In the article Mr. Mavinkurve, a 28-year-old Indian immigrant who helped lay the foundation for Facebook while a student atHarvard, instead works out of a Google sales office in Toronto, a lone engineer among marketers.
He has a visa to work in the United States, but his wife, Samvita Padukone, also born in India, does not. Immigrants like Mr. Mavinkurve are the lifeblood of Google and Silicon Valley, where half the engineers were born overseas, up from 10 percent in 1970. Google and other big companies say the Chinese, Indian, Russian and other immigrant technologists have transformed the industry, creating wealth and jobs.
The foreign-born elite dating back even further includes Andrew S. Grove, the Hungarian-born co-founder ofIntel; JerryYang, the Chinese-born co-founder of Yahoo; Vinod Khosla of India and Andreas von Bechtolsheim of Germany, the co-founders of SunMicrosystems; and Google’s Russian-born co-founder, SergryBrin.
“There are probably two billion people in the world who would like to live in California and work, but not everyone in the world can live here,” said Kim Berry, an engineer who operates a nonprofit advocacy group for American-born technologists. Advocates for American-born workers are criticizing companies that lay off employees even as they retain engineers living here on visas. But the technology industry counters that innovations from highly skilled workers are central to American long-term growth.
Mr. Mavinkurve wrote the computer code. Reflecting the growing importance of technology — and responding to industry lobbying — in 1990 Congress set aside 65,000 temporary work visas, known as H-1B visas, for skilled workers. The visas, which are sponsored by companies on behalf of employees, permit three years of work, with an automatic three-year extension.
When Google went public that August, Mr. Mavinkurve was on his way to becoming a multimillionaire.
The role Mr. Mavinkurve played in Google’s success was on stark display in early 2007, when the company’s map-making team faced a problem that even the best and brightest could not solve.
Of Google’s 20,000 workers, 2,000 were born abroad and work on temporary visas, while numerous others (the company would not disclose how many) have become American citizens or been granted permanent residency, the so-called green card status.The work force is international, and so is the company’s market. “Google Maps for mobile reflects Sanjay.”
Many innovators in Silicon Valley come from overseas; 42 percent of engineers with master’s degrees and 60 percent of those with engineering Ph.D.’s in the United States are foreign-born. For instance, on the advice of Chinese-born workers, Google dotted its mobile maps for China with fast-food restaurants, which locals use as navigational landmarks.
When Google cannot get visas for people it wants to hire, it seeks to accommodate them in overseas offices, like the bureaus in Britain and Brazil from which map-team members attend meetings via video conference.
The larger risk is employees growing unhappy working at a distance, or foreign companies recruiting them.
For his part, Mr. Mavinkurve, in Toronto, typically talks with colleagues via video conference, e-mail or instant message. For Google and Mr. Mavinkurve, working here would be better. In 2006, while working for Google in Mountain View, Mr. Mavinkurve saw his future wife’s photo on the cover of a newsletter published by his Indian ethnic community, the Konkani. Like first-generation immigrants throughout American history, Mr. Mavinkurve has deep ethnic ties but is quickly assimilating. Mr. Mavinkurve and his wife get little sympathy from Mr. Berry of the Programmers Guild, a nonprofit group with a volunteer staff that lobbies Congress on behalf of American-born high-tech workers.
Further, he says immigrants depress wages. Google says it will cut 350 workers this year.On the political front, the tech industry lobbies Congress through an organization called Compete America, which includes titans like Intel, Microsoft, Google and Oracle.
“The next generation of Google engineers are being turned down,” says Pablo Chavez, Google’s senior policy counsel. “If a foreign-born engineer doesn’t come to Google, there is a very good chance that individual will return to India to compete against us.”It hinders efficiency, slows work. “Quitting Google means saying goodbye to my green card,” he said. Mr. Mavinkurve, who once hung American flags in his dorm room and then in Google’s hallway, still loves America.
I can’t say that I truly understand why if he is such an asset to the company why it would matter where he is from. Sometimes I have a really hard time understanding how America works. We allow foreign people to come into America to attend school and then instead of opening doors of opportunity we close them. If were not going to let them stay why do we let them come to America in the first place.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Getting a Health Policy When You’re Already Sick
In the article, Insurance executives held out hope to the afflicted late last month by announcing their willingness to end a notorious industry practice: charging higher premiums to people with health problems or denying them coverage altogether. So for now, consumers with pre-existing medical conditions must continue the struggle to obtain and keep medical coverage. “Under the current system, the people who need insurance most can’t afford or can’t get coverage.”
