Where, Oh Where Have All The Jobs Gone?

NORMA SHERRY

Together Forever Changing

An Article

Where, Oh Where Have All The Jobs Gone?

Say so long to the plumber's crack. So long Roto Rooter Man. To be precise, so long to the Roto Rooter man you used to know. But, the plumber you used to know is not the only worker you soon won’t be able to recognize. Your doctor, nurse, architect, accountant, your librarian, lawyer, dentist, your physical therapist, psychologist, acupuncturist, chiropractor, your social worker, your children’s teacher, your puppy’s vet, even the judge you may stand before, or your country’s nuclear engineers are among the workforce being imported to America. So, too, they could be your new salesperson, sales manager, or your company’s sales representative, attorney, the graphic artist that designs the company letterhead, the pharmacist that fills your next prescription, or your next auditor. Perhaps even the biologist or chemist in any number of American corporations or government institutions. As a matter of fact, we are in the midst of the highest percentage of immigrant workers America has seen in 70 years.

America ’s corporations are importing workers as fast as they are exporting jobs. Any workforce from any country where the beleaguered populace is willing to work for a pittance is a viable candidate for the insatiable greed of the American corporation. At a time when there are more American workers out of work than at any time in our history—ten million or more unemployed, without any hope of employment--without a scintilla of savings, with their unemployment benefits having long run its course, and an estimated 20 million skilled and educated American workers that are under-employed, our legislators have voted historic increases in H-1B, L-1 visas securing a foreign workforce that is economically practicable and beneficial for none but corporate America.

Amazingly, the true numbers of H-1B visas, as well as H-2A, H-2B, J-1, L-1, and TN visas are not known because INS, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, does not keep an accurate accounting. Although, Corporate America would attest that these visas are necessary--that they are temporary visas created because high-tech companies couldn’t find workers with math, engineering, and computer science skills, the truth is far-less appealing.

Corporations and our government are utilizing H-1B and L-1 visas purely to import a cheap, effective workforce in lieu of hiring the more expensive and educated American worker. Estimates from those in the know figure we now have more than the entire populace of Canada in alien and work-related visas.

Early in 1998, the 65,000 allowable work-related H-1B visas were already issued resulting in high-tech companies clamoring for an immediate increase. Congress obliged and raised the number to 115,000 in 1999 and 2000 and to 107,500 in 2001.

In 1999, Senator Phil Gramm, (R-TX) sponsored, and Trent Lott (R-MS) and Mitch McConnell (R-KY), co-sponsored Bill S 1440 IS, to allow the H-1B work-related visa to raise the annual cap to 200,000 for the years 2000, 2001, and 2002. The three additional co-sponsors were republicans from Michigan , Utah , and Kansas . On March 9, 2000 , the Judiciary Committee approved a related bill, S 2045.

S 2045 IS, or the American Competitiveness in the 21st Century Act, sponsored by Orrin Hatch, (R-UT) and co-sponsored by 19 fellow republicans, who included then Sen. John Ashcroft, and 4 -democrats, of whom one was Sen. Joseph Lieberman, increased H-1B visas to 195,000 annually.

Contrary to popular understanding, not all H-1B visas are granted to college educated graduates. A good immigration attorney can win an applicant status with proof that they gained professional expertise through experience that is equivalent to a degree.

For the employer’s role, they must certify that no U.S. workers will be adversely affected and that the H-1B employee will be paid the prevailing wage; the L-1 visa, which has grown monumentally has no such wage restriction and no caveat regarding any undue harm to the American worker. Also, unlike the H-1B visa that is filed per individual worker, the L-1 can be filed for a group of workers. Employers argue that they just want access to the best talent and if they didn’t import workers it would undermine their competitiveness and force them to outsource more jobs far from our shores.

Lobbyists representing millions of companies use unrelenting fear tactics to tout their position. Recently, Randel K Johnson, vice president of labor, immigration and employee benefits of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, told a congressional hearing, 'Any limitations on this visa category could severely harm the ability of US companies to operate and expand in the domestic and international markets.'

Another spokesperson before the aforementioned hearing, Sandy Boyd, Chair and V.P. of American Business for Legal Immigration, said matter-of-factly that “it would be unfair to undermine the program simply because a few companies have misused it”.

Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT), stated before a senate committee regarding the L-1 visa that the L-1 was originally established to allow companies to temporarily bring managers and executives to the U.S. to impart their knowledge to the U.S. staff.

