We all fondly recall the T.S.A.--the Federal agency which randomly screens grannies, babies, and nursing mothers before they get on an airplane. This is done in the name of "terror prevention." T.S.A. made it a point NOT to screen young Arab males who pay cash for one-way tickets--that would be discriminatory.
Well, apparently AG candidate Paul Bucher has the T.S.A. manual on his desk and has similar plans. Stop and screen EVERYONE on the highway to find the drunks.
This is not Mr. Bucher's only "LEO-mentality" demonstration--he's also famous for throwing a monkey-wrench into the CCW proposal a couple of years ago by insisting that CCW permit-holders would represent a danger to cops who stop them for traffic violations.
Yah.
So under the Bucher plan, it's advisable that you leave 10-15 minutes early for whatever engagement you have--because you might be in a long line for a while. Tough cookies for you if you happen to be driving your wife-in-labor to the hospital, or are on a tight business schedule.
Paul, that's not Law Enforcement. That's the old "Show Us Your Papers" business.
Friday, April 28, 2006
Senate Worry You? Sleep Well. Sensenbrenner Will Fix It
Jim Sensenbrenner knows what's up with the border, and what's down. He has the House Republicans on his side.
So as the Senate (and Our President) make fools of themselves creating amnesties "pathways" and erasing borders, the House waits.
First thing: secure the borders.
So as the Senate (and Our President) make fools of themselves creating amnesties "pathways" and erasing borders, the House waits.
First thing: secure the borders.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
"Church in Hospice" Finally Shows the Colors
After a couple of rather bland and unexceptionable posts, "Church in Hospice" gets it into gear.
Wrong gear, but hey...gotta go somewhere, eh? After all, one can hardly be a Member of the Priests' "Union" without questioning the motives (or sanity) of the Management.
So here he goes:
A critical problem faced by religious institutions is the decreasing average talent of people choosing clerical careers in the United States. This problem is related to the declining authority of institutional religion in America's public life. When official religion was more influential, it tended to attract more gifted candidates. As the role of official religion in this country has declined, so has the prestige of its clergy and with it the giftedness of individuals entering the profession. Though average verbal and analytical Graduate Record Exam scores increased for all test takers during the 1980s, scores of prospective seminary students declined. Seminary candidates scored significantly lower that the national averages on the quantatative and analytical sections of the test. Only male prospective seminarians were lower than the national average on the verbal portion of the test.
Note well: "average" is a very interesting word--it covers a multitude of folks, doesn't it? Like for example, is there a difference between the entering seminarians of the Diocese of Lincoln and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles? Milwaukee? Peoria? Rockford? I've met several Lincoln priests, and let me tell you, these men are sharp cookies. Similarly, I've met a few Rockford priests who are younger (30's) Also bright.
Victor J. Klimoski, Kevin J. O'Neil, and Katarina M. Schuth have reported that only ten percent of all Catholic male seminarians are highly qualified for theological study. Some forty percent enter with weak educational backgrounds and learning disabilities. Added to this, many seminarians enter after having been away from the Church for many years.
And the name of the Admissions Officer(s) responsible for this is??? From professional acquaintance, I am VERY aware of the fact that 'getting the right man' is not a matter of having a web-page and sending out a letter once a year.
Now for the setup:
Sociologist Mark Chaves has pointed out that there are significant gender differences in GRE scores with females substantially and consistently outperforming males. This means that if Protestant and Jewish denominations had not expanded their ordained leadership to include women, the aptitude of prospective clerics would have declined more.
Yup. You guessed it:
The well-being of any organization depends upon its ability to attract the best and brightest into its leadership ranks. The admission of women into the clergy of other denominations has increased the aptitude of their seminarians. Rome has ruled out this possibility for Catholics. One wonders what effect making celibacy optional would have on the numbers and quality of men entering the Catholic priesthood. So far, Rome has also been closed to this option. The Church appears to prefer modestly gifted men who promise celibacy over brighter women or men who want to marry. Given these stances, the U. S. Catholic Cchurch is likely to face a continuing crisis of ordained leadership long after the sexual abuse crisis abates.
Yah, hey. Peter the Runaway woulda passed the "sociology screen" of the eminentoes listed above, hey! The Borgia Popes are another fine set of examples. For the cryin' out loud, St John Vianney was not too bright, either.
See, Father (since your Church History course didn't cover this well--you ARE a Rembertian ordinand...) the Church has persevered through all sorts of cataclysms--the general idea was stated by the Guy who said "...the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it..."
So we take the priests we are given; the impossibility of female "ordination" will remain in place, as will the rule of celibacy.
You can take the intellectualoids who 'study higher Biblical criticism'--the Bultmann/Schliermacher folks. I'll take the ones who actually know the Catechism.
And I'll get to Scotland before you.
Wrong gear, but hey...gotta go somewhere, eh? After all, one can hardly be a Member of the Priests' "Union" without questioning the motives (or sanity) of the Management.
So here he goes:
A critical problem faced by religious institutions is the decreasing average talent of people choosing clerical careers in the United States. This problem is related to the declining authority of institutional religion in America's public life. When official religion was more influential, it tended to attract more gifted candidates. As the role of official religion in this country has declined, so has the prestige of its clergy and with it the giftedness of individuals entering the profession. Though average verbal and analytical Graduate Record Exam scores increased for all test takers during the 1980s, scores of prospective seminary students declined. Seminary candidates scored significantly lower that the national averages on the quantatative and analytical sections of the test. Only male prospective seminarians were lower than the national average on the verbal portion of the test.
