When I look at the employment want adds I often see office jobs that require a level of proficiency with multiple Microsoft Office modules. I'm not sure that skill set qualifies them as a generalist.
The fine division of specialties that Adam Smith described doesn't always work out as intended. In the real world many of those repetitive jobs have been replaced by machines, and what workers that are left are often cross trained so they can be reassigned to different jobs as needed.
The skill set for many professions has evolved. When I was in school, slide rules and T-squares were essential tools for engineers. Likewise, the skill set for office workers has evolved.
A secretary/typist with the typing skill that Villeroy described was rare, witness all the typists erasers, correction sheets, fluids, ribbons and later self correcting typewriters. Shorthand was another skill required of secretary/typists that was essentially rendered obsolete by the productivity gains of the dictaphone. Also, today's office worker has spelling and grammar check functions to assist them.
In my experience it is the distractions that affect (or is it effect?) productivity. The introduction of cell phones allowed workers to direct their children from their office desk without tying up company phone lines. We had two employees whose work areas were close enough that they often spoke to each other while working, but when text messaging first appeared they also began exchanging numerous text messages each day. We had another employee who had a spreadsheet that he would instantly pop up to disguise the fact that he was actually internet surfing.
I recall a sign on the wall of the executive restroom where my wife once worked “Management is a series of interruptions interrupted by other interruptions”.
This kind of capricious despotism makes me really angry. At the same time I feel deep respect and sympathy for these true patriots who understand the importance of their work and develop creative solutions against their back-stabbing regulators from the freedom hypocrites.
Well said, Villeroy.
Actually, I believe Florida is considering raising the current age to buy assault rifles from 18 to 21.
Since the 1930's it was illegal for gun stores in the US to sell automatic weapons including assault rifles because their intended purpose is to kill people. Then in 2001 the sociopaths heading the NRA were able to buy enough politicians and most of those regulations were repealed. It remains illegal to sell fully automatic versions, but go figure, in most places bump stop devices are legal which allow the semi-automatic rifles to be converted to automatic.
robleyd you ask why? Too many Americans treat guns as toys, and assault rifles are the ultimate toy in their fantasy world where they pretend to be a military hero or believe they going to take out a bad guy someday. There are some who want to return to the good ole' days (if they ever existed) when just like in the movies, you strapped on your six shooter before walking out the door. I had one co-worker that destroyed his TV and nearly shot his wife. He was practicing his quick draw while watching a TV western.