Re:Charles Bukowski: The Slavery of the 9 to 5
by jondubois on Tuesday January 24, 2017 @04:49AM
(#13470014)
Yeah, I think engineers have decent prestige, what we lack is business leverage. Which to me is the real indicator of class.
In terms of leverage, we are on par with administrative office workers, construction workers and labourers - It didn't have to be that way, but companies have managed to turn us into replaceable commodities.
I think that even sales people and HR recruiters these days have more leverage than we do.
Re:Charles Bukowski: The Slavery of the 9 to 5
by akanet on Tuesday January 24, 2017 @05:02AM
(#13470083)
I completely disagree. I was a software engineer, and I started a business alone, with no capital. It was pretty easy and I can't imagine how a business or HR person could have anywhere near the leverage I had by just knowing how to automate computers.
That might depend on where you are, but in my experience it seems like one of the more solidly middle-class professions around. Doctors and lawyers (if employed) enjoy more prestige, but cleaners, salespeople, etc. appear to enjoy less. Do you have a source re: lowest class?
Note that I refer to prestige and societal reputation, rather than remuneration.