I think the offense you've taken results from the way two almost unrelated issues are completely merged in the debates around specialized visas for STEM workers. An extremely simplified version of the discussion goes like this:
A: "There is a shortage of stem workers, therefore, we should facilitate immigration for stem workers"
B: "No, there is no evidence of a shortage of stem workers, therefore, we should not facilitate immigration specifically for stem workers"
A: "I'm amazed that you wouldn't support legislation that would make it easier for highly skilled and productive people to stay in the US."
The problem for me in this debate (which I'm still hoping can be a discussion) is that I think that the "shortage" of STEM workers is generally a rational response to market conditions when you consider the other opportunities available to highly educated workers. I also think that targeting specific professions through immigration programs (while restricting mobility in others) can end up distorting the market badly and deterring US Citizens from entering these fields, something that could badly harm the US economy in the long term.
To me, this is almost completely unrelated to the question of whether we should make it easier for high skilled immigrants to come to the US in a more generalized way (like Canada or Australia's points system). To that question, I'd answer "yes".
In general, I think this is an honest misunderstanding, but I do think that some of the PR machinery behind the lobbying for specialized visas does take deliberate advantage of the ambiguity.
A: "There is a shortage of stem workers, therefore, we should facilitate immigration for stem workers"
B: "No, there is no evidence of a shortage of stem workers, therefore, we should not facilitate immigration specifically for stem workers"
A: "I'm amazed that you wouldn't support legislation that would make it easier for highly skilled and productive people to stay in the US."
The problem for me in this debate (which I'm still hoping can be a discussion) is that I think that the "shortage" of STEM workers is generally a rational response to market conditions when you consider the other opportunities available to highly educated workers. I also think that targeting specific professions through immigration programs (while restricting mobility in others) can end up distorting the market badly and deterring US Citizens from entering these fields, something that could badly harm the US economy in the long term.
To me, this is almost completely unrelated to the question of whether we should make it easier for high skilled immigrants to come to the US in a more generalized way (like Canada or Australia's points system). To that question, I'd answer "yes".
In general, I think this is an honest misunderstanding, but I do think that some of the PR machinery behind the lobbying for specialized visas does take deliberate advantage of the ambiguity.