A few words on the recent Microsoft job cuts. Back in the old days, as they say, if you spoke out against a major employer, people would warn you,“Be careful this is a company town.” Well, Washington today is essentially a company state. Taking on Microsoft head on would be political suicide. Let me be clear. I am not attacking Microsoft, and I am not trying to start a war with them. But I do think it’s worth re-examining some of their decisions.
For example, Microsoft has spent roughly $170 billion on stock buybacks over the past 10 years. That’s not unusual for large corporations, but instead of artificially inflating its own share price, some of that money could have been used for real investments investments in people, in innovation, in the communities that make Microsoft possible.
We should also re-examine the H-1B visa program. Companies claim America doesn’t have enough skilled workers to fill key roles. Others say we do, but that companies prefer to hire from overseas because many H-1B workers will accept lower pay. Data shows most H-1B workers are paid less than their U.S. counterparts. We could reduce the number of H-1B visas, or at least require that these workers be paid the exact same rates as domestic employees doing the same work.
The truth is, the layoffs we see today are small compared to what’s coming. Artificial intelligence will bring massive job losses in the years ahead. That’s not science fiction it’s reality. We can’t stop it, but we can prepare for it. That means re-examining everything now.
Imagine if even a fraction of that $170 billion in buybacks had been set aside to help employees transition into new careers fields like healthcare, clean energy, or advanced manufacturing. We should be investing in people, not just in share prices. That’s how we build a future that works for everyone, not just for Wall Street.
If I run. And if I win the election for Congress in 2026. I will be a politician that is not owned by the mega corporations. As God as my witness. I will always look out for the interests of the people.
We are in a crisis. For decades, recent college graduates typically enjoyed lower unemployment rates than the overall working age population. But that is no longer the case. Since late 2018, the trend has reversed and in recent years, the unemployment rate for recent graduates has consistently been higher than the national average. In March 2025, recent graduates faced a 5.8% unemployment rate, compared to 4.0% nationally. This isn’t just a rough patch it’s a warning sign. The struggle is real, and the path ahead points not toward improvement, but toward worsening conditions. Why is this happening? It’s the result of several converging forces. Artificial intelligence, automation, robotics and yes, the influx of foreign labor. These are facts. And we can choose to deal with them or ignore them. Today, people you’d never expect to struggle are juggling gig jobs just to stay afloat. Driving for Uber by day, delivering food by night . All in an effort to survive. We can’t sit back and watch this continue. We need policies that protect American jobs, invest in innovation without abandoning workers, and ensure that higher education leads to real opportunity not underemployment. We must prepare for a future where technology works for us, not against us, and where our own citizens are first in line for the jobs their tax dollars help create. This is not about politics. It’s about fairness, opportunity, and survival for the American middle class. My tax reform plan and immigration policy are key components of a larger vision to build a stronger future for all Americans. It is the responsibility of every generation. To build a better future for the next generation. Unfortunately it seems that America has stopped doing that. We are on the wrong path. The time for a major course correction is now. Not addressing these issues. Lead to Trump and the Republicans controling the government. If the Democratic Party does not start to address these issues now. It will lead to Vice President JD Vance becoming President in 4 years.
Microsoft reported over $100 billion in profit in fiscal year 2024. This places it among the most profitable companies in America. And now it’s cutting jobs of the people that were key to its success. It happens. It’s business. But the company is obviously not struggling to survive. So does the company or CEO need any tax breaks. Do they really need to keep spending billions in stock buybacks? Something that used to be illegal.
Link - discuss this on Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/redmond/s/UnS7et0Onj
The good news is that Seattle and its surrounding communities are not out of options. Government agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs, which is boosting tech salaries and creating hub offices in tech centers such as Seattle, are looking for talent in software engineering, IT modernization, and program leadership. At the same time, private firms including Apple in South Lake Union, Zoom in Bellevue, OpenAI, Snowflake, and even Lowe’s tech hub in Kirkland are actively growing and recruiting ex-Microsoft engineers, product managers, program managers, and legal professionals. On the global front, companies like ByteDance (TikTok), Shopify, Aircall, and Gorilla Technology Group are expanding their U.S. operations, especially in Bellevue, opening roles in cloud and AI development, product leadership, sales, and compliance. These emerging opportunities show that while one giant company cuts jobs, many others are creating them providing a path forward for workers with the skills Washington helped cultivate.
