What a nasty comment Nick, that you hope the recession is long and cold. You do realise what you are saying don't you? Wishing poverty and misery on all simply because you are peeved with some tradies.Thats a bit like me saying that I hope online medicine or medical tourism to say, Thailand, where you can get your operation and a nice holiday for 75% less than here, sorts out the lazy overpaid union controlled(AMA +plus all the specialist colleges)medical industry here.I don't say that because it is too simplistic.
As for using plumbers as an example it distorts the whole argument. They are on top dollar because of some advantageous legislation whereby only they can perform plumbing work(technically even a tap washer). This is different to most other countries where one can do their own plumbing and electrical work but not necessarily as a business. There are plenty of trades that aren't well paid, but perhaps that wouldn't suit the argument. Most tradies work very for what they get. The other thing is that even if we take 160K that is as a business owner vs 60k(?) for a nurse, who has zero risk of employer bankruptcy, retrenchment, having to chase money etc.Then lets compare hours worked and see if a nurse is doing their 80-90 hours/week including paperwork done in own time which a nurse doesn't do. As for the public health value of plumbers vs med profession, remember that more lives have been saved by plumbers and drainers than doctors. Hint, think of dysentery and cholera rates in cities worldwide before fresh clean water was piped in and sewerage was piped away. Does this mean anything?About as much as your jealous attack on tradies.
