I suspect this is EXACTLY the reason that where-ever exactly you work is finding trouble finding employees. You're possibly underpaid (in NZ, govt workers get less than private sector, but generally work less with less stress too).

From jyl

I find it slightly ironic that the war in iraq is to a certain extent a highly effective deficit-funded employment scheme. In my humble view (I'm not much for US history), there have been a few Republican admins which have used (indirectly) military spending as a prop for the economy. Those same Republicans criticised (and sometimes cut) other public spending...

Cam
It was no different in the Clinton administration. The US military and many of their civilian employees have always paid the price. There were large personnel and funding cuts during the Clinton administration...but the job did not shrink with the budget. Now the budget has increased, but so has the mission. Although my salary is perhaps a bit less than a comparable job elsewhere (at least per hour), I feel I receive reasonable compensation. That is all I ask. I am happy to be allowed to labor for this nation and our way of life. I, like many others have spent much of our lifetime sacrificing for our country in one way or another. Just as others before us have done. It is the least we can do. The rewards are enormous. Look at the freedom and opportunity this nation has given us and our families. The ability to do, go, or be whatever we dream...as long as we are willing make the necesssary effort and sacrifice. That is why people come here from all over the world for their own small piece of what we enjoy...that freedom...all I had to do was be born here.

I am happy to be allowed to labor for this nation and our way of life. I, like many others have spent much of our lifetime sacrificing for our country in one way or another. Just as others before us have done. It is the least we can do.

Unfortunately, I would class this (great) attitude as uncommon amongst people in general (whatever their political leaning or otherwise).

Hey fint, the minute you can show me how our military is doing anything to protect our nation from its real threats then I might think your patriotism driven workoholic status is anything besides self abusive and that the military budget is not bloated..

I think the world would be a safer place if people of your work ethic were kept busy keeping the bathrooms of the nation's fast rood restaraunts clean instead of getting overpaid to help kill innocent civilians who are unfortunate enough to live in a country on bush's hit list.

Now 350, If I were cleaning bathrooms, what kind of work would be left for you?
Do you really believe my job in nuclear weapons safety lacks in value and if I join you in the fast food industry....the nation will be somehow safer? With solid reasoning like that, you are a cinch for that high tech job you seek. Yep, what are the dangers of an unintended nuclear detonation compared with that of a dirty restroom. No toilet paper???Oh what terror!

For the last few hundred years, the world's financial markets have followed the manufacturing balloon around the world. London. New York. Tokyo. I think we were called the Sleeping Giant by the Japanese. No, the Sleeping Giant is in Asia.

Wages are going to seek an equilibrium level between countries, now that trade is becoming much more international. That's bad news for a country that has enjoyed, for a very long time, wages many times that of most of the rest of the world. Fasten your seat belts. Our beloved corporations are going to get really good at exploiting these changes.