Poignantly, he added, “What is self-evident is that the status quo is not acceptable. American workers have a right to expect Congress to do what is necessary to protect their jobs - so that they will be able to continue to provide for their families.”

Clearly, the American worker has been the brunt of Corporate America’s shenanigans. It is time to relinquish their stranglehold on the nation and its workers. It is time to repeal their power and reduce them to the entities our founding fathers reserved for them. Primarily, states and its citizens chartered and monitored corporations. If they did not act “for the purpose of serving the public interest” their charters were revoked.

Through chicanery corporations manipulated the courts into deeming them “personhood”. That single act of malfeasance gave them the power to become the unwieldy behemoth it is today. It is time to reel them in.

Until we do, not only will the Roto Rooter man you used to know take on a new look, but so too, will the face of America – and the American worker will disappear into oblivion.

Links to Our Pages

The Purpose and The Vision:

Our Purpose

Our National Proposal and Vision

In Defense of our Civil Liberties

Articles by Norma Sherry

The Day Democracy Was Put On Hold by Norma Sherry

Freedom is Just Another Word for Nothing Left to Lose by Norma Sherry

Ain't Gonna Work on Maggie's Farm No More (Outsourcing American Jobs) by Norma Sherry

Bye, Bye Miss American Pie (Outsourcing American Jobs) by Norma Sherry

Dear American Worker (Outsourcing American Jobs) by Norma Sherry

Once Upon a Time in America (Not a Fable) (Outsourcing American Jobs) by Norma Sherry

I Believe (A Retrospective and a Promise) by Norma Sherry

We Can Make a Difference by Norma Sherry

What Price Glory? by Norma Sherry

Six Steps to Get The Vote Out by Norma Sherry

Not So Gay Times by Norma Sherry

...And God Said by Norma Sherry

Where, Oh Where Have All The Jobs Gone? by Norma Sherry

Never Again by Norma Sherry

A Deadly Secret by Norma Sherry

Pathology of Malpractice by Norma Sherry

Reality TV by Norma Sherry

One for the Gipper by Norma Sherry

Jobs, Jobs, Everywhere Jobs and Not a Job to Find

HIPAA and Other Assaults Upon Our Civil Liberties by Norma Sherry

Eyes Wide Shut by Norma Sherry

Skewed Vision by Norma Sherry

Sugar-Free Reflections of a Democratic Convention by Norma Sherry

Michael Badnarik: Libertarian Candidate for President by Norma Sherry

Que Sera, Sera by Norma Sherry

Suffer the Little Children by Norma Sherry

Katrina's Wrath, America's Shame by Norma Sherry

If it Were Up to Me by Norma Sherry

What Have They Done to my Song? by Norma Sherry

A Child's Dilemma by Norma Sherry

The Ride Home by Norma Sherry

Whose Life is it Anyway? by Norma Sherry

Reaping Profits for the Reaper by Norma Sherry

Genocide by Norma Sherry

Articles by Philip J. Rappa

Warning on Yawning by Philip J. Rappa

What Have We Learned Since 911? by Philip J. Rappa

Rhapsody for Democracy by Philip J. Rappa

Help Me if You Can, I'm Feeling Bad by Philip J. Rappa

In God We Trust by Philip J. Rappa

Fear and Loathing in America by Philip J. Rappa

Open Letter to the President of the United States of America by Philip J. Rappa

The House Always Wins by Philip J. Rappa

Alpha and Omega by Philip J. Rappa

Oh-Sum-Bodies-Been-Lying by Philip J. Rappa

Requiem to the Silliness I Learned in Civics Class by Philip J. Rappa

Storm and Strife by Philip J. Rappa

The Ill-Begotten: Reflections of Unconstitutional Precedence by Philip J. Rappa

High Noon in America by Philip J. Rappa

Do the Hokey Pokey by Philip J. Rappa

Articles by Others

Lawyer's Band to Save the Constitution

Raid on Patrons

Philip's Story:

Philip's Personal Story

Philip's Presentations on Personal Responsibility

A Little About Norma:

All About Outsourcing:

Businesses that Outsource

What You Can Do About Outsourcing?

Press Releases:

Front Page Story of Creator's Norma & Philip

Back to Top of Page

Email us, if you wish

Together Forever Changing, Inc.

If you are interested in joining the growing number of American citizens worldwide who wish to investigate the crimes of the Bush Administration and want to begin the process of impeachment, please visit the following websites:

More of Our Favorite Websites:

Visit www.Penstrokes.biz for effective writing.

If you need words that get results, Penstrokes is the scribe for you!

Commondreams