Re: Midrange Jobs National Discussion

I've been reading this whole string with interest (and a little humour). To 
think, the whole thing with the subject line of "A National Discussion" was 
started by a Canadian. Most of us (from Canada) have more difficulty getting in 
to the U.S. to work than if we were born in Poland or China. The annual "green 
card" lottery is proof of that. We are not eligible. I bet he's laughing a 
little too.

When we all were kids, our parents talked to us about the "facts of life". What 
they didn't tell us, because they didn't know, was that out-sourcing, whether 
it be on-shore or off-shore, would be a fact of life too. I'm a damn (oops) 
good CoBoL programmer, a mediochre RPG programmer and don't know squat about C# 
and some of the newer ones (but I'm learning). What I do know very well is how 
business works and how systems and data interact with one another. At my age, 
if I'd locked myself in to any kind of programming, I'd be left far, far behind 
by the young bucks coming up and hungry to take my job. What I decided to do 
instead is understand the business and, more importantly, the data behind the 
business. It may be a very controversial statement but there are very few 
programmer's out there that can truly see the global picture. Those are the 
jobs that will be "sent out". If you want to get ahead, spend your time 
learning the essence of the business that you are in not in
 learning how one of the 3000 programs that you have works. 

Gord

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