> I cannot justify hiring a mediocre new grad in Seattle for $120k who will end up using Claude Code anyhow when I can hire an early-career employee doing something similar in Romania or India for around $20k
Yes you can. Life and business is not about profit. It’s about bettering the lives of people. Make it a priority to hire American because you’re an American company.
You’re making a choice to prioritize profit (or foreign countries) over the country that you benefit from. This is an immoral and short sighted business decision, as you will eventually see a backlash from the host countries you’re effectively operating as a parasite in.
Not trying to persuade you, just laying out there are alternatives that’ll be a reality eventually. Take a look at the current political swings in Japan, Restore Britain, etc.