note: I am a 3x entrepreneur and my opinions are based on my 2 decades of experience in IT.
2. I know a number of good developers that are respectable, they just don't have the work experience in the form of "Worked at X for 2 years". A quick gander at github can reveal a number of highly skilled projects done out of self creation and not sourced from a company.
3. I haven't come across many "self entitled" programmers, but certainly many self entitled managers and business owners whom wave their hands around in the air acting like they know something they don't. Too many MBA's and people running companies they know little to nothing about, and base their "practices" almost entirely off confirmation bias. Managers and owners are by their nature more prone to incompetant brattiness - humans like to think power = competance.
4. Software dev has become more like making music - everyone does it, very few get a record deal and make good money. Whether the music is 'good' isn't much of a relationship with having a job in it or not. Plenty of bad devs with good resumes.
> "their unemployability is exacerbated by their attitude problems"
I'm trying to remain polite about this, but with the tone and attitude you strike, I'm having a hard time taking your opinion for anything other than bitter frothing. Maybe you can elaborate on why you believe they're entitled, have attitude problems, or are brats.
Since you asked, I speak with the experience of starting 3 businesses across Pharma, Defense and Media industries. I have also been involved in hiring multiple people across sectors, both in tech and non-tech jobs. As you also know, for defense that involves White-as-Wonderbread US citizens only, I also have interviewed almost exclusively from a certain complexion-gender combination club. Thus have formed my own pattern recognition, with an n of several hundred. If you are open to listening I can share a few illustrative anecdotes. Admittedly my posts are just opinions as I can only offer my own perspective. Although this study, and multiple others, seems to support my viewpoint.
p.s. Truth hurts.
On the other hand, pharma as a concept certainly needs to exist to save lives. As a Canadian, pharma is not so bad here, but I believe their existence as a for-profit* entity is contrary to the purpose of universal healthcare, which I think is a common enough sentiment. American pharma, however, actively profits from the inequality inherent to the (rather evil) lack of universal healthcare system. Any positives for society seem strictly incidental, as exemplified by the price of insulin.
I also agree with your point regarding profiteering. This behavior can be observed in many industries, not just pharmaceutical, but it seems a more egregious violation when it affects our health or the well-being of someone we know.
Your comment grabbed my attention because I couldn't immediately think of anything to support the sentiment of it being immoral to work in the pharmaceutical industry so I was naturally curious to find out.
Thanks for taking the time to share your perspective.