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<p>I would argue that those ‘select few’ who would benefit would precisely be our fellow engineers. After all, isn’t helping our colleagues by promoting the status and strategic positioning of our profession within society exactly what we ought to be doing? Believe me, the other professions haven’t exactly been shy about promoting themselves, often times at the expense of the engineers, and they’re not going to stop. Why must we always be their doormats? </p>
<p><a href=“1”>quote</a> Because I think your ideas are bad, and will only make things worse.
(2) I don’t. I just oppose YOUR proposed solutions. If I am injured, I should listen to the guy who thinks I should I should spray windex on it?
(3) Of course I do, but I recognize that my “measly” engineering salary already puts me higher than any other profession with a comparable educational requirement. Also, my desire to actually do engineering work exceeds my desire to get paid however much more to do other things.
(4) Of course I do, but that does not mean that I want the career opportunities you seem to think I should want, nor does it mean that I think such opportunities are unavailable to poor little me.
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<p>You say that you are opposed to my solutions - but do you actually understand them? Seems to me that you think that I want all engineers, or at least the best ones, to become financiers and consultants when in fact I want nothing of the sort - I actually consider that outcome to be a most regrettable outcome that is the unfortunate and unavoidable byproduct of the fact that engineering firms persistently refuse to pay engineers their worth. </p>
<p>Rather, if I had my druthers, I would actually convince engineering firms to take all of the rents that they currently pay to (a.k.a. waste upon) the consulting and finance industry and redirect it to bolster engineering pay. I suspect that neither you nor anybody else here would have any objection to that, and indeed, would probably heartily endorse it. The catch is that it’s not clear how to instigate that change. </p>
<p><a href=“5”>quote</a> I don’t particularly care about status. I generally have a poor opinion of those who do.
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<p>Whether you or I care about status or not, the fact is, status is a source of power and power ultimately determines who gets paid what. For example, it should surprise nobody that arguably the key reason why consultants and bankers enjoy such high pay is because they are (probably undeservedly) accorded high status by managers. Engineers are therefore engaged in a war for status within the corporate hierarchy whether they want to be or not. Unfortunately, it’s a war that they don’t seem to be fighting. </p>
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<p>Sure you do, by sitting here on CC and convincing them that they shouldn’t want more pay and status and should be simply content with whatever is available to them under the status quo. That sort of defeatist attitude helps nobody.</p>