chance for citizenship. It enriches our country and economy". In this dark economic time inviting more H-1B sources to become citizens? Huh ? I have a contrasting opinion. Why not provide an American culture that is "employee friendly" and give American citizens a better chance to enrich their country and economy? Regarding Mr Preston's conclusion, I invite any of my readers to ask the following question:

What defines a "sensible" H-1B visa process?

Play ball !