Note well: "average" is a very interesting word--it covers a multitude of folks, doesn't it? Like for example, is there a difference between the entering seminarians of the Diocese of Lincoln and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles? Milwaukee? Peoria? Rockford? I've met several Lincoln priests, and let me tell you, these men are sharp cookies. Similarly, I've met a few Rockford priests who are younger (30's) Also bright.
Victor J. Klimoski, Kevin J. O'Neil, and Katarina M. Schuth have reported that only ten percent of all Catholic male seminarians are highly qualified for theological study. Some forty percent enter with weak educational backgrounds and learning disabilities. Added to this, many seminarians enter after having been away from the Church for many years.
And the name of the Admissions Officer(s) responsible for this is??? From professional acquaintance, I am VERY aware of the fact that 'getting the right man' is not a matter of having a web-page and sending out a letter once a year.
Now for the setup:
Sociologist Mark Chaves has pointed out that there are significant gender differences in GRE scores with females substantially and consistently outperforming males. This means that if Protestant and Jewish denominations had not expanded their ordained leadership to include women, the aptitude of prospective clerics would have declined more.
Yup. You guessed it:
The well-being of any organization depends upon its ability to attract the best and brightest into its leadership ranks. The admission of women into the clergy of other denominations has increased the aptitude of their seminarians. Rome has ruled out this possibility for Catholics. One wonders what effect making celibacy optional would have on the numbers and quality of men entering the Catholic priesthood. So far, Rome has also been closed to this option. The Church appears to prefer modestly gifted men who promise celibacy over brighter women or men who want to marry. Given these stances, the U. S. Catholic Cchurch is likely to face a continuing crisis of ordained leadership long after the sexual abuse crisis abates.
Yah, hey. Peter the Runaway woulda passed the "sociology screen" of the eminentoes listed above, hey! The Borgia Popes are another fine set of examples. For the cryin' out loud, St John Vianney was not too bright, either.
See, Father (since your Church History course didn't cover this well--you ARE a Rembertian ordinand...) the Church has persevered through all sorts of cataclysms--the general idea was stated by the Guy who said "...the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it..."
So we take the priests we are given; the impossibility of female "ordination" will remain in place, as will the rule of celibacy.
You can take the intellectualoids who 'study higher Biblical criticism'--the Bultmann/Schliermacher folks. I'll take the ones who actually know the Catechism.
And I'll get to Scotland before you.
Lease WHAT for $700./Month?
So I checked with a friend who sells cars.
What can you get for $700./month in leased cars, assuming 24 months/24K miles?
Benz 500 series
BMW 500 series
Lexus 300 series, (maybe 400 series)
VW Tuareg
ANY Cadillac
ANY large SUV
All fully-loaded.
What can you get for $700./month in leased cars, assuming 24 months/24K miles?
Benz 500 series
BMW 500 series
Lexus 300 series, (maybe 400 series)
VW Tuareg
ANY Cadillac
ANY large SUV
All fully-loaded.
Greek?
Welborn tells an interesting story:
I was just speaking to a woman who used to be a parish Director of Religious Education. She recounted a time when someone in her parish offered to teach a course in Biblical Greek. Some powers that were demurred, suggesting that no, that's not what people would want. They want to (wait for it) share their faith. Reflect.
She said, eh, let's try it.
It was the most popular adult education program she ever offered.
In my experience as a teacher (no, not full-time) this sort of thing rings the "true" bell. Adults and children alike generally want to learn something. Not ALL adults, nor children--but look at the number of people who voluntarily participate in the Symphony Chorus, Bach Chamber Choir, and Bel Canto--it's around 400 or so, just in those three large choirs in Milwaukee.
They are there to learn.
I was just speaking to a woman who used to be a parish Director of Religious Education. She recounted a time when someone in her parish offered to teach a course in Biblical Greek. Some powers that were demurred, suggesting that no, that's not what people would want. They want to (wait for it) share their faith. Reflect.
She said, eh, let's try it.
It was the most popular adult education program she ever offered.
In my experience as a teacher (no, not full-time) this sort of thing rings the "true" bell. Adults and children alike generally want to learn something. Not ALL adults, nor children--but look at the number of people who voluntarily participate in the Symphony Chorus, Bach Chamber Choir, and Bel Canto--it's around 400 or so, just in those three large choirs in Milwaukee.
They are there to learn.
Xoff's Biology (Publick Screwels Gradyoot)
Here's how Xoff does biology 101:
A small percentage [of the 400K frozen embryos] have been designated for research or donation to other couples, but the vast majority are excess embryos that will never be used to produce babies.
Right.
You can't make this stuff up, and pointing out this inanity is...well, it's the duty of the blogger.
This astounding biological re-write was created to make BagManJimbo look like some sort of "good guy" for valuing dollars over lives--put another way, the Utilitarian sophistry.
The Democrat Party has come a long, long, long way since defending slavery in the South, eh?
A small percentage [of the 400K frozen embryos] have been designated for research or donation to other couples, but the vast majority are excess embryos that will never be used to produce babies.
Right.
You can't make this stuff up, and pointing out this inanity is...well, it's the duty of the blogger.
