Err... services are localized, other professions aren't, at least to the same degree. That's part and parcel of the job one chooses to do. If people aim to become lawyers because they don't think they can compete, that's their business. Maybe some bright American engineer will find a way to outsource lawyering to India:-)
<If people aim to become lawyers because they don't think they can compete, that's their business.>
That's the problem - it isn't their business. It's the ABA's business. You could be one of the great legal minds in India, but unless you have an ABA accredited degree, it doesn't matter (edit - I think a few states might allow such a person to practice provided he/she passes the bar). And US law schools definitely act as gatekeepers (check out the admissions pages for law schools - you will often find an explicit statement that they greatly limit the percentage of international students). US Engineering grad programs, on the other hand, tend to act as gateways rather than gatekeepers.
Some people want to see an ABA or AMA style organization for software engineers... personally, I'd hate to see this. I like the open nature of software, and I definitely don't think we'd see more innovation if the sort of people responsible for EJB gained control over licensing.
But regardless of how you feel about it, the dynamic is pretty indisputable: if the US uses the force of government and law to keep foreign lawyers out and bring foreign engineers in, then you should expect to see US citizens favor law degrees and foreign nationals (who would like to come to the US) to favor engineering degrees.
The part that frustrates me is when our wise leaders get on the soapbox and start preaching about how we need to encourage more Americans to get graduate degrees in science and engineering. If we've decided to staff our science and engineering workforce with guest workers, fine, but please stop acting like it's a big mystery when Americans respond to the market imbalance it creates.
