Reply #25: Reminds me of a conversation not long ago, w/ my RW BIL and SIL.

[Dr.Phool]

I usually tread a little softly, and avoid politics in general with them, as they live next door, and the relationship is important to my wife. And, they really are nice people, just severely misguided.

We were having cocktails one night, last year, and my wife mentioned that I was trying to get her son a job as an electrician in the steel mill. I worked on the railroad there for 31 years, and was a union rep. And, I departed on cordial terms with my old boss.

My stepson spent 6 years in the Navy as a nuclear electrician. When he got out, he took 2 years of finance in college, and dropped out. He needed a better job, and I offered to check for him, and he agreed. I called my old boss, and he agreed to do everything he could to help.

My wife mentioned that the night we were drinking, and the SIL, said "Oh that's great. Maybe they'll start him out at 25-30k per year. My wife replied, that I said, a union electrician, in the mills, would probably pull down 75-80k per year to start, and possibly 100k with overtime.

She went ballistic! "What! $80k per year to do nothing! That's outrageous. My husband has a degree, and he's never made more than $40k!"

I asked, what was his degree in? She said "English". I remarked, "A lot of good it did him huh?" I dropped out of high school and was pulling down 80-90k on the railroad, 10 years ago. (I have college since being hired)

Then, the shit hit the fan.