This astounding biological re-write was created to make BagManJimbo look like some sort of "good guy" for valuing dollars over lives--put another way, the Utilitarian sophistry.
The Democrat Party has come a long, long, long way since defending slavery in the South, eh?
Back Off, Paul
Waukesha DA Paul Bucher, who is running for the Pubbie A.G. nomination (in case you didn't know...) has now unleashed a screech over JBVanHollen's comment that 'there is terrorist training and ....fundraising activity' going on in Wisconsin.
Bucher claims that VanHollen (who REALLY knows how to handle a pistol) is "terrorizing" Wisconsin residents with his remarks.
Paul, take a chill-pill.
1) Anybody who thinks that Wisconsin is immune from 'terrorist training/fundraising' is living in la-la-land and ipso facto is likely a Democrat. Yeah, it's going on.
2) Anybody who is "terrorized" by VanHollen's remarks is just a bit more, ah, sensitive than they should be. See #1) above.
By the way, a concealed-carry law (or for that matter, an OPEN-carry law) would relieve a lot of people of their "terrors," Paul. You know--like the one you tried to skewer back a session ago.
Bucher claims that VanHollen (who REALLY knows how to handle a pistol) is "terrorizing" Wisconsin residents with his remarks.
Paul, take a chill-pill.
1) Anybody who thinks that Wisconsin is immune from 'terrorist training/fundraising' is living in la-la-land and ipso facto is likely a Democrat. Yeah, it's going on.
2) Anybody who is "terrorized" by VanHollen's remarks is just a bit more, ah, sensitive than they should be. See #1) above.
By the way, a concealed-carry law (or for that matter, an OPEN-carry law) would relieve a lot of people of their "terrors," Paul. You know--like the one you tried to skewer back a session ago.
UW's Cars
"So, see, in order to be a Chancellor, you gotta have a car."
"Agreed. You should be able to get to and from the office."
"Well....not just ANY car. It should be a special car. You know--a car fit for a Chancellor. That'll be $700.00/month plus thirty cents per mile, please. And not just 'to get to the office.' We have important things to do--all over the State. So we need mileage reimbursement."
"I don't get it. You want the State to pay for the car AND you want the State to pay for all the miles you rack up on the car, too? Isn't that sorta, kinda, double-dipping?"
"No, you damn rabble. It's not 'double-dipping.' It's common practice in business."
"Really?"
"Really."
"So when businessmen I know are only getting $595/month plus 10 cents per mile, what's up with that?"
"Obviously, those businessmen are merely taxpayers. They are not Chancellors."
"Oh, yeah. Sorry about that. Stupid question."
"Agreed. You should be able to get to and from the office."
"Well....not just ANY car. It should be a special car. You know--a car fit for a Chancellor. That'll be $700.00/month plus thirty cents per mile, please. And not just 'to get to the office.' We have important things to do--all over the State. So we need mileage reimbursement."
"I don't get it. You want the State to pay for the car AND you want the State to pay for all the miles you rack up on the car, too? Isn't that sorta, kinda, double-dipping?"
"No, you damn rabble. It's not 'double-dipping.' It's common practice in business."
"Really?"
"Really."
"So when businessmen I know are only getting $595/month plus 10 cents per mile, what's up with that?"
"Obviously, those businessmen are merely taxpayers. They are not Chancellors."
"Oh, yeah. Sorry about that. Stupid question."
Party of Government Parade
Seems as though Waukesha County salaries for elected officials are in play.
Heh. Maybe our elected officials are part of the "parade" noted by Frank Lassee:
In the debate over constitutional limits, no one is representing taxpayers "who pay the bills," Lasee said. "We have a tremendous spending lobby parading through this building."
Lasee said local officials and government workers want to protect their high salaries and are afraid "they may not get as generous raises and benefit packages in the future."
And HERE'S a parade:
Four former governors - Democrats Tony Earl, Pat Lucey and Martin Schreiber and Republican Lee S. Dreyfus - issued a statement saying a constitutional amendment is not needed.
"The primary and final responsibility for taxes and spending has, does, and should continue to reside with the people elected to represent us in the Legislature and the executive office," they said.
...each of these exalted yutzes, of course, are Highly Honored Poobahs of the Party of/in Government Society of Steal, Spend, and Retire (HHP-PIG-SSSR) Is it just co-incidence that the acronym includes "SSSR"? We think not.
What more could one ask? When such luminaries speak--Tony the Tree-Hugger, Schreiber the Kept Man of the Casinos, and old RINO Lee (who personally signed off on the Gas-Taxation-Without- Representation Bill)--we rabble, we louts, we dirty-handed workers should STFU!! and fall to the ground in adoration, right?
From 1995 to 2005, spending from the state's general fund - one traditional gauge of state taxes - jumped by 51%, from $7.81 billion to $11.86 billion, according to state reports. That was more than double the national inflation rate of about 25% for that same period.
We rabble have also noticed that gasoline prices went up, boys. Maybe the bozo local twits will stop sending an entire engine company for run-of-the-mill ambulance calls. And don't local governments maintain a "reserve" account for such contingencies? Maybe the State will finally dump the State Patrol's highway cruisers. Maybe the Governor will stop using State airplanes for campaign appearances.
And maybe Hell will freeze over.
As to Waukesha County:
After his successful push to shrink the Waukesha County Board as a cost-saving move, County Executive Dan Vrakas is confronting a pay-raise package that includes about $8,000 a year more for his position.
