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We clearly have very different definitions of Based. Displaying traits of Elite Human capital is based in my book, and Elon not wavering despite the wailing and gnashing of millions of Low Human Capital to me demonstrates a level of resolve few have.
Many South Asians are, of course, elite human capital, but I have yet to be persuaded that the average Infosys H-1B is. And again, I say that as someone who has no strong opinion on H1B numbers while so much unskilled immigration is a bigger priority, even though I think the current number of the former is likely too high and they should be auctioned rather than the subject of a lottery.
Absolutely agree on the auction thing, although I personally think the number of H1-Bs is too low. The lottery system is the product of yet another brain worm commonly found in Homo sapiens occidentalis where they are not content to merely pick all of the best because it would be oh so unfair if all the underdogs lose out just because there are better specimens them in the pool...
Would be interesting at the very least to see what the H1-B market clearing price is at different levels of visa availability. We could even have derivatives like H1-B futures which allow firms to hedge away the risk of prices spiking in future years and guarantee a certain steady level of supply years down the line if they know roughly how many people they'll be needing! And of course whereever there's a derivatives market there will be market makers and speculators! I can already sort of think of a simple trading strategy for pricing them...
I can’t speak for H1B specifically but the proper use of lotteries, like sumptuary laws, is preventing the expenditure of much blood and gold for objectively tiny gains. Putting your child through hours of cram school every week to increase their grades by 1%, say.
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