You should try to keep employer’s coverage. Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, known as Hipaa, employers cannot exclude you from a health plan because of a pre-existing condition. The same rule applies to spouses and children if the employer offers family coverage. In that case, employers can exclude coverage of your health problem for up to 18 months, but then must give you full coverage.
To find out what’s available where you live, check with your state’s insurance department. Cost is a big problem with all of these last-gasp policies, said Sandy Praeger, the insurance commissioner for Kansas and chairwoman of the national association’s health insurance committee. If you do find yourself turned down by an insurer for a pre-existing condition, you can appeal that decision.
If you seek treatment for a health problem under an individual insurance plan, the insurer may look into your medical history for proof that you had the problem before applying for coverage, said Kevin Flynn, president of HealthCare Advocates. That, the insurance company said, was proof of a prior condition. As a person who has had diabeties thirty years it has been a constant strugle and worry that i could loose my health coverage. I can't really understand why the people who need it the most have such a hard time keeping it.
You should try to keep employer’s coverage. Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, known as Hipaa, employers cannot exclude you from a health plan because of a pre-existing condition. The same rule applies to spouses and children if the employer offers family coverage. In that case, employers can exclude coverage of your health problem for up to 18 months, but then must give you full coverage.
To find out what’s available where you live, check with your state’s insurance department. Cost is a big problem with all of these last-gasp policies, said Sandy Praeger, the insurance commissioner for Kansas and chairwoman of the national association’s health insurance committee. If you do find yourself turned down by an insurer for a pre-existing condition, you can appeal that decision.
If you seek treatment for a health problem under an individual insurance plan, the insurer may look into your medical history for proof that you had the problem before applying for coverage, said Kevin Flynn, president of HealthCare Advocates. That, the insurance company said, was proof of a prior condition. As a person who has had diabeties thirty years it has been a constant strugle and worry that i could loose my health coverage. I can't really understand why the people who need it the most have such a hard time keeping it.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Obama’s Man on the Budget: Just 40 and Going Like 60
In the article Mr. Orszag is the youngest member of President Obama’s team holding cabinet status, a 40-year-old with what colleagues call a graybeard’s knowledge of how the government spends money.
A former director of the Congressional Budget Office, Mr. Orszag is what passes in the Democratic Party for a deficit hawk. But with the economy requiring a jolt from deficit spending, and with his boss determined to press ahead with expensive domestic initiatives while he has the weight to do so, Mr. Orszag embodies the administration’s awkward fiscal policy positioning: big spending now, with a promise to scrub the budget of waste and a bet that economic recovery and changes to health care will gradually reduce the deficit. Mr. Orszag earned master’s and doctoral degrees at the London School of Economics.)In classic political fashion, Mr. Orszag trained for Washington rivalry through family rivalry, not just with his father but also with his economist brothers. Peter, Michael and Jonathan Orszag have worked and written papers together and still compare electronic gadgets and their Princeton grade-point averages.
In Washington, Mr. Orszag’s prowess with numbers has always meant opportunity. (Mr. Orszag, a divorced father of two, is so cozy with the Capitol Hill crowd that Senator Ron Wyden and his wife, Nancy Bass Wyden, found him a girlfriend.) Both sides benefited: lawmakers were more likely to receive favorable rulings on cost, and Mr. Orszag became more policy partner than accountant.
Now he has stocked the White House’s budget office with advisers who aspire to shape policy across the administration. Mr. Orszag had a large role in the economic stimulus bill, taking charge of sorting the workable spending ideas from the impractical ones and helping negotiate its final passage on Capitol Hill. Asked about his relationship with Mr. Summers, Mr. Orszag answered politely but stiffened visibly. For weeks after Mr. Obama took office, Mr. Orszag sat directly across the table from him in the Roosevelt Room. In recent years, many say, he has helped popularize the idea that reducing health care costs is essential to the country’s economic future and the sustainability of the federal budget.
The future looks bright for Mr. Orszag and sheds some light at the end f the tunnel for the U.S. With his dedication and hard work to see that we all benefit from the economic stimulus bill.
