lollipop90
Despite the fact that the odds are stacked (media controlled by United Russia, etc...) Navalny got 27% of the vote in 2013 Moscow election.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Moscow_mayoral_election#C...
That is not exactly "zero actual support". And that was before the 2018 "pension" reforms.
(Lottery is difficult to win due to rampant abuse by certain Indian-US outsourcing companies)
For H1b, you can at least change jobs. An L1 cannot change jobs at all. So, you are completely at the mercy of your employer. Fortunately my employer is benign, but that is not the case for everyone.
Having a proper points system (not one that is easily gamed) and giving people a greencard to enable them to change jobs would be a much better system. This would prevent low-skilled workers and the suppression of US salaries. And if there is a high demand, the US can just take those with the highest points (as the Australian system does).
There are two very good systems: 1. Australian 189 permanent resident system. Example of points:
https://www.am22tech.com/au/australia-points-calculator-for-...
There is limited positions, so only those with the highest points are selected.
(Compared to H1b where the bar is low and people are selected via lottery. This incentivises outsourcing companies to have 4 people apply for every one true position).
2. Japan's point-based high skill visa (Technical stream)
http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/newimmiact_3/en/system/index.html
Processing time for this is 5 days guaranteed and very easy to apply for (I got mine in 4 days).
This is not permanent residence, but you can apply for permanent residence after 1 year.
In any case, sanctions/disinvestment caused many foreign companies to sell their South African divisions at a great discount to white industrialists. These industrialists in turn greatly benefited by opening up in the 90ies.