“If our country had the backbone to put heavy trade tariffs on corporate misfits like Microsoft, it wouldn’t be economical for them to continue to export our jobs.”
By Rob Sanchez
Bill Gates has been threatening to move Microsoft out of the United States unless Congress authorized more H-1B visas—for (allegedly) temporary workers. His blackmail strategy didn’t work because Congress didn’t give him the H-1Bs he demanded.
Now Gates is reportedly making good on his threat by moving a Microsoft division to Canada. Gates hates losing so, now he is throwing a hissy fit.
Microsoft’s announced move is a brilliant PR ploy. News articles are appearing all over the country proclaiming that the Microsoft move is proof positive we need more H-1B visas.
The amusing thing is that, despite the scare mongering over a shortage of H-1B visas, Microsoft has actually admitted it would have moved even if H-1B immigration was increased:”Microsoft spokesman Lou Gellos said that while the immigration issue was a factor, the company would be opening the center in Vancouver even if it were not for the immigration challenges.” [http://m.news.com/2163-1014_3-6195049.html By Ina Fried and Anne Broache, CNET News.com
But you would never know what Microsoft said if you read the Los Angeles Times and other papers who think the move to Canada is proof positive that the sky is falling:
“High-tech companies are so frustrated by the limits on visas for skilled labor that they’re not just opening offices in India and China to recruit local talent. They’re also putting facilities in places like Vancouver for prized recruits from around the world—many of them trained at U.S. universities—who cannot work here. “[http://www.latimes.com/services/site/premium/access-registered.intercept, July 10, 2007
Reuters actually had a similar quote from Lou Gellos. But right up at the top of the article, you still get the impression that a lack of H-1B visas is causing a mass exodus:
“It may signal the start of a new hiring trend, with other U.S. high-tech firms following in Microsoft’s footsteps to Canada, where lawyers say it is easier for foreign nationals to obtain work credentials…” [http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070705/wl_canada_nm/canada_microsoft_canada_immigration_col By Jim Finkle and Allan Dowd, Reuters, July 5, 2007
You gotta like this one—an immigration lawyer calls Microsoft’s actions a fulfillment of a “promise”. It would be far more honest to say Microsoft is making good on its threat to blackmail the American middle class.
http://vdare.com/sanchez/070712_microsoft.htm