see http://www.jdunderground.com for what the next generation experiences…

A couple of our nieces husbands who recently graduated from great colleges just became firefighters, while both of the girls are MD’s. A sign of the times?

No question firefighting is dangerous work. It was actually their choice–they want to serve–and, since they’re not my kids, I had no input. If all goes well, as it has for many, they’ll take an early retirement.

Other kids in the family have also become attorneys, and are also doing well.

My kids are MD’s and executives in the film business.

Most of the members of our family plan to leave everything to our kids anyway, so–whatever they do with their careers along the way–they should be fine.

To each his or her own.

[quote=flyer]A couple of our nieces husbands who recently graduated from great colleges just became firefighters, while both of the girls are MD’s. A sign of the times?[/quote]

Pilots make what now? $20k starting salary. unless you’re from rich family, the job is not that cool.

I think that the typical white male w/ high school and some college is in trouble as far as social standing. Girls study harder and will get better degrees.

Technology is now well a established sector of the economy. Except for a few, bluster and creativity will not open doors and pay the bills. Advanced degrees are required these days. The high value workers are from all over the world, Ukraine, Serbia, China, India, etc… with masters and doctorates. Look at the demographics of graduate schools.

Not saying that it’s right or wrong, only that people will have to make psychological adjustments. I’m OK with being a stay at home husband. Would not bother me one bit.

Flyer, I know you like to advocate “living the life of your dreams”…. But statistically how many really get to do that?

Good dreams.
I could also be perpetual college student.

[quote=spdrun]FlyerInHI: Compared to other forms of engineering, medicine, law, etc, the barriers for entry into software engineering, software design, and low-voltage electronic device design are actually pretty darn low.

There are some efforts to license software engineers, but they’re only gaining traction very slowly (via the 2012 IEEE exam, which hasn’t been made mandatory anywhere).[/quote]

yeah, I know that politicians talk about coding as a skill of the future… but what is the percentage of the population that can make a living writing software? Some people can’t even use a mouse or they’re just idiots when it comes to basic computer functions.

My point is that America is becoming a more established society with different social strata. When I was growing up there were rare gated communities and rich lived among the middle class.

Now, you have more segregation in terms of jobs and neighborhoods. You can be a plumber making a good living, but your family and kids would not be in the same social class as an engineer with a masters. Many don’t give a shit on a personal level, but in the aggregate there is less mobility.

Regarding software design and appliance design … my point wasn’t that everyone could do it, just that the legal barriers to entry are a lot lower than other skilled professions. Including plumbing, BTW.

Regarding segregation … They say that the West Coast is less conscious of social class, blah, blah, blah, but I see a lot fewer gated communities in the Northeast than in California. In fact, they’re pretty much outliers around NYC, not like in San Diego where every little condo complex has a gate and key pad.

Security on this coast also seems a bit of a joke. When I first moved to NY, I needed the front door key to my old building. The super told me — “go to the locksmith {around the corner}, say you live in at {address} and he’ll make you a key for $10.”

And take a town like Morristown — it has its poor areas, but also parts with well-kept mansions dating from the 1800s. I grew up in another town in NJ. I went to high school with the children of high AT&T executives, the children of secretaries, and the children of plumbers … no one really cared all that much.