Other countywide elected officials would receive raises ranging from about $4,000 a year to $9,500 a year, under a measure designed to set salaries in advance of upcoming county elections.
Vrakas said he would not prejudge any proposal without analyzing it and comparing how Waukesha County salaries stack up against those for officials in comparable positions in other counties.
[I see. Perhaps the Executive should MOVE to another county and get elected there, if they pay more. The "other counties" argument is absolutely irrelevant for ELECTED POSITIONS, Danny-boy.]
County Treasurer Pamela Reeves called the existing formula reasonable and said she would object to getting less of a raise than what was recommended.
"I think it's kind of a slap in the face," said Reeves, who plans to seek her fourth term in office in November.
So she gets a slap in the face AND RUNS FOR OFFICE AGAIN? Pammy!! Quit the job!! You've been INSULTED!! Maybe Vilas County needs a good treasurer. Or Rock County. Or maybe some county in Utah!
Yah. This is cute. Not only do they want to keep their jobs, they want raises--probably to pay for the increase in gasoline prices.
And by God, the taxpaying louts, the unwashed, the rabble--THEY WILL PAY FOR IT!!
Heh. Maybe our elected officials are part of the "parade" noted by Frank Lassee:
In the debate over constitutional limits, no one is representing taxpayers "who pay the bills," Lasee said. "We have a tremendous spending lobby parading through this building."
Lasee said local officials and government workers want to protect their high salaries and are afraid "they may not get as generous raises and benefit packages in the future."
And HERE'S a parade:
Four former governors - Democrats Tony Earl, Pat Lucey and Martin Schreiber and Republican Lee S. Dreyfus - issued a statement saying a constitutional amendment is not needed.
"The primary and final responsibility for taxes and spending has, does, and should continue to reside with the people elected to represent us in the Legislature and the executive office," they said.
...each of these exalted yutzes, of course, are Highly Honored Poobahs of the Party of/in Government Society of Steal, Spend, and Retire (HHP-PIG-SSSR) Is it just co-incidence that the acronym includes "SSSR"? We think not.
What more could one ask? When such luminaries speak--Tony the Tree-Hugger, Schreiber the Kept Man of the Casinos, and old RINO Lee (who personally signed off on the Gas-Taxation-Without- Representation Bill)--we rabble, we louts, we dirty-handed workers should STFU!! and fall to the ground in adoration, right?
From 1995 to 2005, spending from the state's general fund - one traditional gauge of state taxes - jumped by 51%, from $7.81 billion to $11.86 billion, according to state reports. That was more than double the national inflation rate of about 25% for that same period.
We rabble have also noticed that gasoline prices went up, boys. Maybe the bozo local twits will stop sending an entire engine company for run-of-the-mill ambulance calls. And don't local governments maintain a "reserve" account for such contingencies? Maybe the State will finally dump the State Patrol's highway cruisers. Maybe the Governor will stop using State airplanes for campaign appearances.
And maybe Hell will freeze over.
As to Waukesha County:
After his successful push to shrink the Waukesha County Board as a cost-saving move, County Executive Dan Vrakas is confronting a pay-raise package that includes about $8,000 a year more for his position.
Other countywide elected officials would receive raises ranging from about $4,000 a year to $9,500 a year, under a measure designed to set salaries in advance of upcoming county elections.
Vrakas said he would not prejudge any proposal without analyzing it and comparing how Waukesha County salaries stack up against those for officials in comparable positions in other counties.
[I see. Perhaps the Executive should MOVE to another county and get elected there, if they pay more. The "other counties" argument is absolutely irrelevant for ELECTED POSITIONS, Danny-boy.]
County Treasurer Pamela Reeves called the existing formula reasonable and said she would object to getting less of a raise than what was recommended.
"I think it's kind of a slap in the face," said Reeves, who plans to seek her fourth term in office in November.
So she gets a slap in the face AND RUNS FOR OFFICE AGAIN? Pammy!! Quit the job!! You've been INSULTED!! Maybe Vilas County needs a good treasurer. Or Rock County. Or maybe some county in Utah!
Yah. This is cute. Not only do they want to keep their jobs, they want raises--probably to pay for the increase in gasoline prices.
And by God, the taxpaying louts, the unwashed, the rabble--THEY WILL PAY FOR IT!!
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
The Religion of Peace vs. The Armenians
We are reminded that last Sunday, April 24th, is the 91st anniversary of the slaughter of the Armenian Christians.
The Muslim Turks killed 1.5 million Armenian Christians...
Some were able to escape and come to the USA; I am happily acquainted with one of the descendants, a fellow who managed a large division of Jos. Schlitz Brewing Co. (ancient history, eh...)
"Religion of Peace," eh?
The Muslim Turks killed 1.5 million Armenian Christians...
Some were able to escape and come to the USA; I am happily acquainted with one of the descendants, a fellow who managed a large division of Jos. Schlitz Brewing Co. (ancient history, eh...)
"Religion of Peace," eh?
