Letter To The Editor

Note: This letter was published. Click on the link below for the source.

Posted on Sat, Sep. 28, 2002

H-1B system, not the workers, needs a fresh examination

Americans with functioning memories may recall that when NAFTA and other schemes of economic globalization sent thousands of manufacturing jobs out of the country, ruling class pundits said it would be no problem. The reason? Americans would instead be happily doing information technology jobs in the brave new world of computers.

But the reality of the technology industry is that Americans' livelihoods are again being sacrificed. Information technology jobs are either being sent offshore or submissive foreigners are brought here to perform them on the cheap.

Many in this country believe that when they have spent years preparing themselves for a professional career, their government shouldn't be handing out cheap-labor visas to undermine their job security.

It's good that some of these workers are courageous enough to take their grievances to court. Otherwise we would soon be hearing from computer industry talking heads that information technology is a job Americans just won't do.

Brenda Walker
Berkeley

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