A former director of the Congressional Budget Office, Mr. Orszag is what passes in the Democratic Party for a deficit hawk. But with the economy requiring a jolt from deficit spending, and with his boss determined to press ahead with expensive domestic initiatives while he has the weight to do so, Mr. Orszag embodies the administration’s awkward fiscal policy positioning: big spending now, with a promise to scrub the budget of waste and a bet that economic recovery and changes to health care will gradually reduce the deficit. Mr. Orszag earned master’s and doctoral degrees at the London School of Economics.)In classic political fashion, Mr. Orszag trained for Washington rivalry through family rivalry, not just with his father but also with his economist brothers. Peter, Michael and Jonathan Orszag have worked and written papers together and still compare electronic gadgets and their Princeton grade-point averages.
In Washington, Mr. Orszag’s prowess with numbers has always meant opportunity. (Mr. Orszag, a divorced father of two, is so cozy with the Capitol Hill crowd that Senator Ron Wyden and his wife, Nancy Bass Wyden, found him a girlfriend.) Both sides benefited: lawmakers were more likely to receive favorable rulings on cost, and Mr. Orszag became more policy partner than accountant.
Now he has stocked the White House’s budget office with advisers who aspire to shape policy across the administration. Mr. Orszag had a large role in the economic stimulus bill, taking charge of sorting the workable spending ideas from the impractical ones and helping negotiate its final passage on Capitol Hill. Asked about his relationship with Mr. Summers, Mr. Orszag answered politely but stiffened visibly. For weeks after Mr. Obama took office, Mr. Orszag sat directly across the table from him in the Roosevelt Room. In recent years, many say, he has helped popularize the idea that reducing health care costs is essential to the country’s economic future and the sustainability of the federal budget.
The future looks bright for Mr. Orszag and sheds some light at the end f the tunnel for the U.S. With his dedication and hard work to see that we all benefit from the economic stimulus bill.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Forced Down
Forced Down the Job Ladder, From Executive Pay to Hourly Wage
In the article I read there were several people talking about how the recession has effected their lives, moving them from executive positions to low paying jobs if any at all. They talked about how this downslide has effected them not only financially , but emotionally as well. “You’re fighting despair, discouragement, depression every day,” Mr. Cooper said. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were About 1.7 million people working part-time in January because they could not find full-time work, a 40 percent jump from December 2007, when the recession began, just to survive.
It is difficult to hear these stories as my own family has been effected by this recession, in more ways than one. As a college student I was more than anticipating graduation, and getting a good stable job to support my family, but it seem as of right now no job is secure. I am know holding on to hope as I am sure so many others are, that by the time I graduate things will be looking up, so that we all can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
In the article I read there were several people talking about how the recession has effected their lives, moving them from executive positions to low paying jobs if any at all. They talked about how this downslide has effected them not only financially , but emotionally as well. “You’re fighting despair, discouragement, depression every day,” Mr. Cooper said. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were About 1.7 million people working part-time in January because they could not find full-time work, a 40 percent jump from December 2007, when the recession began, just to survive.
It is difficult to hear these stories as my own family has been effected by this recession, in more ways than one. As a college student I was more than anticipating graduation, and getting a good stable job to support my family, but it seem as of right now no job is secure. I am know holding on to hope as I am sure so many others are, that by the time I graduate things will be looking up, so that we all can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
housing Plan
In the article I read on the plan to help with the housing crises Obama’s purposes a 275 billion dollar budget to help families keep their homes out of foreclosure and those who are already in foreclosure reduce their monthly mortgage payments. Away from persuading lenders with government money, the plan also calls on Congress to give bankruptcy judges the authority to change the conditions of mortgages and reduce the monthly payments.
In presidents Obama’s plan mortgage lenders would have to except their losses in order to and be able to reduce the borrower’s monthly payment to thirty-eight percent of their monthly income. This made republican lawmakers a little apprehensive. To motivate these lenders the government has offered incentives for every loan that is modified, and if the borrower stays current the lender will receive more payments from the government.
Although president Obama’s plan sounds great to some, but for those who were trying to avoid to make a down payment or to reduce the down payment by taking out a second mortgage have been excluded from Obama’s plan causing a big limitation on the rescue portion of his plan. The plan would only apply to those with fairly traditional loans that are owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac estimated at thirty million homeowners. The administrating officials think that this portion of the plan could help four to five million homeowners. The hopeful outcome is to step up purchases of mortgage and mortgage backed securities.