H1-B Controversy, Continued
From Norm Matloff's private newsletter, wherein he fisks a pack of deceptions and half-truths:
The enclosed op-ed is [see below] by the head of TechNet, an industry lobbying firm, and Scott McNealy, who just stepped down as head of Sun. Let's look at their version of the "Einstein argument" in support of employer sponsorship of foreign tech workers:
Aside from the fact that Grove and Brin were not H-1Bs or equivalents, and Grove and Khosla provided only business acumen to their firms, and aside from the from that Grove was NOT one of the founders of Intel, the key point is that NONE OF THOSE THREE COMPANIES HAS BEEN PIVOTAL IN THE INDUSTRY'S DEVELOPMENT. None of them had a product superior to those of other firms. The industry would have done just as well without them, and in Intel's case, the industry would have done BETTER without Intel. And the reason McNealy stepped down is that Sun is a disaster. Google is fun to use, with its cute logo, etc., but its search engine isn't any better than the others.
Those figures are wrong. For example, they count technicians as "engineers." See
http://heather.cs.ucdavis.edu/Archive/PlentyOfUSEngineers.txt
Even more importantly, WE ARE NOT USING THE ENGINEERS THAT WE HAVE, SO IT'S IRRELEVANT WHETHER OTHER NATIONS PRODUCE MORE OF THEM THAN WE DO.
Eileen Appelbaum answered this one best (see
http://heather.cs.ucdavis.edu/Archive/H1BToolForAgeDiscrim.txt):
But Eileen Appelbaum, an economist and member of a National Research Council committee that studied the impact of H-1Bs on the U.S. economy, does not accept the way the H-1B option is typically framed: One can have an H-1B worker in an American job, or lose that job to exportation.
"Industry said in 2001, "Let us have the H-1B visas and we'll do the work here, or you can say no and we'll just move the work offshore,' " she said. "Well, they got all the H-1Bs they wanted, and they still moved work offshore. In 2005, that's an argument industry can't make with a straight face."
And again even more importantly, the firms themselves admit that they use H-1B as a vehicle to facilitate offshoring, and would find it very difficult to offshore without it. See also Prof. Ron Hira's research which quantifies this, with the typical arrangement being that a firm puts one H-1B onshore for every two workers offshore.
As John Miano has pointed out, go to NFAP's Web page. Do you see anywhere on the page where you can contribute to this "non-profit organization"? No, NFAP has plenty of funding of its own, thank you. And it almost certainly is coming from firms that want to hire cheap foreign labor, and from the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
Norm
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2006-04-25-forum-immigration
Posted 4/25/2006 10:02 PM ET
By Lezlee Westine and Scott McNealy for USA TODAY
What do the founders of Intel, Sun Microsystems and Google - Andy Grove, Andy Bechtolsheim, Vinod Khosla and Sergey Brin - have in common with Albert Einstein and Wernher von Braun? All are part of America's tradition of welcoming talented immigrants who have made significant contributions to our industry.
Einstein changed the way we look at science and energy; von Braun was the father of the U.S. space program; and Grove, Bechtolsheim, Khosla and Brin are among the many giants who have changed the high-tech industry.
The innovative companies they built created thousands of jobs and have a combined market cap of $250 billion. But our longstanding tradition of being an open door for innovation is at risk.
Today's broken immigration system closes the door on foreign-born innovators. With arbitrary visa limits and clogged processing, opportunity is knocking at our door and we're fumbling with the keys.
It wasn't always this way. Several of our nation's Nobel laureates are foreign-born. The past half-century of scientific research success that has made our universities the beacon of innovation would not have occurred but for the contributions of foreign-born students. And the efforts of Grove, Bechtolsheim, Khosla and Brin alone have generated thousands of U.S. jobs and hundreds of millions in U.S. tax revenue.
So why the conflict between our laws and our policy?
First, the world is catching on to the job-creating benefits of a strong math and science education. China and India are graduating hundreds of thousands of engineers each year. In addition, they and other nations have established generous tax incentives to lure research and development into their countries. These factors have made the competition for talent global.
Second, our past success breeds the potential for the next "big thing" in fields such as biotechnology, nanotechnology and biophysics. By 2012, it's projected that the demand for technical jobs in science and engineering will increase by more than 25%, and 39% in math and computer science. Factor in the tech rebound, and the need will be even greater.
What happened the last time we saw demand for these professionals soar? Congress created a visa program for immigrants who had unique technical knowledge, a bachelor's degree and a job offer in the USA.
Under the current system, the federal government provides 65,000 H-1B visas each year, beginning Oct. 1. Yet the visas made available last October were spoken for almost two months before that, which means our open door for innovation is temporarily closed for 14 months.
For foreign-born students graduating from a U.S. college in June, the H-1B limitations make it difficult for them to find jobs here. We're even closing the door on those with H-1Bs visas who seek permanent U.S. residency because of extended delays in a system designed largely in 1990, when our workforce and economic needs were different.
For the U.S. high-tech community, these laws present a difficult choice: Innovate or perish. If we can't find professionals to do the job here in the USA, many will simply move the job to the qualified workers overseas.
A new study by the National Foundation for American Policy, a non-profit organization, has concluded that the laws are forcing good-paying, job-creating positions offshore. We know that the long-term solution is investing in educational programs in math, science and engineering. But we won't see the fruits of those investments for at least a decade.
In the short term, we should align our immigration laws with our economic needs. What Congress does now will determine whether our nation stays competitive in the global economy. Without innovation, we have nothing.
Lezlee Westine is CEO of TechNet, and is chairman of Sun Microsystems.
