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Whether it's a lack of job retraining opportunities, or generational attitude, or simply personality, he has never contemplated a career change.

I'm not sympathetic, and there is something obviously missing from this portrait of despair.

When you're taking 50 percent pay reductions, it's time to think about finishing that Associates degree, opening your own business, or doing just about anything other than what is clearly not working.

Dad looks like a slacker to me.

Yup, another of the boomer crowd that felt that education ended in the 12 grade. My own father, now 64, is an example of the pre-war baby mentality. Don't learn anything, don't save for retirement, and don't try anything new. He's sold autoparts for 45 years and tried every get rich quick scheem he could find. Truck driver school, 4 weeks work and earm $25,000 a year, or more. Direct marketing, annoy your friends and co-workers until you loose your shirt. Selling crap at flea markets, more tiwanese screwdrivers sir? Anything except enroll in a real college and learn real skills.

Now, you'll say, he worked hard for me/us to get ahead and have a chance at college. Nope, when things started to go bad in the late 70's, he wanted his freedom, and didn't have a dime saved for college. This guy sounds just like him. I did so well, because he served as a good example of what not to do. Stand still and get trampled, then just cry and whine, when you discover your 1960s address-o-graph skills don't command the big bucks anymore.

So, what is this guy going to do for the next 10 years?