My professional mechanic buddy, who owns his own shop, has not, for years, been able to find a competent mechanics helper.
Bit problem!
I believe that starting soon, people who know how to do/fix/build things will find their wages increasing, whereas “desk occupants” in offices will find their wages decreasing. It really annoys me that tradespeople snd skilled workers don’t seem to get any respect.
It’s almost like people don’t trust management!
1) Bring manufacturing home from overseas
2) Get rid of illegal aliens
3) Close down worthless colleges giving out worthless degrees
4) Praise hard work and the pride in actually doing something useful.
Much of the blame for this rests with George W. Bush.
Let me explain. The urban high school where I taught had a robust trades program. And our carpentry program was probably the best in the state (no exaggeration).
Then Bush signed the ‘No Child Left Behind’ act. NCLB rewarded schools that did well on the math and English tests. Schools that did poorly were punished.
NCLB put zero emphasis on the trades. So what did principals across the country do? They dropped their trades programs and shoved everyone into advanced math and English classes.
Our trades classrooms are now empty, and have been for a decade. The kids who should have been in those classes - kids who like to work with their hands and build things - are now forced to study quadratic equations and English poetry.
Bush II wrecked a lot of things. This was just one of them. He can go to...
Sorry for the rant. But it’s a damn shame.
Even the Bill Gates of the world will need a plumber sooner or later!!!
For those who like animals & being their own boss outdoors-—there is a severe shortage of farriers (people who shoe horses0 in this country.
There are more horses in the USA today than before tractors came onto the scene.
A friend of mine’s nephew started getting in trouble in high school. His mother convinced him to enlist. While in the Navy he got training in Diesel engines and when he was discharged got his ASE certification. Diesel repair may not be the most glamorous job out there but he’s now making good $$$ and doing very well for himself, without any student loan debt from some overrated diploma mill hanging over his head.
ping
My Grandpa worked as a tool&die for one company - Michigan Brass - for 40 years (1930 - 1970) and yes, he was hired during the depression, in Detroit. He retired and lived 19 more years as a single man (he had outlived my Grandma and his 2nd wife) spending half a year in Fla. with my Uncle, the other half with us in Mich...
My Dad also a tool&die retired in 1998 and enjoyed over 20 years retirement, he just passed this past Feb...
Me? they started me as an apprentice working the tool crib, I enjoyed the good pay but (all important ‘but’), I decided I had a wanderlust so I joined the military...
If I had stuck with tool and die, I’d be retired by now...
Still putting my 40 hours+ a week here and NOT retired...
Some of the local schools have deemphasized sending unprepared kids to college to flunk out - have started partnerships with industry and apprenticeship programs again.
One of the saddest things I’ve seen on TV was a shot of a local high school where mostly minority kids were being shown how to use basic carpentry tools. It was obvious that none of them had ever held a hammer or saw before in their lives. My dad taught me - but I’ll wager that most of these kids don’t have a dad that can teach them anything beyond jimmying a car door. I also had wood shop and metal shop in school.
Blue collar comedy tour
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcQhnd-FHfo