American vs. Cheap

[RockSnake]

Nursing Shortage! If ever there was a case where capitalism does not work, it is the medical field.

I have several relatives in Nursing, Radiation Tech, etc. They regularly get offers for jobs in another hospital, clinic, etc. But the callers NEVER offer more money. All the facilities pay the same rates...but don't accuse them of collusion! If shortages were a reality, supply and demand SHOULD take-over, but only in the absence of controls. Beyond that, a low-end mechanic can make more money (per hr) than a nurse, and not have to worry about being blamed for a death or mistreatment.

As far as retraining. Most of us don't have the money necessary to support our families for 2 or more years while we learn these new skills (eg nursing), so that we can start-over from scratch.

It occurs to me that the comments regarding "retraining", "new reality", and "capitalism", ring surprisingly familiar. Something like "are there no prisons, are there no work-houses?".

Hopefully, my final comment: My father-in-law was layed-off from a job he truly loved, and never recovered. The remainder of his life, he managed to earn just enough money to buy food and liquor. He died diseased and penniless because of someone else's greed, and his emotional inability to recover. Is it better for society to abandon enthusiastic, motivated, workers in the name of capitalism?