First, let me say I am glad to be finally able to have a constructive discussion on this matter. Thank you for the tone of your answers to my -I admit- "sick and tired" post.
I must start by saying that the fabulous "moi", even if working for a flag carrier, is not earning by far the amounts we are talking about. And I am not a CSD, so I am not speaking "pro domo mea" (hope latin is not too disturbing coming from a F/A!). .I do agree that maybe some of them are a burden to the community and their workload is nonexistant. I have written in a previous thread on the subject that many CSD could be easily replaced by a more performant video system (but be careful:I work every day with CCPs, AF's CSD, that are worth every penny they earn!). . . .BUT: the system made CSD/CCP what they are! The Company agreed on their salary! I object on the right for a professional to scrutinize another professional's salary and ESPECIALLY his "intrinsic value"! Because this game is neverending, and there is no winner: which profession would be next on the defendant box? Why should a 747 Captain earn more than a 767 one? Why a pilot with 25 years seniority should earn more than one with 15 years, when they are doing the same job? I know the answers to those questions so don't bother answering. What I am trying to say is that anyone should mind HIS OWN business without feeling entitled of bitching about the others, especially when <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0"> one isn't really competent on the subject (and to state that F/A only serve tea or coffee IS a proof that one is not competent, and probably not piloting anything bigger than Snoopy's house. Otherwise it would mean that the company made a hell of a bad job on his training. Treating F/As like waiters means that you are not using correctly the means you have at your disposal, and the day might come when you'll bitterly regret this mistake).
And about the training bla bla bla, I am STILL training, continuosly training, and the more I go on on the profession the more I realise how much you can still learn. What makes a trained experienced F/A an asset to an airline. Then let me blow my trumpet by saying that I consider myself worth my salary, and even a little more. I have attended University, speak currently 4 languages and am not what you call ugly <img src="tongue.gif" border="0"> . If my salary was not interesting I (and my collegues) would go for something else, and my management knows it.
The prejudice Land ASAP is talkin about is usually mutual, and carefully fed by management in order to avoid the danger of workers getting united. I personally don't have prejudice aginst anyone, knowing firsthand that there are good boys and rotten apples on both sides. Consequently I give the benefit of the doubt until proof of the contrary.