>>The only people who have to take crappy jobs are those that are unwilling to learn a skill. In this country, they can't find enough welders, brick layers and plumbers. You don't need an expensive (sometimes useless) college degree to learn these skills. These people make very good money - probably better money than you make.
>>
>Actually, you might want to check that again.
>
>At one time - up till the 1970's, those jobs were unionized and paid more than some programmers earned.
>Since that time, union membership and union bargaining power have plummeted in the US.
>Not surprisingly, wages have remained flat or declined.
>There are lots or reasons.. robots have replaced many welders and many welding jobs have been shipped overseas or to Mexico or Canada via NAFTA.
>
>I can't speak for other parts of the country, but I watched several communities being built here in Hamilton.
>All the concrete and brick work was done by non-union immigrants who were brought in to do the work and then moved on. Ditto with plumbers, painters and electricians.
>
>Brick layers, plumbers etc who lived in Hamilton would starve to death.
>
>At one time those were union jobs that paid very well. The people would have lived in the area and contributed to the community.
>
>Since the deregulation of the airline and trucking industries jobs that were once high paying union jobs are now low paying non-union jobs.
>There are some airline pilots making less than programmer trainees now.
>Union truck drivers who worked at one company their entire lives have been replaced by anyone who can get a commercial driver's license and wants to make a trip or two.
>In some cases truck driver jobs are actually auctioned and go to the lowest bidder.
>Try to raise a family that way.
>
>Here's a kick... the people most responsible for these changes were Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton.. both Dems!

This is what I like about you, Bill. You hit them on the right and on the left :). You must be truly independent that all politicians are wooing for.