I am both a programmer and a plumber, and I can tell you that plumbing isn't as bug-free as you make it out to be. For example, if you stuff too many potato peels down your garbage disposal too quickly, your sink will back up, requiring you to take apart the drain plumbing to get all the peels out. I know, I've had to do this in multiple houses. That's the equivalent of a page crashing when you put in bad data. If you put food down the disposal at a rate it can handle, it will work fine, and if you put reasonably good data into a given Web page, it usually works.

There is an entire industry devoted to fixing "bugs" in plumbing, from drain cleaners to root-removal services. How many bathroom sinks have drain stoppers that don't quite hold the water in the sink? How many shower drains get clogged? How many old pipes leak due to corrosion?

Yes, programming is a trade, like plumbing and electrical work. And like the other trades, programmers have to often fix issues due to problems that either weren't anticipated during construction. In my view, programmers in general don't create code that is particularly more shoddy than craftsmen of any other trade. With each trade, there is a trade-off between quality and cost.

Because H-1Bs are cheaper.

that schools don't teach coding. Schools might give people with coding talent a jump start, but as with art, you either get it or you don't.

"Learning the skills" just means that you can type in some lines of code, and make it do something. That's a far cry from learning what it takes to create quality software.

They are sometimes referred to as "teenagers."

Obviously, if no one is coming forward with money, it must be a conspiracy.

Did anybody notice...the linked article about the removal request...was a Washington Post article? And this article prominently displays a link to the original review. It doesn't seem the request for removal is having the desired effect.

Then why is it still the law? Politicians are, above all things, good at figuring out what their constituents want. I suspect that the reality is, most people are either neutral, or do like it. Those who don't like it, complain loudly twice a year; those who do like it, just stay quiet because they already have a system they like.

That was the big selling point of Cable TV when it came out in the 70's...remember? By paying a subscription fee, subscribers could watch ad-free TV. We all know how well that worked!

Well you see, if they called it a "server," then they could get into legal trouble because they are only giving you a little tiny piece of a server. By calling it a "cloud," it can be whatever they want it to be, because...it's kind of hard for lawyers to pin down the legal definition of "cloud."

Sorry folks, you'll just have to stand in that flying cattle car. And don't forget to wear your adult diapers, they won't have restrooms either.

Profit is not the only aim of a business. The other is equity.

Amazon is building it equity aggressively, investing heavily in distribution centers, data centers, and in building a loyal customer base. It has become the most valuable brand in book publishing, surpassing even WalMart (which remains number 2 in that space), and vies with Walmart for the #1 spot in retail overall. It is arguably the dominant force in Web hosting. There is no measure by which Amazon is in any kind of trouble.

Amazon will make profits whenever it chooses to do so. Right now, they are simply too busy doing other things.

Critical thinking may well require talent, as well as skill.

Some people are naturally athletic, while others are not. All can be taught to improve their athletic skills, but training will only move the needle a little bit, in most cases. Most of us will never have what it takes to play in the NFL.

In the same way, critical thinking skills can be taught to a degree, but if you have more than one child, you know that each one has a very different ability to think critically, even with the very same parents.

I get 40 Mbps down on my cable connection, and that's enough that each of my four family members can watch a different Netflix HD movie at the same time. I could pay more to get 100 Mbps. How is cable not fast enough?

Are 8 hours of work per day more valuable than 4? If so, shouldn't the person who works 8 hours a day have a higher income than the person who works 4, for the same type of work?

What about management? Which is harder for a landscaping business to find: a worker who can mow lawns, or someone who can successfully supervise them? Why wouldn't we reward the more difficult skill with more pay?

What about skill? Which is harder for a hospital to find: a doctor who can perform brain surgery, or a nurse's aide who can bandage wounds? Why wouldn't we pay the doctor more?

The idea that income inequality is bad, is often rooted in envy. There are reasons some people earn more than others, and that is the way it should be.

The article points out correlations between low income and the many problems that come with it. But are the problems actually caused by low income, or could they (and low income) be symptoms of a different root cause?