Posted By:
David Atkatz"And Barry, I'm not 'fornuate' to earn a lot of money. I was in court one day last week at 1 am. I hardly felt fortunate then."
Jeff, of course you're fortunate to make a lot of money.
I happen to be a physics professor--a theoretical physicist.
I spent six years in graduate school to earn my PhD. (As opposed to three years in law school.)
And I wasn't given that degree because I passed my exams--I had to do something completely original. Discover something new.
My first postdoctoral position paid $17k/annum. (Quite a bit less, I'll wager, than a starting lawyer made at a good firm in 1979.)
I've been in my office working well past 1:00 AM on countless occasions.
And, although I'm at least as educated as you, and work as hard as you, I'll bet I don't earn a third of what you do.
Why?
Because what I do is not valued by this society.
It doesn't make anyone any money.