From the McCain Campaign Site:

Fill Critical Shortages Of Skilled Workers To Remain Competitive. American workers should always be the first choice for highly skilled technology jobs. However, there is a critical shortage of these workers and American competitiveness is suffering as a result. John McCain will expand the number of H-1B visas to allow our companies to keep top-notch talent – often trained in our graduate schools – in the United States. The Department of Labor should be allowed to set visa levels appropriate for market conditions. Hiring skilled foreign workers to fill critical shortages benefits not only innovative companies, but also our economy. For every foreign worker hired, corporations generally hire five to ten additional American workers.

This statement shows a fundamental ignorance of what has happened on the H-1b front-and the basic economics involved here. The US gets over 10 million applications for permanent residency each year. Clearly a lot of folks want US immigration rights–and are willing to jump through various hoops to get it. Unless employers are charged fair market value for immigration rights they use for corporate purposes–and additional incentives are used to keep Americans in those positions—we will necessarily see a huge sucking sound pulling Americans out of jobs that will grant foreigners immigration rights if they take them.

It will always be inherently cheaper to pay employees in immigration rights than cash when this is at all possible. This will drive Americans into those occupations that are least likely to face direct competition from immigrants.

I can’t help but wonder if McCain has ever known an American tech worker well? Last I heard, the man can’t even use a computer.

There is a very interesting video of Sen. Joe Biden speaking to a Rotary Club gathering in Columbia, SC in November, 2006. (It’s a bit blurry, but you get the picture. )

In response to a question on immigration, Biden speaks with a Tancredo-like toughness on Mexico. He rails against Mexican political corruption, boasts of voting for the border fence and also talks about the urgent need to punsh American employers for hiring illegals. In reality, of course, Biden is shamelessly open borders and has a career grade of “D” and recent grade of “D-” from NumbersUSA. Still, Sen. Biden is the only candidate now in the race who has spoken the truth about Mexico at least once. (See news story on Rotary Club speech).

Via Instapundit.com:

August 21, 2008

RASMUSSEN: 69% Now Say Controlling the Border More Important than Legalizing Aliens. Not a whole lot to choose from between McCain and Obama here, but this may affect some Congressional races. And isn’t it funny that 69% of Americans don’t have a Presidential candidate who agrees with them on this issue?[Emphasis added]

That’s the way it’s been for years.  I will once again revive this old story:

“IN AMERICA, WE have a two-party system,” a Republican congressional staffer is supposed to have told a visiting group of Russian legislators some years ago.

“There is the stupid party. And there is the evil party. I am proud to be a member of the stupid party.”

He added: “Periodically, the two parties get together and do something that is both stupid and evil. This is called…bipartisanship.[Immigration policy stupid, evil and hurting Americans, by Peter Brimelow]

How bad is Mexico’s kidnapping crime wave? Bad enough for even middle class people to have electronic transmitting devices implanted into their bodies, so they can be located by satellite in case they are snatched.

Wealthy Mexicans, terrified of soaring kidnapping rates, are spending thousands of dollars to implant tiny transmitters under their skin so satellites can help find them tied up in a safe house or stuffed in the trunk of a car.

Kidnapping jumped almost 40 percent between 2004 and 2007 in Mexico according to official statistics. Mexico ranks with conflict zones like Iraq and Colombia as among the worst countries for abductions. [...]

More middle-class people also are also seeking out the tiny chip designed by Xega, a Mexican security firm whose sales jumped 13 percent this year.

The company injects the crystal-encased chip, the size and shape of a grain of rice, into clients’ bodies with a syringe. A transmitter then sends signals via satellite to pinpoint the location of a person in distress.
[Satellites track Mexico kidnap victims with chips, Reuters, August 21, 2008]

Security is a growth industry in a country where crime pays — armored cars, personal guards and whatever techno gizmos can be thought up. Contact my satellite, Scotty!