Nerds are very easy to take advantage of.
There are lots of theories regarding personality types that lead to speculation of why this is the case, but I'd really like to see some research that digs into this. Labor by developers is becoming more and more valuable, with this you expect more political strength.. but it does not seem to be happening.
People may not agree, but every argument I've heard against unionization contains this sentiment. Even if it isn't expressed so boldly.
The truly smart recognise it’s not their co-workers taking money away from them.
In capitalism the amount you get paid is dependent on supply and demand. The "value" you add is irrelevant if they could easily replace you with someone else.
Because before they were on the A-list, when they were no-names struggling to get by, it was the union rules that made it possible for them to eke out a living while they waited and worked for their big break, and it was the union rules that protected them from being exploited when they finally got their big break.
I feel like I notice this more in my dev friends than my non dev friends. I wonder why?
Please excuse my ignorance, but I was always under the impression that special interest groups are more likely to form for those whose conditions are pretty poor. I feel like programmers are treated pretty well compared to most other professions, especially when considering the lack of money and time required to enter the field so I'm not even sure what I'd want from a special interest group.