Why are surgeons paid more than brick layers?

[MineralMan]

7. Part of it is the responsibility for a human life.

If the bricklayer does a sloppy job, the wall will probably still stand, even if it looks funky. If the surgeon does a sloppy job, the patient may die. Beyond that, I taught myself to lay bricks, and can do a pretty darned good job of it. I'm good with concrete block masonry, too, and can work with river stones, as well. All self-taught, with the help of a couple of books. I faced the entire front of my house in California with river rocks, and it came out great. I also built a concrete block fence around the back yard, and a large barbeque center out of used bricks.

I could not teach my self surgery and would not trust a self-taught surgeon or any surgeon who was not board-certified. You could trust me to build a masonry project for you, even though that is not my specialty. I wouldn't let me perform surgery on you, if I were you.