Why limit this to programmers? It's not as if we're some kind of privileged and special sub-species of humanity. People should be allowed to move around the globe at will without those pesky borders. That would be one way to get us out of the hole we're in. Drawing arbitrary lines for certain professions and not for others only further deepens the gap.
Companies have long ago figured out ways to go trans-national, simply by opening up offices in low wage countries.
Another, easy solution if you want more talent is to pay more.
This is so true. salaries could drop fast if people could work from anywhere. Lots of people would take a pay cut to live in a less expensive part of the country near family with better schools and quality of life.
I agree. While I disagree with the central claim of this essay (it's not about wages), I also think the US should have open borders (as it once did), although I also realize that that is never going to happen.
Companies have long ago figured out ways to go trans-national, simply by opening up offices in low wage countries.
Another, easy solution if you want more talent is to pay more.