The enclosed op-ed is [see below] by the head of TechNet, an industry lobbying firm, and Scott McNealy, who just stepped down as head of Sun. Let's look at their version of the "Einstein argument" in support of employer sponsorship of foreign tech workers:
* What do the founders of Intel, Sun Microsystems and Google - Andy Grove,
*
Andy Bechtolsheim, Vinod Khosla and Sergey Brin - have in common with
Albert
* Einstein and Wernher von Braun? All are part of America's tradition
of
* welcoming talented immigrants who have made significant contributions to
our
* industry.
Aside from the fact that Grove and Brin were not H-1Bs or equivalents, and Grove and Khosla provided only business acumen to their firms, and aside from the from that Grove was NOT one of the founders of Intel, the key point is that NONE OF THOSE THREE COMPANIES HAS BEEN PIVOTAL IN THE INDUSTRY'S DEVELOPMENT. None of them had a product superior to those of other firms. The industry would have done just as well without them, and in Intel's case, the industry would have done BETTER without Intel. And the reason McNealy stepped down is that Sun is a disaster. Google is fun to use, with its cute logo, etc., but its search engine isn't any better than the others.
* First, the world is catching on to the job-creating benefits of a strong
*
math and science education. China and India are graduating hundreds of
*
thousands of engineers each year.
Those figures are wrong. For example, they count technicians as "engineers." See
http://heather.cs.ucdavis.edu/Archive/PlentyOfUSEngineers.txt
Even more importantly, WE ARE NOT USING THE ENGINEERS THAT WE HAVE, SO IT'S IRRELEVANT WHETHER OTHER NATIONS PRODUCE MORE OF THEM THAN WE DO.
* For the U.S. high-tech community, these laws present a difficult choice:
*
Innovate or perish. If we can't find professionals to do the job here in
the
* USA, many will simply move the job to the qualified workers overseas.
Eileen Appelbaum answered this one best (see
http://heather.cs.ucdavis.edu/Archive/H1BToolForAgeDiscrim.txt):
But Eileen Appelbaum, an economist and member of a National Research Council committee that studied the impact of H-1Bs on the U.S. economy, does not accept the way the H-1B option is typically framed: One can have an H-1B worker in an American job, or lose that job to exportation.
"Industry said in 2001, "Let us have the H-1B visas and we'll do the work here, or you can say no and we'll just move the work offshore,' " she said. "Well, they got all the H-1Bs they wanted, and they still moved work offshore. In 2005, that's an argument industry can't make with a straight face."
And again even more importantly, the firms themselves admit that they use H-1B as a vehicle to facilitate offshoring, and would find it very difficult to offshore without it. See also Prof. Ron Hira's research which quantifies this, with the typical arrangement being that a firm puts one H-1B onshore for every two workers offshore.
* A new study by the National Foundation for American Policy, a non-profit
*
organization, has concluded that the laws are forcing good-paying,
*
job-creating positions offshore.
As John Miano has pointed out, go to NFAP's Web page. Do you see anywhere on the page where you can contribute to this "non-profit organization"? No, NFAP has plenty of funding of its own, thank you. And it almost certainly is coming from firms that want to hire cheap foreign labor, and from the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
Norm
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2006-04-25-forum-immigration
Posted 4/25/2006 10:02 PM ET
By Lezlee Westine and Scott McNealy for USA TODAY
What do the founders of Intel, Sun Microsystems and Google - Andy Grove, Andy Bechtolsheim, Vinod Khosla and Sergey Brin - have in common with Albert Einstein and Wernher von Braun? All are part of America's tradition of welcoming talented immigrants who have made significant contributions to our industry.
Einstein changed the way we look at science and energy; von Braun was the father of the U.S. space program; and Grove, Bechtolsheim, Khosla and Brin are among the many giants who have changed the high-tech industry.
The innovative companies they built created thousands of jobs and have a combined market cap of $250 billion. But our longstanding tradition of being an open door for innovation is at risk.
Today's broken immigration system closes the door on foreign-born innovators. With arbitrary visa limits and clogged processing, opportunity is knocking at our door and we're fumbling with the keys.
It wasn't always this way. Several of our nation's Nobel laureates are foreign-born. The past half-century of scientific research success that has made our universities the beacon of innovation would not have occurred but for the contributions of foreign-born students. And the efforts of Grove, Bechtolsheim, Khosla and Brin alone have generated thousands of U.S. jobs and hundreds of millions in U.S. tax revenue.
So why the conflict between our laws and our policy?
First, the world is catching on to the job-creating benefits of a strong math and science education. China and India are graduating hundreds of thousands of engineers each year. In addition, they and other nations have established generous tax incentives to lure research and development into their countries. These factors have made the competition for talent global.
Second, our past success breeds the potential for the next "big thing" in fields such as biotechnology, nanotechnology and biophysics. By 2012, it's projected that the demand for technical jobs in science and engineering will increase by more than 25%, and 39% in math and computer science. Factor in the tech rebound, and the need will be even greater.
What happened the last time we saw demand for these professionals soar? Congress created a visa program for immigrants who had unique technical knowledge, a bachelor's degree and a job offer in the USA.
Under the current system, the federal government provides 65,000 H-1B visas each year, beginning Oct. 1. Yet the visas made available last October were spoken for almost two months before that, which means our open door for innovation is temporarily closed for 14 months.
