Re: Door Slamming/Question

["Michael J. Salvo" <salvo@bingsuns.cc.binghamton.edu>]

On Thu, 6 Jul 1995, Jennifer Jordan-Henley wrote:

> And I would add, Steve and Beth, that I hear folks advising students 
> to compromise. Pick a major you love--who knows where it will take 
> you--but pick minors that will both enhance the major and/or provide 
> practical skills. 

a fine compromise proposal, jennifer

I have been interested in teaching a class to college seniors titled 
"Living and Enjoying on $10,000.00 a Year."  Four years of college life 
(at least for me and my peers) acted as the "internship" necessary.  A 
few posts have mentioned the material success of children (and selves) 
and it got me to thinking.

I don't make much (I would be teaching the class above through a purely
anecdotal/experiential syllabus) but the personal rewards I receive are
emmense, all while I delude myself into beleiving I am earning valuable
experience.  Yet I make enough to survive.  I am single, so I understand
that a family would need more income, yet I am constantly critical of the
conspicuous consumption surounding me. 

Surely I am appalled that CEOs (and college presidents) make many dozen
times more money than average workers, and I talk about it whenever I can,
(witness here) yet I always find myself asking how much do I need to
survive, to live, and to enjoy life?  My major is about who and what I am
and how I would like to enact my life alongside others.  Much of what I
need and desire to do can be accomplished rather inexpensively.  (I wish I
had more income available to buy books and invest in travel, though.) My
wishes in life cost time, effort,and perseverance, not to mention
intellectual effort.  None of these equal money to me.  But then again, I
never did come to understand (or accept) capitalism.  ;-)

How much do we or our children have to "make" to be labelled successes?  
How many jobs would we be willing to accept even if they were "out of our 
field" or "beneath" us?  And, finally, is it reasonable to expect *every* 
man and woman to be employed in a salaried "job"?

I label myself successful, although I would love to help redefine the 
meaning of "work" to fairly redistribute the wealth produced by
technological mass-production.

pinkly,

mike