>I just noticed a rather low paying job in the jobs section.
>
>Luis Guzman must be a bigger chronic-optimist than most developers if he thinks he can get even a Junior VFP Programmer (on a six-month contract) for 11 USD per hour.
>
>Are things really this bad?

The rate sounds low, and to most that have been in the business for a while it is. But think about a 19-20 year old kid with a 2 year ad just getting out of school in that area. It could be just the thing he or she needs to get started.