For foreign-born students graduating from a U.S. college in June, the H-1B limitations make it difficult for them to find jobs here. We're even closing the door on those with H-1Bs visas who seek permanent U.S. residency because of extended delays in a system designed largely in 1990, when our workforce and economic needs were different.
For the U.S. high-tech community, these laws present a difficult choice: Innovate or perish. If we can't find professionals to do the job here in the USA, many will simply move the job to the qualified workers overseas.
A new study by the National Foundation for American Policy, a non-profit organization, has concluded that the laws are forcing good-paying, job-creating positions offshore. We know that the long-term solution is investing in educational programs in math, science and engineering. But we won't see the fruits of those investments for at least a decade.
In the short term, we should align our immigration laws with our economic needs. What Congress does now will determine whether our nation stays competitive in the global economy. Without innovation, we have nothing.
Lezlee Westine is CEO of TechNet, and is chairman of Sun Microsystems.
Refining Capacity
Well, whaddya know?
Following up on a remark made yesterday on the Limbaugh show, we looked it up:
"We also implement projects that enhance refinery capacity and yield. ...we have effectively added a new-industry-average -sized refinery to our portfolio every three years..." (Exxon-Mobil 2005 Annual Report, P. 29)
We could still use a new refinery or five, but that ain't bad in the meantime.
Following up on a remark made yesterday on the Limbaugh show, we looked it up:
"We also implement projects that enhance refinery capacity and yield. ...we have effectively added a new-industry-average -sized refinery to our portfolio every three years..." (Exxon-Mobil 2005 Annual Report, P. 29)
We could still use a new refinery or five, but that ain't bad in the meantime.
Bush Does El-Foldo on "Pathway"; Driver's License Shortage?
Not too surprising, considering that GWB practices the El-Foldo act every day:
"There was a pretty good consensus that what we have put into the Hagel-Martinez proposal here is the right way to go," said Sen. Mel Martinez, Florida Republican. "I think he was very clear [on] pathway to citizenship, so long as it goes to the back of the line, and he even opened the door here for something we've haggled back and forth on, that you can shrink the time for people to become citizens by simply enlarging the number of green cards."
And Sen. Sam Brownback, Kansas Republican, said Mr. Bush "endorsed the concept of an earned citizenship."
That would represent a substantial change on the part of the Bush administration, which just last year said it opposed a path to citizenship for those currently here illegally.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff told the Senate Judiciary Committee in October the administration didn't support "a path through which they can get their permanent residence or citizenship," and Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao echoed that: "We feel that a pathway to citizenship would reward those who have violated our laws."
Well, there ARE important considerations--such as the number of home mortgages which would be foreclosed if illegals were deported.
In a separate report, but related, the Milwaukee JS reports that only 43% of Milwaukee's Hispanic community adults have Wisconsin driver's licenses.
...and the other 57% does not drive, right?
"There was a pretty good consensus that what we have put into the Hagel-Martinez proposal here is the right way to go," said Sen. Mel Martinez, Florida Republican. "I think he was very clear [on] pathway to citizenship, so long as it goes to the back of the line, and he even opened the door here for something we've haggled back and forth on, that you can shrink the time for people to become citizens by simply enlarging the number of green cards."
And Sen. Sam Brownback, Kansas Republican, said Mr. Bush "endorsed the concept of an earned citizenship."
That would represent a substantial change on the part of the Bush administration, which just last year said it opposed a path to citizenship for those currently here illegally.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff told the Senate Judiciary Committee in October the administration didn't support "a path through which they can get their permanent residence or citizenship," and Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao echoed that: "We feel that a pathway to citizenship would reward those who have violated our laws."
Well, there ARE important considerations--such as the number of home mortgages which would be foreclosed if illegals were deported.
In a separate report, but related, the Milwaukee JS reports that only 43% of Milwaukee's Hispanic community adults have Wisconsin driver's licenses.
...and the other 57% does not drive, right?
Tax Freedom Day? NOT HERE!!!
While the rest of the country celebrates Tax Freedom Day, our Legislature is wandering around in their own self-created fog, debating whether limits on Gummint spending are actually a good idea.
In Wisconsin, Tax Freedom Day will happen on Friday the 28th of April.
But it could be worse: the Alternative Minimum Tax ass-biter will kick in at full force again for THIS tax year, meaning that if you report more than $68K in income and pay Wisconsin income and property taxes (and have children--) you will really get socked when you fill out your 1040 next April.
The AMT particularly punishes those who: 1) have more than two children and 2) pay onerous State/local taxes.
Need a mirror?
In Wisconsin, Tax Freedom Day will happen on Friday the 28th of April.
But it could be worse: the Alternative Minimum Tax ass-biter will kick in at full force again for THIS tax year, meaning that if you report more than $68K in income and pay Wisconsin income and property taxes (and have children--) you will really get socked when you fill out your 1040 next April.
The AMT particularly punishes those who: 1) have more than two children and 2) pay onerous State/local taxes.
Need a mirror?
Party Of Government?
The designation "Party of Government" applies to those elected (and appointed) individuals who are sucking the money of the taxpayer, usually at the point of the Gummint Gun.
But while the term is accurate and descriptive, I think there can be a minor improvement which will more clearly identify those people and their constituencies:
Makes it just a little clearer, eh?
But while the term is accurate and descriptive, I think there can be a minor improvement which will more clearly identify those people and their constituencies:
PARTY IN GOVERNMENT
See, that way, the acronym is P. I. G.
