Needing more than two PhDs to file taxes
This past week was the deadline for the joyous occasion of filing your 2011 taxes. This was the first time that DrWife and I have had to file taxes in the US in several years due to being overseas. For us, filling out our tax forms was a soul crushing lesson that simple math eludes us. At least we got a happy ending. In short, we’ve learned that either more education than two PhDs in Mechanical Engineering is needed to fill out your tax forms or the IRS and Congress needs to simplify the tax process. [Before I go on, I want to put a disclaimer in here. This post and forum is not meant to be a political statement one way or the other. Constructive criticism and comments will always be accepted. This is not meant to devolve into a political discussion about which political party contains the more out-of-touch…
The worth of employee knowledge
The picture to your left sums up the meaning of my post quite nicely. That little Gear in the (see that pun!) probably only costs a few cents to make on a large scale but it performs a vital function in the system. However, that doesn’t mean if it breaks, then it can’t be replaced. (photo credit to Despair Inc) This little analogy is exactly my perception of being a engineer stuck in Large Corporation. That is essentially how your’e treated. You don’t cost much compared to balance sheets that round off at the millions’o’dollars. And you do perform functions that are necessary quite necessary but you can be easily replaced if needed. This ties in directly with an article published in the NY Times by Catherine Rampell on how companies are spending on equipment and not employees. In summary, companies are getting huge tax breaks to spend a lot…