tion。 For example； had I continued on with my flying career； I would have sought a pany that had a strong pilots union。 Why？ Because my life would be dedicated to learn a skill that was valuable in only one industry。 If I were pushed out of that industry； my life's skills would not be as valuable to another industry。 A displaced senior pilot…with 100；000 hours of heavy airline transport time； earning 150；000 a year…would have a hard time finding an equivalent high…paying job in school teaching。 The skills do not necessarily transfer from industry to industry； because the skills the pilots are paid for in the airline industry are not as important in； say； the school system。
The same is true even for doctors today。 With all the changes in medicine； many medical specialists are needing to conform to medical organizations such as HMO's。 Schoolteachers definitely need to be union members。 Today in America； the teachers union is the largest and the richest labor union of all。 The NEA； National Education Association； has tremendous political clout。 Teachers need the protection of their union because their skills are also of limited value to an industry outside of education。 So the rule of thumb is； 〃Highly specialized； then unionize。〃 It's the smart thing to do。
When I ask the classes I teach； 〃How many of you can cook a better hamburger than McDonald's？〃 almost all the students raise their hands。 I then ask； 〃So if most of you can cook a better hamburger； how e McDona