Don't Give Me That Global Bullshit
According to a new study by Duke, New York und Harvard University, the restrictive immigration policy from the Bush administration is hurting the US brain gain.
You know what, I understand the results from my life experiences. I lived in the States most of my high school and university life, I had the great opportunity to even work immediatly after college. That was pre 9/11. My travels to and from the US were relatively smooth. I was happy about coming back and smelling fresh NYC or California air. It was a time when friends in Germany asked me whether I could bring them back Levi’s jeans; those famed Deutsche Mark years.
Since 9/11 the air smells different. Not because there are less opportunities, rather the welcome feeling and treatment. Upon one of my recent travels to US, I was interrogated for 45 minutes about everything from hobbies to stamps in my passport. There were three custom officers, to put it bluntly, who treated me like a criminal. And the cherry on top of it, after one of asked whether I was German or American, I replied that I am both, he said,
“Don’t give me that global bullshit!”
There’s my two cents life experience on the brain drain. As a land of opportunity, the country has always profited from immigration entrepreneurs who register patents and support the dynamic economic development. I always thought Germany was restrictive with giving immigrants economic opportunities, even if they work hard and are hungry. Funny, I always thought Germans leave Germany to find a better life somewhere else. Right now, the land of new restrictions is coming closer to that trend. Basically the study is a heads up towards US politicians to wake up and smell the coffee.