Once upon a time there was a larger need for a job function than there were trained individuals to fill that need. Hence the job function paid very well and all were happy. The lead time for training for an entry level position in this job function was very short, so many people, who wouldn't otherwise have any particular interest in performing that job, were drawn into performing it for the money, and good money it was, and many were happy and many more joined.
Then, as things began to change, as they almost always do, the number of people trained to do the job had grown, and the need for the job had shrunk, and the pay for the job had also shrunk [for the same reason that it had grown in the first place]. Thus the job field was overfilled, with many of the people overfilling it having no particular love of the job itself, having only been drawn to it for the money which was no longer there. These people, many of whom were now very experienced in the job having enjoyed the money through the golden years, now felt too invested in the job to change, even though the money was no longer there, and there was much sadness.
They began to look around and ask "Why do we make less than those fellows?" "Because those fellows band together." "We should band together." But these fellows are not the same as those fellows. Never have been and never will be. If they were, they'd be those fellows.
But they just want to do what they've learned to do, working with their friends, remembering when times were better.
Insert Zeppelin reference:
Theres a lady who's sure
All that glitters is gold
And shes buying a stairway to heaven.
When she gets there she knows
If the stores are all closed
With a word she can get what she came for.
Ooh, ooh, and shes buying a stairway to heaven.
Theres a sign on the wall
But she wants to be sure
cause you know sometimes words have two meanings.
In a tree by the brook
Theres a songbird who sings,
Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven.
Ooh, it makes me wonder,
Ooh, it makes me wonder.
Theres a feeling I get
When I look to the west,
And my spirit is crying for leaving.
In my thoughts I have seen
Rings of smoke through the trees,
And the voices of those who standing looking.
Ooh, it makes me wonder,
Ooh, it really makes me wonder.
And its whispered that soon
If we all call the tune
Then the piper will lead us to reason.
And a new day will dawn
For those who stand long
And the forests will echo with laughter.
If theres a bustle in your hedgerow
Don't be alarmed now,
Its just a spring clean for the may queen.
Yes, there are two paths you can go by
But in the long run
Theres still time to change the road you're on.
And it makes me wonder.
Your head is humming and it wont go
In case you don't know,
The pipers calling you to join him,
Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow,
And did you know
Your stairway lies on the whispering wind.
And as we wind on down the road
Our shadows taller than our soul.
There walks a lady we all know
Who shines white light and wants to show
How everything still turns to gold.
And if you listen very hard
The tune will come to you at last.
When all are one and one is all
To be a rock and not to roll.
I looked these lyrics up because I thought I'd quote the "Yes, there are two paths you can go by, But in the long run,there's still time to change the road you're on" line, but as I read it, I thought the whole thing was pretty applicable.
mgm