Jim Hampton wrote:
wrote in message

.. . . . .

Kelly,

I think we're batting our gums over nothing.

When you get right down to it you're probably right. Which is typical
of just about all threads in this NG.

The original post, in my mind,
hit the nail on the head.
Technical folks seem to be almost unwanted in the
United States. One reason for amateur radio (at least in the past) was to
attract the technically oriented and hopefully some would persue their
interest and become engineers.

Nice warm fuzzy theory and it worked in a number of cases. Fact is
though that if a ham ticket was some sort of prerequisite for becoming
an EE the EE discipline would be basically to invisible in this
country. Which it certainly is not.

Engineers don't make tons of money these days. Skilled trades folks are
almost unwanted. I had to laugh, there were ads for toolmakers (a number of
years minimum experience) that ran $10.00 to $12.00 per hour.

I was raised in my Dad's 20-man took & die works but I wised up after a
couple years on the bench and went to engineering school, I know that
biz well. The job shop rate around here is in the $25/hr range. One of
my brothers who has his papers is knocking down $30+/hr and has UAW
bennies I'd kill for plus he has all the OT he can be bothered with.
Must be a *flock* of unemployed toolmakers around Rochester . .

I just saw an
ad for a parking lot attendent at $11.00 per hour. Of course, the
requirements for that job were tough. Almost as tough as amateur radio
requirements. Not only did you need a high school diploma (or ged, or
equivalent experience), you had to be able to make change without the use of
a computer or calculator!

Meanwhile, Russia launches Direct TVs latest hi-definition satellite, China
does the manufacturing.

As to your suggestion about putting a minimum age limit for amateurs,

Whoa: Stop Jim. Go back and read my post and point out where I
suggested anything about an age limit on anybody or anything.

raising it enough (say to 55) would ensure that mostly appliance operators
apply.

Sorry, I can't agree on an age limit for amateurs (although I understand
what you mean about the numbers game - therefor the suggestion). Meanwhile,
we have to get rid of manufacturing and perhaps teachers too. We have more
important stuff to deal with, such as the weapons of mass destruction.


73 from Rochester, NY
Jim AA2QA

w3rv