I have written about Thomas Sowell before here (and follow the other seven links if you like what you read)
Today, he came out with an interesting point. One small taste:
The fashionable notion of "a living wage" is a wage that will support a family of four. And, sure enough, The New York Times finds a Wal-Mart employee who complains that he is not making "a living wage."
How is he living, if he is not making a living wage?
Should people be paid according to what they "need" instead of according to what their work is worth? Should they decide how big a family they want and then put the cost of paying to support that family on somebody else?
If their work is not worth enough to pay for what they want, is it up to others to make up the difference, rather than up to them to upgrade their skills in order to earn what they want?
Emphasis mine -- I have had several "careers" in my life. What I was trained for in school was Marine Biology and Physical Oceanography and all that got me was a low-paying job at a public aquarium in New England. I loved that job but I wasn't making any decent money -- had to do sound for bands in the evening to make rent.
Computers came into the picture and they have been very good to me both in hardware and software. I also took a six year detour into starting and running a copy and printing business. Ran printing presses, made plates, cut paper, nursed a bunch of cranky copy machines along.
I have also worked as a cook, as a test engineer for a commercial audio company (Tapco (the predecessor to Makie)) and picked up construction and welding skills along the way.
I am now engaged in the business of making hard cider and mead and helping Jen to run a 30 acre farm.
People who think that there is one and only one career option available to them are overlooking some very wonderful experiences.
They need to get off their butts and get out there and live and learn!
