A new Harris poll has ranked some professions and found some interesting trends, namely that some occupations have lost prestige while others have gained. Call it the 9/11 effect, but suddenly, we are appreciating our workforce occupations a lot more than we used to.

Congratulations to teachers and firefighters. Condolences to real estate agents and bankers. Were they undercut by the bursting of the so-called housing bubble or because they simply don't treat people with enough integrity?

While the survey only measured 23 professions, it's no surprise that scientists ranked higher than actors. But it is surprising and delightful that over 60 percent of adults believe firefighters have the most prestigious job. Also ranking high were military officers, doctors and nurses.

Dropping lower in prestige were accountants, stockbrokers, and business executives ... hey, you starting to see a trend here, Wall Street?

All kidding aside, I'm really crying with you. Journalists were ranked by less than 20 percent of adults as prestigious.

But the real razzies were reserved for real estate agents, bankers, stock brokers, union leaders and actors -- with only five percent of survey participants' approval.

The survey didn't explain just what exactly makes a job prestigious, but the lesson is clear -- if you save lives, your job has high prestige. If you screw around with people's money, you have low prestige.

That's something we can change if we want to. Real estate agents and journalists can obviously do a better job.

Just treat people like you're trying to save their lives.

Published: November 29, 2007

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