Microsoft’s Bill Gates has just demanded the H-1b “temporary visa” cap be lifted.

The IQ-obsessed Gates opined:

“The whole idea of the H-1B visa thing is, don’t let too many smart people come into the country. The whole thing doesn’t make sense.”

With straight face, the monopolist Gates says H-1b caps are “almost a case of a centrally controlled economy.”

In statements reminiscent of the Robber Barons, the world’s richest man asks: “If the demand is there, why have the regulation at all?”

Microsoft is the top user of the H-1b program. According to the Department Of Labor:

“In 2004, Microsoft requested permanent status for 1,203 workers; 529 of the applications were certified… Microsoft, Intel, IBM and Oracle are among the top 10 companies requesting permanent residency for H-1B workers, according to the Department of Labor. In 2004, Microsoft requested permanent status for 1,203 workers; 529 of the applications were certified. The software company led applicants in both categories”.

For the investment of a mere $13 million in campaign donations in the last few years, Microsoft and Gates are getting immigration rights for their employees that I estimate were worth over $50 million in 2004 alone!

However, even the Bush administration, notorious for pandering to corporate donors, isn’t backing Gates on this one, according to Reuters:

“Undersecretary of Commerce Phil Bond, a top Bush administration technology official, pointed out that the unemployment rate for engineers is above the national average.”

Given the jobs crunch, this is a gross understatement—which just shows there are limits even to what corporate stooges in the Bush administration will do.

This issue is being hotly discussed on Slashdot.org—the premier blog for software developers, many of whom seem less than enamored with the monopolistic practices of Microsoft.

The Indian press seems appreciative of Gates. But will that support be helpful in America as this issue heats up?