Friedman

The nut graph of Tom Friedman's column today.

"That world is gone. It is now a more open system. Technology and globalization are wiping out lower-skilled jobs faster, while steadily raising the skill level required for new jobs. More than ever now, lifelong learning is the key to getting into, and staying in, the middle class."

Strip away Friedman's flat earth mumbo jumbo and what it really means is that you have to work harder and spend more ("lifelong learning") just to maintain the wages you currently have. Indeed, he recites all of the additional responsibilities of a NY Times reporter, presumably with no corresponding increase in salary.