pergradus said:
Just what college students investing enormous amounts of money into their education want to hear - they may have no jobs when they graduate!
I'm sorry, but if that's true, it would be about the 200th profession in the history of our country which may have originally been financially lucrative but is now riddled with over-competition or saddled with unwelcome, but necessary fees.
Those who figure out how to retire at age 45 don't do so by investing "enormous amounts of money into their education." They do it by seeing the handwriting on the wall, by surfing the waves (ahead of the waves), and by investing in educational opportunities (not the expensive ones) which give them a distinct and unique advantage most people don't possess.
Translated, that means that by the time curricula is offered in major universities, when it comes to rising to the top of that line of endeavor, the folks floating in the water are already 2/3 the way up the face of the wave, with the crest about to pass beneath them. Only the winners manage to correctly time the waves and ride them home. The rest fight for scraps in the backwash.
It's as much art as it is science. In fact, if science had anything to do with predicting economic cycles, what's the "next big thing," or riding various economic waves, they'd have done so long ago. Perhaps a few have, but if so, they're either simply not "sharing the wealth," or their "secrets," once leaked, enter the CAPM's "efficient market" hypothesis and because relatively worthless.
Folks, this fundamental truth isn't limited to science. It's been around since we figured out how to build a better, more comfortable cave from stone, stick, wood, grass, mud, etc. Some folks get it, many don't. I hope you all get it, as you're all good people. The one's that got ahead had four qualities:
1. They saw the wave.
2. They knew enough about the situation in which they were into recognize the rising crest of the wave.
3. They had both the guts, as well as the resources, to paddle into the wave so as to catch it.
4. They had the skill to ride it home.
Even if you're an Einstein, only one of a hundred Einsteins are "rescued" into a successful career and retirement.
If you're a sub-Einstein, you still have to go through steps 1 through 4.
If you're just an average scientist,
work hard. Dedicate yourself for 20 to 30 years, and
if you're lucky, you might wind up earning a pension between 1/3 and 2/3 of your base salary.
Alternatively,
you could be smart. Ditch the old paradigm. Don't buy into the old "put yourself into hock for half the rest of your life" mentality. Instead, figure out what the next big thing is, position yourself to ride that wave before it crests, and do whatever it takes to ensure you know enough to ride the wave once it comes crashing down.
I know I'm speaking in metaphores. Those of you who "get it" know exactly what I'm talking about. Those who don't will have to wait for someone to write a book. Unfortunately, I'm not that guy, and by then, it'll be too late.
One genius who did write a book along these lines that's fairly void of time constriants is
https://www.amazon.com/dp/158008270X/?tag=pfamazon01-20.
Evo said:
Writing to your political representatives, signing petitions that go to them, etc... is how the average citizen makes their elected representatives know what they want and why. Zz is encouraging people to contact their rep and explain why they feel the budget cuts are damaging. The politicians don't know didly about what they're voting on in many cases. That is why input from people that are affected is so important.
Evo, while for the life of me I can't figure out why you keep slamming closed one thread after another, I agree with you 100% about politicians not knowing about most issues brought to their attention.
Letter's to Congressmen largely get lost in the wash.
I like to prepare briefs, which, "briefly" explain the issues commensurate with both their and their constituent's interests, provide a few alternatives, as well as a recommended final suggestion.
I usually like to leave it as a "no-brainer" solution, but I've often found while conducting the research to support these briefs, I was the one off-base, that my ideals, or preconceived notions lead me in one direction while the facts lead me in the other. Thankfully, I have no ties to anyone, so I shuck the smuck, and send it out as is. Yes, it ruffles some feathers among those who do have ties or life-long experiences which tell them otherwise.
Whatever. Reality is. Grasp it, adapt, and move on with reality as it is. Or get mowed over by the tide of the flotsam and jetsom which simply feed on whatever is floating in the waves.
