[ RadSafe ] Re: The good news about nuclear destruction

[Steven Dapra]

April 2

         In reply to Clayton, do we want kids to aspire to be scientists 
merely because they get paid a lot?  Aren't science (and society) already 
materialistic enough?

         What should determine how much a worker is paid?  Perhaps those 
Americans who are being replaced by foreign workers are asking for higher 
wages than they are worth being paid.  We have an apprentice program where 
I work.  A few years ago the then-supervisor of the program told me that 
apprentices with a few months of classes and on the job training wanted to 
make $35,000 a year or more --- the rate of pay for an experienced 
journeyman.  It's called the "gimme" generation.  Or greedy, or 
what-have-you.  My guess is that a lot of American workers *do* lack the 
needed skills.

Steven Dapra



At 03:34 PM 4/2/08 -0400, Clayton J Bradt wrote:

>J. Marshall Reber wrote:
>
>"Indeed, pupils in many secondary schools in the USA , especially boys,
>would
>rather become sports heros or rock stars than scientists."
>***********************************************
>
>If scientists were compensated at a level comparable to sports heroes and
>rock stars, more kids would aspire to be scientists.  Don't blame the kids
>for accurately gauging the value of a technical education.  For instance,
>does anyone believe that the tech industry's clamor for more special work
>visas for "highly skilled" foreign workers, is the result of a lack of
>American workers with the needed skills?  Or is it more likely the lack of
>skilled Americans willing to work for the low wages being offered?
>
>Clayton J. Bradt
>dutchbradt at hughes.net