Beyond Cost, No Compelling Argument For Offshore Design

Regarding "Offshoring: risk to U.S. innovation?" [Nov. 27, page 1]: Having been in the industry for 26 years, I feel I have some insight into the changes that have been occurring in the engineering profession in America. There is no doubt in my mind that globalization is a bad thing for the American engineer. There hasn't been one compelling argument for offshoring engineering jobs except that it brings lower-priced goods to the public and fattens the bottom line of U.S. corporations. The question we need to ask ourselves is whether it is worth intentionally driving the cost of goods to zero--and, in the process, driving engineering innovation offshore and progressively reducing the quality of life for U.S. workers. The fact of the matter is that engineers are not playing on a level field. Obviously, salaries in India or China don't need to be as high as in the United States. In my opinion, unless some protectionist measures are enacted by Congress to curtail offshoring by U.S. corporations, the U.S. engineering profession is headed for a fate similar to the one that befell the U.S. automobile industry in the early 1980s. Michael J. Gambuzza Hardware Design Engineer Intel Massachusetts Inc. Hudson, Mass.<>

H-1B EEs deserve their success

Regarding "EEs speak out across H-1B divide" [Oct. 23, page 1]: Like most other approaches in our society, we look at the effect and not the cause. Ninety percent of the time, U.S.-born and -raised engineers seek a position in a specific geographical area. This is more important to them than career or money. When you work in an area like greater Chicago, which is not a "state of the art" location for electronics engineering, after five years, you don't have five years' experience, but one year five times. Companies want to hire recent graduates because the grads are up to date with current technology. If you want to change jobs and be paid as if you have five years' experience, sorry, but the new grad is a better choice at a lower dollar. Most H-1Bs recognize this and fall into that category. Also, they continually educate themselves by going to graduate school and pursuing other continuing education. Most U.S.-born EEs begin to relax and enjoy the Bears, Cubs, White Sox, Bulls, etc. The creative mind disengages and becomes a couch potato. H-1B workers are more mobile and more willing to work anywhere in the country, so they get the best opportunities. Look around, and you'll see all the companies H1-B workers have started and are running. How many U.S. engineers do you see in that same situation? Terry Reynolds President MRA Ltd. Cincinnati

Kudos to EE Times' myth buster

Thank you to Loring Wirbel for his courage and clarity in discussing the dangers of the present administration's theft of personal privacy ["Myths of the powerful," Opinion, Nov. 27, page 4]. It is always surprising to me how the same people who have complained about big government for years so casually dismiss the dangers that Wirbel presented in his piece. Richard Schedtler Vice President AR Marketing Inc. San Diego