Think Global, Buy Local Dept.

Date: Wednesday, April 16, 2003 5:27 PM

H-1B and JOB DESTRUCTION NEWSLETTER

www.ZaZona.com

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1023759,00.asp

Think Global, Buy Local Dept.

April 15, 2003
By John C. Dvorak

Think Global, Buy Local Dept.: There's little doubt that much high-tech
activity is moving west way west, to China and India. China is expected
to be on a par with the rest of the high-tech world in process
technology, because it can now buy the same American and Japanese
semiconductor-manufacturing gear as anyone else. I laugh to myself when
I recall the fuss made just a few years ago about certain CPUs and
chips going to China and Russia, because they could be used as guidance
controls for missiles. Now these countries can just build the chips
from scratch. Welcome to the world of globalization.

Although that trend was easily spotted, issues remain about H-1B visa
extensions and other shenanigans that make no sense during an economic
downturn. We might find it hard to argue against Cadence Design Systems
investing another $50 million in India or against Dell building its
computers in China and outsourcing technical support to India
(Bangalore), but we can't afford to give the same passive smile to
state and local governments that now send tax dollars to India.

With unemployment for IT workers approaching 6 percent, state and local
governments have no real excuse for sending taxpayers' money to India
for big IT projects, as New Mexico did recently. Ironically, the
unemployment insurance department did this. Sending tax money overseas
for work that can be done locally is an irresponsible policy and
contributes to our downward revenue spiral. The actions of New Mexico
and other governments, if taken to logical extremes, would put the
entire California Highway Patrol into Hyundai cars. End of Diatribe
5654.

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