[TomGuy]

The real problem is that useful degrees are hard. And far too many college age kids are soft...

In the 70s and after, the community college concept grew like wildfire. Too many 'kids' who formerly would have been directed to trade schools were re-directed to community colleges.

Then, more of those same students were coerced into liberal arts/BA/BS programs at regular colleges.

Those colleges (community and regular) lowered standards to maintain the numbers of students in order to get FED and state money.

That has been going on for nearly half a century.

[miss marmelstein]

The closing of the trade schools and the forcing of kids into college was a disaster for this country.