[quote=CA renter]
No way anyone can convince me that trading securities is more risky that police work or firefighting. And, per your link, salespeople in the financial and securities industry are higher on the “contentment” scale than cops are (firefighters are higher).[/quote]
Not at all what I was implying (and you know this). My point was merely that (a) jobs aren’t priced according to physical risk, and (b) some people simply like doing these purportedly (although perhaps not overly in a relative context) risky jobs – they actually enjoy them. Different strokes for different folks.
[quote=CA renter]
I suppose, at the end of the day, we have to ask ourselves if the risks taken by traders and speculators is worth more than the risks taken by public safety personnel. The answer to that is subjective, and depends on where you stand, logically and philosophically.[/quote]
Exactly – it’s all subjective. (And because it’s subjective, “logic” has little to do with it – it’s mostly philosophical.) I assume that you’re not in favor of a Randian Council of Vocations that chooses work for people, so while the market may not do a perfect job of allocating professions, it appears to do a much better job than the alternatives. Such are the imperfections of quasi-liberty.