In your post, you have stricken out the word bought, and replaced it with the word elected. I’m pretty sure you meant it the other way? Now, if the state legislature were faithful representatives of their constituencies, then it would seem highly appropriate to me that they should override the decisions of engineers in the face of the demands of the people. Remember, true Democracy gives the people exactly the government they deserve. However, when it is because of campaign finance (as it always is) that a given policy decision is made, everybody who votes yes should be summarily executed and their seats offered to somebody who is prepared to faithfully execute the will of the people or reap the whirlwind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwjXoHLP_7U

Thanks for posting this. There isn’t enough discussion on this right now, so I’m going to contribute too.

As I see the big picture, the US economy was churning along at an artificially-accelerated pace for many years. People were spending money that didn’t exist- and everyone was fine with it, because everyone was doing it. Then, all the sudden, the debt had to be collected, and people realized that everyone rushing ahead wasn’t keeping the playing field level and the books balanced because some people run faster than others. The lenders were lending because they trusted that the winners would eventually share some of their spoils, but eventually they stopped sharing. Then, the lenders either had to collect the debt or perish, and so they collected, and they pulled everyone that was artificially ahead of the game down with them. Now, everyone is playing the waiting game, waiting for the playing field to level out again.

It used to be that regardless of who was running how fast, engineers could always get a job. The nature of our profession is that we rise high on the tide of success, and yet still don’t fall so hard when it wanes. This is usually a pretty good gig- the reward we get for paying it forward during the many hard years of undergrad. Therefore, quite expectedly but unfortunately, our profession was way at the head of that artificially-accelerating economy. Now, we’ve been pulled back down to Earth, and we’re all waiting, just like everyone else.

So yes, this is hurting Engineering, and we feel that is not right. However, everyone is being hurt by this, and we’re just getting our fair share. I’m sorry that you haven’t found work yet. But just remember, you are in a very good position. You have an Engineering degree from one of the best engineering schools in the nation. Think of how far ahead that puts you compared to everyone that graduates from a community college, junior college, or with a non-technical or professional degree. Unfortunately, for recent engineering grads, it’s just not a buyer’s market right now. There is a high supply of much more experienced engineers out there willing to work for much less than before, and they have the edge on all of us. Just remember–they were riding high on the top of that economic wave when it came crashing down. They lost their careers, everything they had worked for with those companies for many years. I think right now, they could use the jobs a little more than the rest of us younger engineers, we who can weather out this storm a little better. Most recent engineering grads don’t have families that need food on the table tonight- another plus/minus of our choice of profession.

All that being said, this is undoubtedly a huge strain on Civil Engineering, and the engineering profession, as a whole. I do agree with you that state licensing boards and companies nationwide need to buckle down on PE requirements to make sure that there is no dishonesty in our profession. I hope, and am sure, that they recognize this strain and are reacting accordingly. It’s their job. But, if they aren’t, it’s our job to keep them in check. They have the responsibility–on paper–to uphold the professionalism of engineering. But, it is each engineer’s moral obligation to ensure that we keep them, and each other, in check. Off paper, the responsibility of professionalism is all of ours. That’s why I’m a member of the Order of the Engineer.

-G$/HK