I came from janitorial work and temping. I am forever grateful for what programming has given me -- especially these days, where I make enough to live on and get to work on meaningful projects.

An aside, but I am truly concerned that our path from working to professional class via tech work is closing up behind us.

I think the key is the understanding that programmers are are properly paid for their work, and now we need to make sure teachers, janitors and garbage men and the like get to have good, stable lives. And yes, I think janitors and garbage men should make as much as programmers.