OFF TOPIC - The IOC sucks.

Alpha Kodiak · #34 July 22nd, 2001, 12:51 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Dragonlord:
I take a somewhat different view. I too am an immigrant to the US, though I have only been here for 9 months. I have been very frustrated by the immigration laws and here, and the work culture which is *very* different from Europe. I came seeking the American Dream (which maybe 5% of the population actually obtains) and being frustrated every step of the way. America is a very opportunistic, cold-hearted money-driven country.
(of course I may be somewhat prejudiced since I recently fell victim to the rounds of lay-offs in the IT industry, which is why I play SEIV all day).

As a model for government, I think the socialism of western Europe is best, though that has problems of its own.

I'm sorry to here that you are having problems, but I have to ask you what you think the American Dream is if only 5% attain it. If it is wealth beyond your wildest dreams, then you are right, few attain it. If it is a comfortable life with freedom to live and be what you want, I believe that the percentage is dramatically higher.

A friend of mine is from China. He also fought with the INS to get his permanent residency status. For some reason, the past few years have been worse than previous times, and have actually brought about a Congressional investigation into the INS, as I understand it. He stuck with it, though and is happy to be living here.

While the current INS bureaucracy may be incompetent, that should not be an indictment against the US as a whole.

I can definitely relate to the frustration about lay-offs. I have been laid-off in the past, and I just survived a lay-off in the company I am working for now. The IT industry is extremely vulnerable to market down-turns. Many of the companies are small and do not have much in cash reserves. At the same time, research and development costs are high and take time before they start returning on the investment. When sales slow down the companies have two choices, let people go, or get to the point that they can't pay the people they have.

None of that is particularly consoling when you have lost your job. The only positive I can relate is that 3 of the 5 programmers we lost are working elsewhere after a few weeks. I have not had contact with the other 2, so I do not know how they are doing. Depending on where you are, and what your skills are, there is work to be had, but it can be tricky to find.