You assume this is talent. Thats not at all the case. Most are mediocre workers who came in as masters students and got OPT and h1b eventually with PERM.

The talented workers can always apply for the O1 and get approved

(Ignoring the political context of this post) No. I don't want to fight a war. I want a peaceful and secure life. I have two oceans and military ten times the size it needs to be to effectively protect me. I don't need the number to go up or more plastic garbage.

>do we want to win talent war or not?

Talent war against whom? It's not like the best and brightest are lining up to defect to China.

> Bring smarter, qualified people to the US. If not, they’ll find a way somewhere else

More than 70% of H1B in tech is from a single country, where cheating is considered a normal aspect of life. I'm sure most people here have at least once encountered this cultural difference in their day to day work.

While I still think H1B program is needed, it has to be revamped, putting cap per country is the most obvious first step.

I see it more as a brain drain. I wonder how the world would be if those extremely talented people have stayed in their home countries and contributed to the local economies and development of the respective countries rather than contributing to the American imperialism.

I would actually prefer having a job so that I can avoid starving, than to "win the talent war", whatever that means.

“Talent” is an subjective term.

This is a nepotism war

Sounds great on paper, but in reality it is a program to bring mediocre workers that would do anything for the opportunity, including being underpaid. My company did this, on a smaller scale than Microsoft, and the result is the worst employees we have in US.

America already won here, the top tier talent outside America is already here or looking to get to America. The big name companies hiring them aren't doing it to save money. It is the outsourcing companies that are basically sweatshops that Trump is targeting.