[btwelch]

Wow, I had the exact same thought (ie. comparing hackers to Detroit auto workers) when I read the article. Though, I thought I was being profoundly pessimistic.

So, to add more pessimism (for fun)... we don't have the bargaining power that the UAW had, and I don't think we have any members of congress that will consider software professionals to be a serious constituency. So, without legislation, we would definitely spiral down faster as an industry.