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Perhaps you're right, but I just don't see these decisions exerting that much of an impact upon the broader economy.

Granted, advertising comprises a significant chunk of the U.S. economy, but I don't think it makes much of a difference whether or not these firms are filled with underwhelming male scriveners or their marginally more competent female counterparts.

Based upon the anecdotes in the memoir "Dry" I came to the conclusion that there wasn't much disparity in talent between the men and women who worked for these sorts of ad agencies.

The fact that someone who is an alcoholic-and spends most of the week in a semi-catatonic stupor-can manage to retain his job as an ad writer at what was presumably a moderately prestigious ad agency doesn't exactly lead me to believe this field is the equivalent of microbiology.

You are making some very astute and wise observations. Nevertheless, it IS a very, VERY HIGH-PAYING field. And, one that does -- or shall I say CAN -- exert an important influence on business, and, for that matter, on America's image abroad. The fact that MORE talented people -- qualified beyond belief -- are not in the field, is a shame. It is a shame for all of us. Because we are not where we could be.

In addition, it is a field NOT known for "training" or "mentoring." And, in my view, it is like teaching in that respect. Whenever you have professions like this -- where there is no established mentor system in place -- other forces take over. For this reason and many other reasons, I was overjoyed when a friend of mine recently told me her son was now an appretice plumber and electrician. That kid will actually learn something, and have the time to become highly skilled at what he does in his field, and -- perhaps someday have his own business. Good for him. VERY good for him.