Speech Regarding H1B and L1 Visas

By Marc Philip Valdez

Speech prepared for Labor Day protest at Bank of America in Concord (not delivered, because it was more important to listen to the displaced workers rather than speak to them)

We are here today to honor the memory of Kevin Flanagan, an IT martyr in the battle against the worker replacement practices of large multinationals. Kevin's misery is not forgotten. Hundreds of thousands of technology service sector workers have been laid off and replaced by imported workers through the H-1B and L1 nonimmigrant visa program and offshore outsourcing. The economic damage caused by these destructive practices is passed on to the taxpayer in the form of unemployment benefits, while the replacement laborers are paid below the levels they would otherwise merit.

The American habit of farming jobs, and all those precious skills, overseas, causes income tax shortfalls, foreclosures, bankruptcies, and prolongs the recession in the Bay Area. Whether as taxpayers or workers, we all suffer from the callous actions of the multinationals, aided and abetted by the Congress and the White House. The Bay Area's agony has attracted little attention till now, but the abuse of the nonimmigrant visa programs continues to accelerate. In the Bay Area, unemployment benefits paid to laid-off IT workers already roughly equals the salaries of the H-1B workers.

What fields are most affected by the import of cheap, skilled labor?: all forms of Engineering and Computer Programming, Accountants and Auditors, Architects, Managers, Biologists and Chemists, Educators, Commercial Artists, Salesmen, and Medical Professionals. And that's just the tip of the iceberg! In the Philippines, even poorly-trained nurse trainees quickly depart for the United States # when in Manila, don't dare get sick! California once hosted a Gold Rush: we now have a huge Job Rush. Soon, virtually every technical skill in the United States will be at risk of being filled by well-trained but poorly-paid people overseas.

As a California gubernatorial candidate, I will highlight these problems, and as Governor, I will work to solve them. I am behind everything you are doing here today. People often ask us so-called minor candidates for California governor: why should I "waste" my vote on one of you guys? I suggest to you that there are times when the smaller the margin of victory, the more responsive and daring the eventual victor is. In the late 1940's, there was no more responsive Texas Congressman than Lyndon Johnson. That was because he won his election by less than 200 votes. Johnson lost touch in 1965, after he had defeated Goldwater in the second biggest landslide victory in U.S. history. If you vote your conscience and support the candidate that most closely matches your views # one of the so-called minor candidates # you convey a message to who ever eventually prevails. Don't waste your precious vote on Arnold or Cruz!

Apart from nonimmigrant visa and offshore outsourcing problems, my main focus is on stabilizing the state's budget problems. The shift away from property taxes to income taxes that Proposition 13 made necessary has introduced instability into state finances, since income is generally more volatile than the value of property.

As part of a concerted effort to correct the state's finances, we need an initiative calling for the repeal of Proposition 13. In addition, we need a concerted effort to go on Talk Radio and explain to the true believers why that might be necessary - so the state gets stability again, which the mid-70's legislature foolishly lost by not paying attention then to accelerating property tax rates. I would make available low or deferred payment home equity loans, underwritten by the state, that would allow taxpayers to pay property taxes no matter what their income levels are. By implementing an improved property tax system, featuring various circuitbreakers that limit rapid increases in property taxes when property values soar, the tax system can be made more stable. Income taxes for the rich can be reduced, with income taxes for corporations increased in compensation.

An example of the weird effect of Proposition 13 on California politics: despite ideological solidarity, it's no longer in the economic interest of young conservatives to favor keeping Proposition 13, just so that older conservatives can benefit. Warren Buffett noticed the problem. Someday (and may that day be - now!), everyone else will too.

Vote yes on the recall, and vote for the minor candidate of your choice! Consider me, Marc Valdez, Democrat, when you make your choice!