tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480995.post2471330933756624625..comments2023-07-16T09:43:40.228-04:00Comments on The Conversation: The high cost of low livingJonathan Pottshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18433924194960127561noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480995.post-73446804566145021742006-12-27T19:39:00.000-05:002006-12-27T19:39:00.000-05:00I think it would be safe to assume that. I think ...I think it would be safe to assume that. I think Pennsylvania still has more teacher strikes than anyplace else in the country.<br /><br />I'm not sure what you mean by a "dearth of skilled labor." There are shortages in certain types of skills, but some of that is temporary, and some is not unique to Pittsburgh (machinists and nurses, for example, are in short supply everywhere).Harold D. Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09456985337057537522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480995.post-47836905800474963872006-12-26T10:23:00.000-05:002006-12-26T10:23:00.000-05:00Harold,
Would it be safe to assume that the reason...Harold,<br />Would it be safe to assume that the reason that teaching and some of the building trades have relatively high salaries due to strong unions? Interesting that our school districts pay so well relatively speaking even though we have a glut of teachers, at least at the elementary level. (And no, I'm not making an argument for paying teachers less money.)<br /><br />I also seem to recall that this region has a relative dearth of skilled labor. Could that also be reflected in higher pay for some of those professions?Jonathan Pottshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18433924194960127561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480995.post-45481734084295610682006-12-26T10:18:00.000-05:002006-12-26T10:18:00.000-05:00Thanks for weighing in Harold.
And Sean, I feel ...Thanks for weighing in Harold. <br /><br />And Sean, I feel like that song has been used by someone else recently, like maybe in a commercial.Jonathan Pottshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18433924194960127561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480995.post-50648383178285187032006-12-25T19:04:00.000-05:002006-12-25T19:04:00.000-05:00Hey, I screwed up on that Kinks song at the end of...Hey, I screwed up on that Kinks song at the end of the Sopranos. It was a Kinks song performed by Camper Van Beethoven, with an amazingly Ray Davies sounding vocal.Sean McDanielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13991103240602401327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480995.post-25632803843278337092006-12-24T18:16:00.000-05:002006-12-24T18:16:00.000-05:00Low salaries are definitely a problem here, and it...Low salaries are definitely a problem here, and it's not just anecdotal. I wrote a column about this in the Post-Gazette in September (http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06246/718408-28.stm) and there is more data on my website (http://www.pittsburghfuture.com/economy/salaries.html)Harold D. Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09456985337057537522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7480995.post-79327278911049460872006-12-24T00:14:00.000-05:002006-12-24T00:14:00.000-05:00i think the problem with payscale in this town is ...i think the problem with payscale in this town is that the job market has too many middle manager positions that are as far up the corporate ladder as most people can get. <br /><br />in other words, there aren't that many good jobs here between entry level and middle manager and the very top positions in an organization. <br /><br />we're kind of like a giant set for a real-life version of "the office" and there are far too many david brents around (i've only watched the british version. i don't know what steven carrell is called in the us take on the show). and nowhere for anyone with talent or ambition to go — except alexandria, VA. <br /><br />now for a moment of joy. my local beer distributor has a stack of real rolling rock that is three cases wide and at least 20 feet high. i'm in heaven...for at least the next 6 months.Sean McDanielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13991103240602401327noreply@blogger.com