>>>>>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Union truck drivers who worked at one company their entire lives have been replaced by anyone who can get a commercial driver's license and wants to make a trip or two.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.
>>
>>Well, I'd like to be able to say something positive about our leaders now and then but it's been almost impossible of late.
>>Of the current crop, the most disappointing has been Chris Christie.
>>I jumped across the aisle to vote for him when he ran for his first term.
>>He did a few good things in his first year but since then his true colors showed.
>>He and Bill Clinton are neck and neck for the title of Most Corrupt Politician of the past 30 years.
>
>Solution: Vote!
He did