25 years old and deep in debt

[Neil]

I'm sure they'll try and get the robber baron days back, but even if they succeed in this, a rising tide of violence will sort them out.

[Phillip V]

I'm sure they'll try and get the robber baron days back, but even if they succeed in this, a rising tide of violence will sort them out.

We need more gated communities with armed guards.

[Neil]

I'm sure they'll try and get the robber baron days back, but even if they succeed in this, a rising tide of violence will sort them out.

We need more gated communities with armed guards.

Armed guards won't stop a truck bomb.

[Jacob]

Nobody gives a fucking rat fuck about workers, dude.  That would be communism.

Says a non-worker.

Very unpleasant comment, even from someone like you.

[garbon]

It's true. My rage boiled over and that was an unfortunate stab from me. I apologize.

[Jacob]

Hey Ide - seems like the STEM thing isn't working out for plenty of people either:

http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/08/30/2558001/half-americas-scientists-laid-people-budget-cuts/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/29/sequestration-scientists_n_3825128.html

[Ideologue]

Half America's scientists laid?  We've got to get those numbers up.

[Ideologue]

In a more serious vein, the Western world is collapsing.  I never said that STEM people would be immune.  However, from the rubble, they will be the ones to survive and rebuild.  That is the value of a STEM degree.

Also, they might be able to get a new job during the winddown of our civilization, because they have degrees and experience people respect, rather than a degree that signals nothing more than the ability to read and write (maybe). 

[Jacob]

In a more serious vein, the Western world is collapsing.  I never said that STEM people would be immune.  However, from the rubble, they will be the ones to survive and rebuild.  That is the value of a STEM degree.

Ah... I was under the impression that your STEM rhapsodies were derived from feelings of job envy. From where I'm sitting, an unemployed Biology Post-Doc with $200K in loans is no better off than an unemployed Sociology PhD with dual B.A. in Fine Arts and History and $200K in debt.

[Ideologue]

They're much better off, Jake.

Like, a fifth of them intend on fleeing the country.  How well do you think that would work out for, let's be generous and say, the top fifth of history majors?

[Ideologue]

Let alone, let's say, lesser lights:

"It was here in Ploesti that the USAAF delivered a critical blow against the Nazi war machine."
"<I was going to hire you to wash dishes, but have decided you're probably more valuable as raw foodstuff.>"
"What?  Are you speaking Spanish?  I know Spanish."

[crazy canuck]

Hey Ide - seems like the STEM thing isn't working out for plenty of people either:

http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/08/30/2558001/half-americas-scientists-laid-people-budget-cuts/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/29/sequestration-scientists_n_3825128.html

Jacob, the title of the first article is incredibly misleading (consider the source )

In fact the article is not about "scientists".  They lumped in a bunch of others into their survey data, I assume because the data on scientists alone didnt suipport the point they were trying to make.

The survey respondents work in biology, chemistry, physics, geosciences, engineering, mathematics, economics, computer science, education, political science, and social and behavioral sciences.

The second article is more on point but most of the respondents (68%) are talking about insufficient funds to expand their research.  Not entirely surprising given the other fact listed in the article regarding the overall reduction in defence spending.  Also the article makes it clear that scientists have other options. 

[Phillip V]

College Enrollment Falls for First Time Since '06

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323932604579053392446025998.html

[Ideologue]

HAHA.

[garbon]

I don't really how that says much of anything given that the dip seems comparable to those blips in the past.