To have and to have not [techno-haves and have-nots]

Since PCs and other digital innovations are the fastest growing industries in the country, they are the main factor of growth in the higher income occupations. In other words, the wages for techno-have-nots are lower than the wages of the techno-haves. This gap has widened in the last two decades due to the diffusion of advanced information technology. Every year the techno-haves come out better. That adds up over a lifetime. In the background are issues about the quality of life. The techno-haves may wash dishes during the summer break from college, but many techno-have-nots never get jobs outside the kitchen. The techno-haves may change the oil in their cars if they have the time, but the techno-have-nots might do it to earn money. In short, the techno-haves get access to better opportunities. While this is no guarantee for a better life-existence is far too uncertain for that-it is an advantage year after year. The birth of the PC did not start these divisions. It is just this era's flashpoint. In previous generations the flashpoints involved access to transportation (cars and trains), telephones (at work or at home), and other modern goods.