Makes it just a little clearer, eh?
Monday, April 24, 2006
Illegal--and All Expenses Paid
It would seem that Captain's Quarters has an interesting little scoop here.
Yesterday I cited the CQ blog which had published an email detailing "the other side of the story" on illegal immigration--that being the story from left-behind Mexican families.
Now CQ publishes some Q&A, and has the following info:
CQ: Do you believe that American business interests deserve the blame for the men abandoning your community?
EF: Honestly, we are not interested in blaming anybody. It is true that businesses in the United States often ask good workers to invite family members to go and they offer to pay the expenses including what the border coyote charges.
This would be an interesting trail to follow, eh?
Yesterday I cited the CQ blog which had published an email detailing "the other side of the story" on illegal immigration--that being the story from left-behind Mexican families.
Now CQ publishes some Q&A, and has the following info:
CQ: Do you believe that American business interests deserve the blame for the men abandoning your community?
EF: Honestly, we are not interested in blaming anybody. It is true that businesses in the United States often ask good workers to invite family members to go and they offer to pay the expenses including what the border coyote charges.
This would be an interesting trail to follow, eh?
Aaaaahhhhhhhnold Wants YOUR Money
So here's the deal: Aaaahhhhhhnold, the semi-Socialist "Republican" governor of California, overspends like, ah, most political hacks on such goodies as "education" and "stem-cell opportunism."
THEN he "finds" that the Feds are not spending enough of OUR money on California levees.
He musta been reading the Nagin/Lott/Stevens Handbook of Governance. You know the one. All fifty-seven chapters deal with ways to steal money from people who live on "other" States (or cities, or counties--depends) and give it to your own personal list of Best Friends.
Henry Maier used the "Infrastructure 101" chapter to create an un-elected taxing district called MMSD. Tommy Thompson used "Infra. 102" when screaming "Stick It To 'Em!!!!" in his most famous speech.
THEN he "finds" that the Feds are not spending enough of OUR money on California levees.
He musta been reading the Nagin/Lott/Stevens Handbook of Governance. You know the one. All fifty-seven chapters deal with ways to steal money from people who live on "other" States (or cities, or counties--depends) and give it to your own personal list of Best Friends.
Henry Maier used the "Infrastructure 101" chapter to create an un-elected taxing district called MMSD. Tommy Thompson used "Infra. 102" when screaming "Stick It To 'Em!!!!" in his most famous speech.
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Poverty in Mexico: Derived from Illegal Hiring in US
CQ posts an email from the women of a small southern-Mexico town. The email states that illicit immigration to the US is, in effect, drawing all the men out of Mexico and leaving families (and small businesses in Mexico) in shambles.
He goes on to comment:
This should remind us that the draw of the illicit money offered by American businesses to the poor workers of Mexico and Central America not only takes potential work away from Americans and legal immigrants but also creates a cultural and productivity drain from those areas abandoned by the able men who cross the border. It has the potential to cause social damage for generations in Mexico and other nations. The businesses who offer the work for the men and women draw them from the opportunity to improve their own communities. The men who leave often do so for years, leaving the women behind to fend for themselves and their children.
The Wisconsin Restaurant Association and Farm Bureau's "legacy:" broken families, Mexican poverty?? Surely they are proud!!
Perhaps Cdl. "Cesar Chavez" Mahony will speak out about the value of the family?
He goes on to comment:
This should remind us that the draw of the illicit money offered by American businesses to the poor workers of Mexico and Central America not only takes potential work away from Americans and legal immigrants but also creates a cultural and productivity drain from those areas abandoned by the able men who cross the border. It has the potential to cause social damage for generations in Mexico and other nations. The businesses who offer the work for the men and women draw them from the opportunity to improve their own communities. The men who leave often do so for years, leaving the women behind to fend for themselves and their children.
The Wisconsin Restaurant Association and Farm Bureau's "legacy:" broken families, Mexican poverty?? Surely they are proud!!
Perhaps Cdl. "Cesar Chavez" Mahony will speak out about the value of the family?
Mary McCarthy: Treason Count Coming?
As Levin points out, the MSM has gone into the rabbit-hole on Mary McCarthy, who from her position within the CIA revealed secret information about "secret prisons" in Europe.
The NYTimes has reported that the Europeans could not find those prisons--and suddenly, McCarthy was fired from her CIA position.
She was a Sandy "Burglar" Berger protege, put into the CIA during the X42 era. Let us recall that X42 was extremely sloppy about keeping US secrets, too, and was responsible for a great deal of PRChina's military "leap forward."
Looks like the bloggers and Freepers will have to keep us informed on the progress of the case--just like they are doing regarding X42's policy of ignoring or burying terrorism (search Able Danger, Jamie Gorelick, and the 9/11 Commission on the FreeRepublic home page.)
The NYTimes has reported that the Europeans could not find those prisons--and suddenly, McCarthy was fired from her CIA position.
She was a Sandy "Burglar" Berger protege, put into the CIA during the X42 era. Let us recall that X42 was extremely sloppy about keeping US secrets, too, and was responsible for a great deal of PRChina's military "leap forward."
Looks like the bloggers and Freepers will have to keep us informed on the progress of the case--just like they are doing regarding X42's policy of ignoring or burying terrorism (search Able Danger, Jamie Gorelick, and the 9/11 Commission on the FreeRepublic home page.)
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