The issue isn't the education of the male but rather the declining value of the university product and the perfectly reasonable response to that; the smart man turns away.
The true value of men who can 'fix things' will not become apparent until the Great Depression of the 21st Century begins in earnest...
As much as I would agree with you, you know that the chattering class would regard rejection of college as a poor choice. Their conception of a bright, educated person is very narrow indeed.
The issue isn't the education of the male but rather the declining value of the university product and the perfectly reasonable response to that; the smart man turns away.
Brilliant points, Muir, and as a male with a BA in English and working on my MA, I can say that you are spot on with your assessment. The problem with Gen Y is that they don't want to work. They universally want to take the path of least resistance, and turning wrenches at the local Tire Kingdom can get that done. Unfortunately, you then have a relationship in which the man is a blue collar nobody, and the woman is an upwardly mobile career woman. Thus you have the blue collar work ethic propagating amongst the family, and they're turning out more wrench-turners.
Absolutely NO disrespect intended to mechanics, my old man is one, but without the propagation of education as a means to a better ends, the kids are going to be fine working at $12/hr. It's easier to live with mom and dad, pump gas into the car, drive around with friends, and work when you want to. Who needs 40 hr. work weeks and pressed shirts when you can smoke pot, party, and live with mom and dad until a sugar momma comes around?
Absolutely. One thing I've found as I've grown older is that just about everyone has something they know a lot about. They may know nothing about computers, but can rebuild an air-conditioner. Both skills are critical in the modern society. I think it's a real shame that the "trades" are looked down upon by so many. I appreciate my mechanic because he has applied himself to learn the ins and outs of mechanical things in a way I've never had time to. I'm a professional computer nerd, who will gladly fix his computer if he'll fix my motorcycle.