Entrepreneur and political figure, Vivek Ramaswamy, recently addressed the reasons why top tech companies often hire foreign-born and first-generation engineers amid ongoing controversy surrounding immigration and high-skilled worker visas.
Posting on his social media account on X, he also emphasised that the issue is not because of an IQ difference, but rather a cultural one.
“Top tech companies often hire foreign-born & first-generation engineers over “native” Americans isn’t because of an innate American IQ deficit (a lazy & wrong explanation). A key part of it comes down to the c-word: culture. Tough questions demand tough answers & if we’re really serious about fixing the problem, we have to confront the TRUTH”
Ramaswamy said that American culture has long celebrated mediocrity over excellence, a trend that dates back at least to the 90s, if not earlier. He also argued that this mindset doesn’t begin in college but is instilled from a young age.
“A culture that celebrates the prom queen over the math olympiad champ, or the jock over the valedictorian, will not produce the best engineers,” he stated.
He further argued that a culture which favours characters like Cory from “Boy Meets World,” Zach and Slater from “Saved by the Bell,” or Stefan over Steve Urkel from “Family Matters” will not produce the best engineers.
He mentioned that he knows several immigrant parents from the 90s who deliberately restricted how much TV their children could watch, as they believed shows promoting mediocrity hindered success. Their children, he pointed out, went on to become highly successful STEM graduates.
“More movies like Whiplash, fewer reruns of “Friends.” More math tutoring, fewer sleepovers. More weekend science competitions, fewer Saturday morning cartoons. More books, less TV. More creating, less “chillin.” More extracurriculars, less “hanging out at the mall.”
The Republican also stated that while most typical American parents view “those kinds of parents” with scepticism, if people grow up aiming for normalcy, that is what they will ultimately achieve.
He also asked the public to compare the families that raised their kids according to different models.
“Normalcy” doesn’t cut it in a hyper-competitive global market for technical talent. And if we pretend like it does, we’ll have our asses handed to us by China.”
The Republican politician also said that under Trump’s presidency America can soar to its golden heights again provided that the culture “wakes up” and prioritizes achievement over normalcy, excellence over mediocrity, nerdiness over conformity and hard work over laziness.
“That’s the work we have cut out for us, rather than wallowing in victimhood & just wishing (or legislating) alternative hiring practices into existence. I’m confident we can do it.”
Ramaswamy is set to lead the newly established Department of Government Efficiency alongside billionaire Elon Musk during Trump’s second term. Born on August 9, 1985, in Cincinnati, Ohio, Vivek Ramaswamy is a biotech entrepreneur, author, and former Republican presidential candidate.
He is best known for founding Roivant Sciences in 2014, where he built his wealth by acquiring and advancing underdeveloped pharmaceutical companies. Ramaswamy gained national attention for his outspoken views on corporate America’s involvement in social issues and his criticism of environmental, social, and governance investing.
Vivek Ramaswamy, a prominent entrepreneur and author, believes that the United States is in need of a cultural shift in order to compete more effectively in the tech industry. In a recent interview, he stated that “This can be our Sputnik moment” referring to the pivotal moment in 1957 when the Soviet Union launched the first artificial satellite into space, sparking a renewed focus on science and technology in the US.
Ramaswamy argues that the US has fallen behind in critical areas of tech innovation, such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing, due to a lack of investment and focus on these emerging technologies. He believes that a cultural shift is needed to prioritize innovation and competition in order to regain its position as a global leader in tech.
In order to achieve this, Ramaswamy suggests that the US needs to reevaluate its education system, immigration policies, and regulatory framework to better support tech innovation. He also emphasizes the importance of fostering a culture of entrepreneurship and risk-taking in order to drive innovation forward.
Overall, Ramaswamy’s message is clear: the US must embrace a new mindset in order to stay competitive in the rapidly evolving tech landscape. By taking inspiration from past successes, such as the response to Sputnik, he believes that the US can once again lead the way in tech innovation.
Tags:
search engine optimization, SEO, Vivek Ramaswamy, Sputnik moment, cultural shift, competition in tech, US tech industry, technology innovation, American competitiveness, tech culture, diversity in tech
#Sputnik #moment #Vivek #Ramaswamy #cultural #shift #needed #competition #tech
