Thomas Friedman/NYT's anti-American, anti-Indian ad for H-1Bs

Thomas Friedman of the New York Times - last seen here offering an idiotic smear of Sarah Palin - now offers "The Open-Door Bailout " (link). It's basically an ad for the H1B program. Rather than having a life-changing conversation with an Egyptian cab driver, this time the "slightly tongue-in-cheek" words of wisdom are offered by an Indian newspaper editor, who offers this alternative stimulus plan:

"All you need to do is grant visas to two million Indians, Chinese and Koreans... We will buy up all the subprime homes. We will work 18 hours a day to pay for them. We will immediately improve your savings rate - no Indian bank today has more than 2 percent nonperforming loans because not paying your mortgage is considered shameful here. And we will start new companies to create our own jobs and jobs for more Americans."

Call me an idealist, but maybe the idea of having people working 18 hours a day isn't something we should consider a good thing. And, unless Friedman thinks Indians, Chinese, and Koreans are genetically superior to Americans, then perhaps he should be promoting Americans creating new companies and paying their mortgages. He could get on that right now.

He goes on to promote the H-1B company Infosys, quoting a member of their executive council:

"If you [restrict H-1Bs], it will be one of the best things for India and one of the worst for Americans, [because] Indians will be forced to innovate at home..."

Basically, both he and Friedman are promoting brain-draining countries, a policy that would prevent third world countries from developing a middle class, causing more problems for us long-term. Taken to its extreme, that policy is economic warfare and a bit "imperialistic". And, restricting H1Bs really won't be one of the worst things for America; we have hundreds of millions of people and that's more than enough to develop innovative companies under the right circumstances, especially considering the large numbers of unemployed technology workers. Friedman should take a few cab rides in American cities for a change.

Wed, 02/11/2009 - 05:59 · · Importance: 4