Wherin whiny med school grads bitch because they're only making six figures.

[duaiwe]

From an arcticle on Daily Kos about the health care system:

At the University of Washington medical school, which has a special program to take in some Idaho students, 87 percent of graduates are in debt. The median debt was $105,202 in 2006, according to a study published by the university

Comments

[duaiwe]

"But teachers (unless they get an M.ED.) go through 4 years of school."

Maybe it's different elsewhere, but at least in NYS, teachers (even in primary & secondary) are required to have, or work towards their masters degree. And at the college level many will have PHDs (and don't see commensurately higher pay). So in general, it's more than 4 years of school (and, frankly, that they let people teach ANYWHERE with 4 years at some random school is disturbing in itself. Medical students need 11-15 years of school to make sure they don't kill a guy, but Teachers only need 4 years of school, and can do FAR more damage. There's something wrong here. But I digress.)

I wouldn't have a problem with a salary difference based on schooling if it weren't 100% arbitrary. There's absolutely no correlation across the workplace. That there MAY be one in the medical field is coincidental, at best. Plus, my uber-socialist self has major issues with people making >$100k/yr. That's usually money that would be better spent on social services, and 99% of people making that much money just sit on it, or spend it in moronic ways, that includes "medical professionals".

Honestly, and not to be insulting, but all I'm seeing is that Big Corporations and human greed have basically made it impossible, or difficult, to be selfless. (HMOs preventing true universal health care and government provided "liability" mean Big Medical Corps & HMOs run the show.) I don't really think that's an excuse for not trying, though.

[phoenix_hawk]

Teachers in washington need to be certified (a process that will take a year of training), but it's smarter to try go get a master's degree at the same time if you can (my brother did both in the same year through a certain program), because the pay difference is substantial. They're required to take continuing credits, but not to actually complete a Master's in Washington State.

[jilu]

I'm not trying to be argumentative, because lord knows I'm a dirty hippy liberal to the core.

I've just had to be on the defensive lately.

Earlier in the week I was basically called not an antifeminist because I didn't actually call myself a feminist and it's people like me who put us back in the kitchen barefoot and pregnant. Which I was super offended about, because I'm very involved in several women's organizations and etc.

And then I had to defend the Delta which always gets picked on for being the armpit of America.

I'm just already up in arms. Trust me, even on my meager student salary I give a ridiculous amount of my cash and time to many (deserving and helpful) organizations. I don't see my charitable nature or volunteering time changing. I mean, take my money, my truck can last a few more years. I'm all about helping the people.

[jilu]

Ha, I didn't mean to reply to you ;> I'm not wearing my glasses and can't click.

[phoenix_hawk]

gotcha-I was wondering about that. I was thinking that somehow my post came off dickish when I didn't mean it to.

[jilu]

Well, having been located in impoverished areas, I tend to see a lot more of what the medical crew that is good than the bad.

I mean, I've been involved in projects that gave thousands of free flu shots in one day, I volunteer at a free clinic for those who are employed but not provided insurance and can't afford insurance on their own, I've done lots of volunteer stuff at St. Jude where you don't pay for anything regardless if you can afford it.

I'm also not saying people who make money don't spend it poorly, but that being said, I also see people on Medicaid driving Escalades and paying for food with stamps.

And I won't apologize for choosing a field where I will most likely make 6 figures.