[pnathan]

* why won't they hire me for it

Because "you" got a humanities degree and "it" is a tradesperson job which does not "make the world better". "You" chose to pursue "fun and interesting", and didn't run the numbers on "ROI", which only geeks, low-class people, and in-it-for-the-money people did.

* why doesn't it pay more?

Because experience counts a tremendous amount, far more than willingness to show up.

/me shrug

A lot of tradespeople jobs are done by immigrants willing to work many hours with low pay where natives are out looking for "rewarding" and "fulfilling" work. The Great Hand of Bettering Yourself By Hard Work will sort it out, more or less, more or less unevenly, in the end.

[ameister14]

I don't think either of those answers is correct.

Bettering yourself with hard work is a religious notion. It's not necessarily true, but it's good for people that own things that need to be worked on, like farmland. It keeps people working.

If the jobs are necessary, though, they should be paid with that in mind. They are not. Manufacturing production is up, but wages are stagnant. I don't think it's entitlement that makes people recognize that.

Most people that now trust in 'The Great Hand of Bettering Yourself By Hard Work' as you put it will be out of a job in 30 years; we've already started that trend.

[dropit_sphere]

Fine---but if the jobs are being done, why all the whining about "kids these days?"

[mason240]

Because "kids these days" are refusing to do them, yet demanding they have better lifestyle then the people who are doing them.

[eli_gottlieb]

>"You" chose to pursue "fun and interesting", and didn't run the numbers on "ROI", which only geeks, low-class people, and in-it-for-the-money people did.

Except that the "geek" industry in Silicon Valley bills itself constantly as all about "passion" and "disruption" and "changing the world" (with $0.99 in-app purchases).