No one owes you status, respect or a copy of an ancient mariners uniform. Professional standing, remuneration etc cannot be demanded but will inevitably be dependant upon the rarity and value of your skills. They are not restricted to the western world! The skills of engineers and tradesmen of the past are now performed by Chinese girls with computer-controlled machinery. You cannot stop progress, you cannot demand that your trade is preserved in a time warp and to suggest that the events of 89 in Aus are in any way to blame for the apparent decline in status and standing are absurd. History is littered with attempts to stop the clock from the Luddites to Scargill et al.