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Originally posted by 930addict
Our infrastructure is already established. It is not cost effective for U.S. companies to switch to, say, smart visa cards that are so popular in Europe and Asia. High speed Internet over cell phones has been available in Europe for quite some time but here it is just starting to make an appearance. In South Korea, 60% of all households get their TV signal from broadband Internet connections. Necessity is the mother of invention. If we don’t need a new credit card system, a new cellular infrastructure, a new broadcast technology or to go to the moon, then what are supposed to invent? I know there’s always something but think about it. Our nation does have it all – thus the complacency.
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We also are much larger than any of those nations except China. I don't think rural mainland China has great infrastructure if something like 700 million Chinese make less than $1,000 a year.
If we had a high tax rate and an area the size of Texas, I'm sure we could also afford to keep it well maintained and enjoy new technology. I think that's part of the problem- the return from sparsely populated areas like Nebraska and Wyoming don't justify the investment for private industry.
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I believe we need to see changes in the market before you'll see folks get back into the sciences and mathematics. I have a degree in Civil Engineering, and one reason I am not currently in the field is low pay. Even after climbing the ladder, the pay would not grow significatnly, despite having far greater responsibility and longer hours.
When engineers are in demand, I would hope to see wages raised. Of course, the other option is having wages for lesser jobs ( I will lump bidness, management, etc in this class) decrease. It disturbs me to see some jackoff make 6 figure incomes because he's at good pimping mortgages. Of course, money isn't everything. I knew Civil Engineering was the bottom rung in engineering (regarding pay, difficulty, and sophistication).
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Please tell me more. I'm interested in going for CE, and not for any superficial reason like money. I enjoy trying to improve the physical world. I thought it was a secure profession that paid okay, which satisfies me if I'll enjoy the work.
Oh, and I do think they should reissue $2 bills or coins here. In Europe, they were very useful.