If you want to make good money go become a plumber's apprentice. Then open-up your own company, hire some skilled plumbers to work for you and live in a mansion. I know people who leave their Ph.D off their resumes just to get hired. Other comments are correct in that you will be hired based on your specialty or real-world experience.

You are exactly right. American industry has responded by importing engineers from other countries to keep the pay down. My brother finished a Chem. Engineering program (Masters) before getting accepted to Med. School. He will be the first one to tell you that Med. School was a cake walk compared to Engineering School. Two of my closest friends from college (all U of CA graduates in engineering) went back to school and became lawyers. They work less hours, they are more respected and they earn more money. America values lawyers over engineers...plain and simple.

No, I will ruin your company for $4 million! If my wife will let me perhaps I will even sweeten the deal with a sex scandal. That will prepare me to run for public office.

Well, it sounds like they have managed to perfect the algorithms necessary to lie, cheat and steal. Soon robots will be our political overlords too. Is this bad science fiction actually coming true?

Once Amtrak and the unions get involved this will simply become a huge money pit until the plug is pulled. Culturally, trains are not embraced by many Americans except for commuting and even that can be a huge hassle. We prefer planes because they are faster and now we get sexually assaulted on the way. Woo hoo! Of course we prefer our cars for shorter commutes. Oh and incidentally....we are broke. Bankrupt. Kaput. Done for...... Perhaps government should let private industry determine if there is a sufficient demand and act on that demand....if it exists. Better yet, let's stop the subsidies (bail outs) to Amtrak and see how that all plays out.

My last two computers were from the Tiger Direct (new) parts bin. I have never had so much performance for so little money! If you need to run Windows buy an OEM license. For all this bloat you PAY and for the alleged technical support, which is some marginally trained (but cheap!) person overseas reading a book you also PAY.

Perhaps they should consider outsourcing to the United States. Just sayin'..............

There is no conflict between true finished science and religion. Zealots on both sides are too narrow minded to see truth when it smacks them in the face anyway. I am a fundamentalist and to date I have never seen "finished" science conflict with the Bible. Go to the bottom of the Red Sea and look at the line of Egyptian fragments of chariots and armor. Just what were they doing marching across the bottom of the Red Sea, anyway? And what caused them to fall in their path suddenly? The tumbling of the walls of Jericho; simple harmonics and resonance. The European Renaissance is a good example of science, religion and art working together.....to bring them out of the dark ages. The conflict lies on both sides...and is man-made.

You are both right. Now let me go dust off that old grammar book from college...

The US Government would be more than happy to let the Chinese come in and sue us back into the dark ages. Try suing in China. They are at least smart enough to tell the foreigners to drop dead.

The current US and European managers could care less. They are reaping profits for themselves in the here and now. When the stinky stuff hits the fan they will have their money and will cut and run. Just ask Carly Fiorina how well that worked out for her. Too bad she was so mean and nasty not even cancer could kill her.

The insanity will never level out. Buy what works for you and be happy about it. My car is over six years old, paid for and reliable. I am happy about that. I did just get a new HTC Aria paid for by my company. I am really happy about that! For my "own nickle" I would not get such an advanced phone. Texting and talking is really all I need. E-mail supports the company during off-hours and the rest is just a perk.

Since I use Linux, I simply buy a box full of "parts" from Tiger Direct and spend an evening putting together another computer. I did this for my in-laws and bought an OEM copy of WinXP. Set them right up with a powerful box for very little money. I have made only one support visit in the last 6 months or so. I guess things are working out well for them.

You might have expressed this with less cursing, but I believe you are correct. Might I add that our two parties are fundamentally the same. They use rhetoric to give the proletariat the illusion of choice. Both parties ultimately want high taxes and big government. Their tactics are slightly different, but the end game is the same. Has there really been any difference between Bush and Obama? Has Congressional shifts in party power made a difference? No. The time is coming which is why I am stocking-up on ammo.