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My hairdreser is self-employed and she makes double what her husband makes in his factory job. She is so successful, even though there is a ton of competition, that she takes no new clients and hasn't for years.

My husband is a licensed massage therapist w/a full practice comprised of marathoners, triatheletes, MDs, RNs, PTs,chiropractors, their referred patients and their families. Even though he charges less than some others in a competitive field, he makes about 50% above the median income. Except for having to pay our own health insurance, his costs of doing business are quite low. At some times, he is booked solid 3 weeks ahead.

I invented a product in 1985 that sells well to a niche market. I have some part-time hired labor, but otherwise, I do it all. Several snotty sales reps have told me they would have my product made overseas when I couldn't meet their requested discounts off wholesale and other demands which would have not been profitable. Hasn't happened, yet and 2003 was my best year ever. I keep about 75% of the revenue and am slightly below the US median income. There are times during an average year when my turn from order to shipping is 2-3 weeks, due to demand. I sell mostly wholesale. I do some massage, as time allows.

As to what to teach the youngsters, how about electrician, plumber, heating/air conditioning contractor? These are not going to be outsourced and are very lucrative businesses. If these kids are bright and good students, try medicine, including nurse practitioner, physician assistant, physical therapist.

BTW, when we went back to school in 1994, after 20 years as successful artisans making jewlery and woven clothing (market destroyed when the Dems rolled Bush I on taxes, gutting loopholes that kept crafts galleries alive), we had a choice of IT or massage therapy. We escaped being IT workers by a hair and are very happy w/our career choice. We were 51 & 43 at the time. We did not get loans and we kept our crafts business going for the 18 months it took to get the education, pass the board exam and establish a practice. I kept my craft manufacturing business because I didn't want all our economic eggs in one basket.

We both intend to keep working as long as we can, perhaps cutting hours or production so we can travel again.

We are both voting again for GWB.

As to what to teach the youngsters, how about electrician, plumber, heating/air conditioning contractor?

A nation of electricians and HVAC technicians is not likely to be a world-class military, economic, or technological power. Sure, they're all good and fine trades, but a broad-based economy is best for fostering the kind of environment that innovates, builds, and grows.

If these kids are bright and good students, try medicine, including nurse practitioner, physician assistant, physical therapist.

Again, all honorable service professions. A little weak on the R&D side, however. There are a few MD types doing research, but not many. I was part of a research group looking into treatment modalities for glioblastoma multiforme, a particularly refractory form of brain tumor. We had some neurosurgeons on the team but the only one who was any kind of scientist was from Japan. The US neurosurgeons were more like neurocarpenters, more interested in mechanical techniques for obliterating a tissue mass than solving the problem from a systemic approach, which, given the broad-based nature of the malady, was what was required.

The point is, a purely service-based economy is not one likely to be vigorous in producing new and better industries. Remember, none of us would be here doing what we're doing now (using a computer on-line) if a team of scientists working at a US research laboratory had not developed the semiconductor electronic device that replaced the vacuum tube. The transistor was invented by a team of physicists, not cosmetologists. Similarly, the superheterodyne circuit, the developmental basis for all modern wireless communications devices, was invented by a EE, not a hairdresser.