Been a while since I blogged last. Life has been keeping me busy for some time now. Change of employment status, change of job, change of country soon etc.
Simply too much has been going on around me and in my head to devote much time to blogs. Now is the calm after the storm - from being a software consultant I have become an full time employee of a software giant. The good things about the offer is, this time, I get to work is my home city, and my own technology specialization. Rest is all compromise. Among the lot of things I "potentially" lost, are my American Visa, a chance to be earning and being in the US for some more time, freedom to stick to my technology and last but not the least - the $$$ and spending it as I please.
The word "potentially" introduced an element of chance that can not be easily ignored. That may have been the most important factor in my decision. US is getting a little hostile for H1B visa holders, and IMHO is bound to stay that ways for a year. When an Ace capitalist turns protectionist, you can imagine the damage to the economy and jobs. Working in US is not going to be as profitable as before, period. Had I just landed in US or had plans to settle there permanently, my analysis of the whole situation would be very different. I would be riding the rapids, clinging on to dear life, hoping the turbulence will subside soon.
H1B program came in to keep America going after the baby boomer retirements. It has done wonders for both America and outsourced countries like India, China, etc. But now it is proving to be a pita (pain in the a**) for the US. Ironically, US is so dependent on these countries now, a full economic recovery is not easy without these countries. It is certainly possible - slowly - once you have enough students in college graduating in disciplines that are currently dominated by Chinese and Indians. But there is no short term fix. US is wise is choosing the longer-term alternative of doing the damage control in house. This essentially means death of the H1B program, and very slow economic resurgence for US. Question is if the incorporates would follow in the government's footsteps.
One of the most ironic things about capitalism is that the capitalist will sell you the rope to hang himself with. Actually they will give you the money to make a movie that makes them look bad, if they believe they can make money off it.
--Michael Moore
As corporations making money, it would be interesting to see what the likes of Microsoft and IBM would do to get out of this recession. Will they sell outsourcing contracts that will eventually kill local high-skill industries? or groom locals and encourage next generation of students to get into these areas? Either ways, two things are sure,
a) Outsourcing can/will not go, so I will continue to have a job in India
b) Capitalism can never work with protectionism, things must open up some time soon
I guess blogs will be more frequent now on..
