Comment Re:They should just stop buying back their stock (Score 1) 175
I work in an Intel fab.
To the extent that Intel has invested in overseas fab capacity, it is because that spending has been heavily subsidized by foreign (non-US) governments.
If the desire is to build more fab capacity in the US, what proposal other than fab subsidies do you have to "make it economical" to invest in the US?
The cost of operating a $20 billion fab is completely dominated by depreciation. Assume a 5 year depreciation schedule and 1000 employees earning $200k/year. Depreciation amounts to $4 billion per year versus $200 million for employees. You can't make it economical without addressing the equipment cost. And that equipment isn't any cheaper in Taiwan. So if you want to encourage US investment, and compete against the foreign countries that do subsidize, what do you suggest other than subsidies for capital?
The market forces are foreign subsidies for semiconductor fabrication capital.