Tangential, but I think the underlying issue is that too many people (smart or not) are herded into careers they don't want, simply so they can earn enough mone

Tangential, but I think the underlying issue is that too many people (smart or not) are herded into careers they don't want, simply so they can earn enough money to have the lifestyle they want. There are very few careers in America today that will enable a "middle class" (whatever that means nowadays) lifestyle. A nice car, a vacation every once in a while, a house to call your own, etc. "Smart" people often make the decision to obtain financial success via whatever means necessary, because being poor in America is decreasingly dignified and increasingly dangerous. And there is no "middle" option. I have no proposed solutions, just some bleak observations.