Gerry,

>>>Understood... We have some junior programmers at our location that are paid less but since they work for me I can guarantee you that if they earn it and as we have the power to increase their wages I'll do everything in my power to raise them. It drives me nuts whena company is so shortsighted to do as you mention..
>
>In that case ... you are a scholar and a gentleman ....

Kind words.. Thank you.

However, there is in my small mind the notion that if I can keep these guys around, perhaps motivated by providing unlimited free soda (ala MS) spiffy hardware, monthly free books I'll be able to construct a team that will work well together. While this is not entirely self-interested there is, do a larger than you'd expect degree, an element of self-interest at work here. I'd rather have a small "strike team" that performs well together than a large body of independent programmers, each with their own agenda. Our agenda is to produce a world class product and I need focused and motivated participants.