[hnwh]

Oddly enough, I'm an American developer outside the US working remotely for a US company.. I'm going to be starting my own company soon (as soon as we wrap up this funding agreement) and will focus uniquely on hiring remote (distributed) developers. As you've said, there is a ton of amazing talent outside of the US, and its actually a win/win by hiring remote. I will consider it as a competitive advantage until all of the "leading edge", "innovative", and "groundbreaking" companies out there in SV decide to catch up

[abuiles]

That's true. Also I have noticed a couple of things here, one is that if you are American companies will have more willingness to hire you remotely or outsource work for you.

For instance I know at least 3 companies owned by Americans in my city, all their customers are in the U.S, the developers all locals, and they just act as "middleman". Seems like there are still some cultural barriers here?

[hnwh]

I'm going to confess.. we Americans (I use the term "we" loosely..) often have a tendency to think that we're the center of the world, and everyone else out there on earth are no more than a bunch of barely literate savages, that at best, we have the divine obligation to go bomb, liberate, and introduce to democracy, freedom, and God. And our media reinforces this belief, so.. why consider otherwise. From the age of 4 years old, we're drilled with the doctrine of "We're #1!!" and hold our right hand over our hearts every day before school, and recite the pledge of allegiance to the flag http://www.wvsd.uscourts.gov/outreach/Pledge.htm

(my gf thought I was making this up)

So yes, there is a cultural barrier. No, its not fair.. neither is life. I hate it, and even as an American, its still a struggle for me to find remote jobs. But you know what? honestly? screw them. Money talks in the new age, and the rest of the world is catching up very very quickly

[taproot]

Oblig: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zqOYBabXmA

[wedtm]

I really hate to play the douchebag card here, but the US DOES have several very good reasons to think it's the center of the tech world. Just don't make me start naming names...

[hnwh]

I'm not saying the contrary.. but I'm a dev, an engineer (the real kind), and also a scientist.. I know how amazing entities in the US are at those fields, but I've also seen how well places outside of the US can keep up right behind. I think the legislation in the US has helped it keep is head start in alot of ways, as the environment just isn't up to par in many countries. But as far as raw skill of individuals goes, there are many many outside of the US who can keep up, or completely blow us away in all of those fields

[Shorel]

Just some states. I think California is the most interesting of them.

But most are freeriders. I don't give a damn about Alabama's tech.

[devonbarrett]

American companies will have more willingness to hire you remotely or outsource work for you.

I would not just limit this to being American. Being British I have felt that it has been a big contributing reason on why I have been hired over people from countries such as China or India.