[elblanco]

It seems to be one of those few places where people will be content to be absolutely miserable in their jobs for 20 years. There's a certain feeling to doing business in the area (even if it's not with the government), a certain soul-sucking tired grind, that doesn't seem replicated exactly the same way elsewhere.

*edit: the high prevalence of degrees also means that B.S./B.A. degrees have almost no weight. You'll commonly see the phenomenon of multiple degrees, multiple masters, very young PhDs...just so you can get noticed in the crowd. People seem to go to school forever out here.