gloomy Gates…
[…has the air of someone looking for public subsidies!]
Gates: U.S. risks losing technology leadership role
Microsoft chairman calls on Congress to act on education system and
immigration policies, boost research spending
Patrick Thibodeau
March 07, 2007 (Computerworld) — WASHINGTON — Microsoft Corp.
Chairman Bill Gates said today that he feels “deep anxiety” over the
ability of the U.S. to compete globally and added that the country is
risking its technology leadership because of failures in its
education system and immigration policies and inadequate research
spending.
“America simply cannot continue along this course,” said Gates in
written testimony delivered to the Senate Committee on Health,
Education, Labor and Pensions, which is holding a hearing on
“Strengthening American Competitiveness for the 21st Century.” Gates
said the U.S. is facing serious problems in delivering a work force
that can rise to the global challenge.
“When I reflect on the state of American competitiveness today, my
immediate feeling is not only one of pride, but also of deep
anxiety,” Gates said in his prepared remarks. “Too often, we as a
society are sacrificing the long-term good of our country in the
interests of short-term gain.”
Gates said in too many areas, the U.S. is “content to live off the
investments that previous generations made for us — in education, in
health care, in basic scientific research — but [is] unwilling to
invest equal energy and resources into building on this legacy to
ensure that America’s future is as bright and prosperous as its
present.”
Many of the issues that Gates outlined are topics he has raised
before in various speeches and op-ed pieces. But this hearing was
unusual. Gates was listed as the only witness before a committee
chaired by Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.). Kennedy is working with
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) on a major immigration reform bill, an
important focus of Gates.
Gates told the committee the U.S. should ensure that its students and
workers have the skills to compete.
“A top priority must be to reverse our dismal high school graduation
rates — with a target of doubling the number of young people who
graduate from high school ready for college, career and life — and
to place a major emphasis on encouraging careers in math and
science,” Gates said.
Gates said immigration reform is needed as well. He cited the H-1B
visa and green card programs as areas in need of change.
The U.S. will begin accepting applications for H-1B visas April 1 for
the new fiscal year, and Gates said he expects the supply of visas
will also run within a month. The U.S. set a cap of 65,000 visas but
has an additional 20,000 visas available to foreign nationals who
graduate with advance degrees from U.S. universities. There are other
exemptions in the program as well.
Regarding the H-1B program, Gates predicts that “for the first time
in the history of the program, the supply will run out before the
year’s graduating students get their degrees. This means that U.S.
employers will not be able to get H-1B visas for an entire crop of
U.S. graduates. We are essentially asking top talent to leave the U.S.”
Gates also said the U.S. has to increase spending on basic research
significantly.
Regarding education, Gates said that over the next several years, six
out of every 10 new jobs will be in professional and service-related
occupations.
“Given the state of our educational system, it is not surprising that
U.S. companies are reporting serious shortages of skilled workers,”
said Gates. “According to a 2005 U.S. Department of Education study,
only 13% of American adults are proficient in the knowledge and
skills needed to search, comprehend and use information, or to
perform computational tasks. This yawning gap between America’s
economic needs and the skills of its workforce indicates that as a
nation, we are not doing nearly enough to equip and continuously
improve the capabilities of American workers.”