Professionals and Experts

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In Those Days, I always thought that a professional was one that obtains his expertise by spending an extraordinary amount of time getting a formal education in a specific field. People like scientists, doctors, lawyers, bankers, morticians, professors, and clergy, were called professionals.

And then there were experts. These were people who developed a particular knowledge of a subject though personal experience, training, and lower level education such as trade schools. People like artists, plumbers, cement workers, janitors, auto mechanics, police officers, gardeners, and the like.

Now Days, it seems everyone calls himself a professional. And it seems a professional is now defined as anyone who gets paid for his skill or expertise. In addition to the skills previously mentioned, atheletes, entertainers, journelists, gamblers, fishermen, photographers, thieves, janitors, and writers, all call themselves professionals (send me your check so I call call myself a professor of wisdom).

I once trusted any professional. I never questioned my doctor, an attorney or banker's advice, and clergymen were the best. But now, it seems many professionals are driven by their greed for power and riches. And now, I really trust a very few of those calling themselves professionals. Attorneys are at the top of my list. If you've every testified in court, or even watched a trial on TV, you know what I mean. Bankers and financial professionals come in a close second because they truly don't care about you, just your assets, and will do anything to get a piece of them. Doctors are a distant 3rd, but are rising as I see them writing precriptions for heavy drugs whenever the see fit. Some are killing more people than they save. A prescription for marijuana to treat allergies? And although the clergy have not yet made mylist of untrusted professionals, some are testing me.

So, what's the point here? The point is that this place is one toke over the line when examined through the Thought Dock.
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