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Comment by harichinnan | Hacker News Reader

Using the term slavery for describing a highly paid white collar job is doing disservice to the descendants of slaves. Let's not get too far with the terminology.

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It's somewhat more accurate to liken it to indentured servitude.

So you're saying H1-B workers can't leave? That's not true.

Are you saying they can leave with the same ease that citizens can leave? That's not true.

Define leave.

Easily switch jobs in the US? No. Move back to their "home" countries? Yes.

H1B is/can be used as a form of leverage to limit the mobility of workers, and potential other forms of employer abuse. That is unfortunate, and it's clear the H1B system is broken.

Of course not, they aren't citizens. Are you suggesting we give immigrants the same rights as citizens as soon as they arrive?

Giving people equal rights?? The horror!

All people living in the same region should obviously have the same rights. They pay taxes like everybody else so of course they should get equal representation as well.

So you'd be up for non-permanent immigrants voting, running for President, taking jobs that handle classified info, etc?

I'm not.

Yes of course. You can't become President unless the masses vote for you. That's democracy. As for classified info, there are background checks for that. No reason to presuppose people who grew up in a different country automatically have ulterior motives.

Sure, may be it's not as bad as slave trade of 17th century. But imagine this for a bit: You need employment to pay your bill. What if the law allows you to work for only one certain company and you have no ability to negotiate your salary or get another job or ask for promotion for most of your productive years of your life. What would you call that?

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