Vivek Ramaswamy, a DOGE co-leader, has sparked a contentious debate in the MAGA movement by taking a stand in favor of H-1B immigration changes. His comments, coupled with his broader analysis of British society, place him at odds with some Republican officials who argue against high-skilled emigration, claiming it could harm American work.
Ramaswamy’s opinions on H-1B permits are portion of a larger tale he’s been promoting: a call for a social update in America to prioritise quality over stupidity. In a recent social media post, he didn’t mince words:” The cause major technology companies typically hire foreign-born and first-generation engineers over’ native’ Americans isn’t because of an intrinsic American IQ deficit—a stupid and bad explanation. It comes down to the c-word: society. Hard inquiries demand strong comments, and if we’re serious about fixing the problem, we have to fight the TRUTH”.
Ramaswamy contends that American society has long preferred stupidity over superiority, a practice he dates back to in the 1990s. He contends that this attitude doesn’t began in school until much earlier in life.
” A tradition that celebrates the prom queen over the math Olympiad winner, or the boy over the dean, does not produce the best specialists”, he said. ” A society that reveres Cory from Boy Meets World, Zack and Slater over Screech in Saved by the Bell, or” Stefan “over Steve Urkel in Family Matters, does not produce the best professionals.”
Ramaswamy uses immigrant families as illustrations of a unique cultural design, frequently placing academic and intellectual accomplishment above social conformity. In the 1990s, he explained,” I know several pieces of expat parents who constantly restricted how far their children may watch those TV shows because they promoted mediocrity.” Their children went on to become wildly successful STEM alumni.
He encourages a cultural shift:
- More movies like Whiplash, fewer reruns of Friends.
- More math tutoring, fewer sleepovers.
- More weekend science competitions, fewer Saturday morning cartoons.
- More creating, less ‘ chillin.’
- More extracurriculars, less ‘ hanging out at the mall.’
The majority of typical American parents view” Those kinds of parents” with suspicion. More normal American kids view such’ those kinds of kids ‘ with scorn”, Ramaswamy observed. ” If you grow up aspiring to normalcy, normalcy is what you will achieve”.
He thinks that America is vulnerable in the race for technical talent abroad, especially in comparison to nations like China. ” 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”, he warned.
Ramaswamy sees this as America’s potential” Sputnik moment”, an opportunity to awaken from cultural slumber. He remains optimistic that the country can revive its focus on achievement, nerdiness, and hard work over conformity and laziness.
Trump’s victory is expected to usher in the start of a new golden era for American culture, but only if that culture is fully awakened. A culture that once again prioritises achievement over normalcy, excellence over mediocrity, nerdiness over conformity, hard work over laziness. That’s the work we have cut out for us”.
While his comments have sparked some applause among some people, they have also exacerbated divisions within the Republican Party, with some MAGA leaders opposing his proposals to reform H-1B visas and his wider cultural criticism.
For Ramaswamy, though, the path forward is clear:” This is the tough love America needs to win in a hyper-competitive world. Let’s rise to the occasion. 🇺 � �”
