The lack of good management - not a skills shortage

[MeJasonT]

Thanks Rangi,
I’m surprised to hear there is a similar situation in New Zealand, It always comes across in our media that you have a good quality of life out there.
wow, Interesting.

[MeJasonT]

It would be nice to think that engineers could finally get some respect for their input to society.

Engineer as in someone who works in the capacity of engineering and not the title given to those select few academics.

A first year nursing student isn’t called a bed pan operative or told they are not nurses until they have a masters in medicine
Care workers although very poorly paid and treated at least get the title of their profession, it would be nice if at least they could be promoted to the superior level of technician like a hairdresser.
Yes they have a bad habit of de valuing those who actually do the work. Nobody likes solicitors (unless you need one) and yet they are amongst the highest paid with privilege and title.

Its a shame we cant get our voices to be heard around the world and the message to spread like this pandemic.
Which incidentally is wiping out more working class people than it is the rich - I have yet to hear of a single celebrity who has died of covid or CEO of an international company. Something sets them apart from the rest of us $$.

We need ELM, engineers lives matter, they would be screwed without us.
I have a few debates with my good lady which i nearly always loose, The male/female topic is often discussed. I like to mention that every single appliance and aid used has been designed and manufactured by men to make their lives easier, we have endured harsh environments, been poorly paid worked with dangerous substances and had some employers who by definition should be classed as slave masters. I welcome ladies into engineering but don’t expect it to be a picnic, they receive higher standards as a result of being given a much higher respect than men in the work environment as a result of their fight to be treated more fairly. I’ve yet to see an employer who says i treat my male staff like **** so you will receive the same conditions. Gender neutral should mean gender neutral.
Will the Me2 movement ever come out and say we want all people to be treated the same and it’s about time things improved for our men as well.

[Rangi]

We do have a good quality of life where many of us "work to live rather than live to work". Sport and the great outdoors are still the recreational choice.
How ever, back on the subject, the removal of the apprenticeship systems and an emphisis on getting a degree was a retrograde step.

[Toolmaker51]

Sure thing Jason; aware of your sea service quite some time. I think it was during posts about UNREP. Also identify with the awareness, concerns, and personal traits detailed in post #9 . Should you, or other readers feel need to bounce those around with another brother of a different mother; don't hesitate, just hit PM. Two heads are better than one, right? Warning, [tongue in cheek] my identity rides along with music & lyrics; via any mood I need can be lit up. And no one questions if I inhaled...ever.

Can't pick exactly when I noticed 'we' [makers, engineers, craftspersons] have very parallel sets of interests; not narrow but interconnected, in that abilities in one are utilized elsewhere. The interesting facet, no pattern is apparent. The idea to create a maker space in my region; came about visiting one 70 miles away. I was disappointed in what they had listed as metal working equipment and capabilities. I need access to those as means to bridge chasm of moving equipment in to hooking up electrics. It's clear others will have different requirements, but have not means or place to accomplish them. My equipment list rivals any commercial facility in several ways, bettering a few. Things are in place for a trade school, maker-space, DIY tool rental, tool sharpening, even a manufacturing 'museum' operating under banner of so far unnamed toolroom, fabrication and repair shop.
None will ever hear me say "always did it this way". I hate that with a passion; proper response should be "this way works, but...." always look for improvement.