Hacker News Reader

Comment by mchusma | Hacker News Reader

Id like to see a concerted effort for America to regain number one status and ensure we stay ahead of China. To do that ideally we need more people. Ideally something like 100M of the brightest in the world.

IMO the easiest way to do that is: -offer a path to citizenship for the world -they have to pay something like $50k per person for a visa (or maybe $5k per year for 10 years) -must pay into social security, unemployment, etc. But can't draw any benefits until they are citizens. -if current on all obligations after 20 years, they are citizens. -can offer sponsorships for exceptions -something like 1 week approval (time for background check) $1k non refundable application fee.

Details can be changed, but this solves most concerns on the American right. We can see how far this gets us, but I suspect we would have a lot of global takers. Anyone willing to go for something like this I'm happy to have.

View on HN

> Id like to see a concerted effort for America to regain number one status and ensure we stay ahead of China.

Why? That's a serious question. We're all human here on Earth, so why do nations have to compete to be "number one"? How about we cooperate to try to save the planet and our civilization instead of playing self-destructive zero-sum games?

Maybe because the United States is the 'least bad' super power. It has a far from clean record but at least it isn't currently engaged in a genocide.

The US also has one of the most solid judicial systems in the world. In fact, the Supreme Court and other courts regularly challenge and restrict the actions of the current administration. If you go to court, chances are you're going to get a fair trial.

If you are a Westerner and go to court in China, you will lose. It's that simple.

If the United States falls and China attaches itself to the power vacuum that ensues, the entire world will be worse off.

> If the United States falls and

You mean, if the United States falls from "number one in innovation" to "number two in innovation", whatever those numbers are even supposed to mean? The US, with a population of 330 million, is not going to just fall off the face of the Earth. We've got plenty of talent and resources.

Actually, the US is currently engaged in genocide... of its own population, sadly. Or maybe we should call it suicide.

It's an autoimmune reaction.

What genocide, exactly? Also, China is expansionist -- do you think they don't want more power, influence and resources? Why do you think they annexed Hong Kong?

> What genocide, exactly?

Letting COVID get out of control, due to our complete disregard for the value of human life.

> Why do you think they annexed Hong Kong?

China didn't "annex" Hong Kong. The UK simply handed Hong Kong over to them because of some dumb century-old "lease".

So... why can't we educate and employ Americans in high-skill fields?

A heavy train running at 80 mph can't make a sharp turn.

But we can, apparently, load people onto and off of the train conveniently?

To do that ideally we need more people.

The US has only a mere 350 million people. China has over a billion EXTRA.

As Rommel is reputed to have said: "God is on the side of the big battalions." There is really no contest between China and the US. China has more men of military age, more STEM graduates, and more manufacturing capacity than the US. In fact China has more of those than all of the West combined. ('West' = 5 eyes plus Europe and Japan)

Why not offer a visa that requires you to have a minimum of 125 IQ on a standard test -or- be running a profitable business that you are willing to relocate?

- 2 year visa

- Renewable in 2 year blocks if you can prove you've been working or running a business for 18 months earning at least the median income (waived for startups)

- After 8 years eligible to apply for a green card, if an independent panel determines you have positively contributed to the US you are awarded one

This would act as a supercharged vacuum for talent like New York City was for European migrants during the boom.

Especially in tech, you either work in the United States or you are dramatically underpaid. Why not soak up all of the world's talent?

Too many restrictions, path to permanent residency is way too long.

> you either work in the United States or you are dramatically underpaid.

First off you might be surprised but money isn't the #1 priority for a lot of people.

In SV maybe, and even then when you factor cost of living, insurances, unemployment benefits, parental leaves &c. I'd rather be in Europe making half the raw salary and getting all the good stuff than being paid twice as much and spending 5k$ on a small flat in SF.

As an outsider it's impressive to see the shift in the recent years, back when I was in uni the majority of my peers wanted to move to the US, me included, and I did for a bit. Nowadays I literally don't know anyone who wants to migrate there in my circles, especially not with the current process. I think American people don't understand how broken their immigration, political and social systems are, and how bad of a deal breaker it is for a lot of Europeans.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com