I think that this plan opens a great deal of opportunity for a lot of homeowners, who are struggling to keep a roof over their heads. As for those who have had to take out a second mortgage and are excluded from this plan, should get the same opportunity, as long as they have played by he rules and have made monthly payments on time. If not I’m not sure that thing are going to change as much as they are expected to over the next couple of years.
In presidents Obama’s plan mortgage lenders would have to except their losses in order to and be able to reduce the borrower’s monthly payment to thirty-eight percent of their monthly income. This made republican lawmakers a little apprehensive. To motivate these lenders the government has offered incentives for every loan that is modified, and if the borrower stays current the lender will receive more payments from the government.
Although president Obama’s plan sounds great to some, but for those who were trying to avoid to make a down payment or to reduce the down payment by taking out a second mortgage have been excluded from Obama’s plan causing a big limitation on the rescue portion of his plan. The plan would only apply to those with fairly traditional loans that are owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac estimated at thirty million homeowners. The administrating officials think that this portion of the plan could help four to five million homeowners. The hopeful outcome is to step up purchases of mortgage and mortgage backed securities.
I think that this plan opens a great deal of opportunity for a lot of homeowners, who are struggling to keep a roof over their heads. As for those who have had to take out a second mortgage and are excluded from this plan, should get the same opportunity, as long as they have played by he rules and have made monthly payments on time. If not I’m not sure that thing are going to change as much as they are expected to over the next couple of years.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Big Ideas, Grand Plans, Modest Budgets
The New York Times
In this article advocates say they are concerned that the plan represents a missed opportunity. they believe that we should make a decision as to long or short term investments, because we need both. Californians want finally to bring high-speed rail to the United States. Planners want to build bridges to Canada from Detroit, a tunnel for trucks to the Port of Miami and a new one for trains between New York and New Jersey. Transit systems want to expand, ports want more capacity and freight train companies want to untangle bottlenecks on the track
California High-Speed Rail: $45 billions.
Californians want to build bridges to Canada from Detroit, a tunnel for trucks to the Port of Miami and a new one for trains between New York and New Jersey. Transit systems want Californians want finally to bring high-speed rail to the United States. Planners to expand, ports want more capacity and freight train companies want to untangle bottlenecks on the tracks. Supporters say that the plan would reduce congestion on highways and at airports and revitalize the economy; skeptics question whether the plan makes economic sense.
This is just one of the big projects mentioned in this article. In my opinion I think that any investment we make in the attempt to have growth in the economy is a good thing, however as Americans we do dream big. I believe it is better to keep our goals within reach at this time. It is the small steps that will make these big projects seem more a reality than just a dream.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/us/politics/15cantor.html?_r=1
The New York Times
In this article advocates say they are concerned that the plan represents a missed opportunity. they believe that we should make a decision as to long or short term investments, because we need both. Californians want finally to bring high-speed rail to the United States. Planners want to build bridges to Canada from Detroit, a tunnel for trucks to the Port of Miami and a new one for trains between New York and New Jersey. Transit systems want to expand, ports want more capacity and freight train companies want to untangle bottlenecks on the track
California High-Speed Rail: $45 billions.
Californians want to build bridges to Canada from Detroit, a tunnel for trucks to the Port of Miami and a new one for trains between New York and New Jersey. Transit systems want Californians want finally to bring high-speed rail to the United States. Planners to expand, ports want more capacity and freight train companies want to untangle bottlenecks on the tracks. Supporters say that the plan would reduce congestion on highways and at airports and revitalize the economy; skeptics question whether the plan makes economic sense.
This is just one of the big projects mentioned in this article. In my opinion I think that any investment we make in the attempt to have growth in the economy is a good thing, however as Americans we do dream big. I believe it is better to keep our goals within reach at this time. It is the small steps that will make these big projects seem more a reality than just a dream.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/us/politics/15cantor.html?_r=1
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Education Stimulus
A strong federal investment in education would be great. It would be a great long-term investment that will hopefully be used wisely, but I can't judge how effective this package would be as an economic stimulus in the short-term. While we need better education and more equitable school funding, we also need that short-term economic stimulus. I sincerely hope this package will be able to achieve both those goals.
NYTimes.com http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/28/education/28educ.html?_r=2
NYTimes.com http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/28/education/28educ.html?_r=2
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