As a tech worker in a startup in the midwest I find this article vaguely insulting. On the one hand I am happy to see more acknowledgement that tech does happen in places other than Silicon Valley, but on the other hand apparently it is only "mid-tech" and only good enough for "blue collar" workers.
Bizarre article full of unsubstantiated claims (e.g. Midwest cities generally “spending years in the doldrums” huh? Twin Cities, Chicago, Kansas City, Indianapolis, etc. have consistently been doing well) and sketchy assumptions (mid-tech blue collar?). This whole tendency to bunch all mid-west cities together is ignorant and condescending. Also, “decline of mid west cities” is mostly a story of <i>cities</i> not necessarily the entire region or even the cities’ suburbs (Detroit’s wealthy suburbs are as rich as ever). Generally muddled piece.
> “The modern factory job is a mid-tech job”<p>No it is not.<p>Anyone could work a factory job. The least intelligent, least motivated people could punch a clock and earn a decent living tightening the same bolt a thousand times a day, all day long.<p>At best, mid-tech jobs are like modern clerking jobs, but even that's pushing it. The modern factory job is fast-food, and the lack of associated pay and benefits is a major problem.<p>Too many people are simply not smart enough to be programmers.
"mid tech" is an interesting descriptor because I'm doing the much the same work as Silicon Valleyites despite not having a degree. Not having a degree has cut me off from some opportunities but I can just pursue those in my own time.<p>I guess I find as I get older less value in the opinions of folks out in SV as I read more and more crazy things about the place and the environment out there. I do appreciate the opportunity for folks who love that environment to partake of it though.<p>I also appreciate the functional advances coming out of SV like libraries and frameworks that I get to use and improve my own work but at the end of the work day I love getting home to my .25 acre lot with my two dogs glad to see me and go for a nice walk in a green-belt.<p>I'm going to be dead some day so why not enjoy what I have.
I have family in the trades (electric & plumbing) - but I would love to hear from anyone who works in advanced manufacturing, automation, or other specializations about their career path and field growth/career longevity.<p>I am considering a career change. I went into k12 education due to the mission, but I'm burning out on the time/emotional investment in relation to the compensation.
Silicon Valley is mostly a place for group thinkers with a "get rich quick" mentality and rich parents. That was my impression after living in Sf working as a CEO for 5 years.