The Lost Generation (The continuing job crisis is damaging the future of our young people)

Business Week ^ | 10/9/2009 | Peter Coy

[OldPossum]

study = student

[Professional Engineer]

Yer makin’ my head ‘spode.

Next you’ll be telling me to take the square root of -1.

[XenaLee]

"If we don’t rip the whole education system out from its intransigent liberal roots — from K-12 through Grad and Post-Grad, this will be the lot for our children’s children’s children."

You're oversimplifying the issue and the problem. You mention the liberal roots. Those liberal roots have webbed its way into EVERY aspect of government and of our lives, as proven by their current control of all three branches and probably the SC now.

So tell us, how does one go about ripping out those liberal roots from the education system? The real question should be, how do we go about eliminating Liberalism. Easier said than done. Barring some radical new movement or revolution, I just don't see that necessary change ahappenin now or any time soon (or maybe ever).

[Professional Engineer]

PS,,,, broken concrete is very heavy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Breaking it by hand with a 10# sledge is no picnic either.

[rabscuttle385]

LOL!

[ican'tbelieveit]

Your idea is great. My son has a disability that would keep him out of the military, though.

[ican'tbelieveit]

Precisely.

[dsrtsage]

In this day and age, if you got hurt on site, that construction company would be out of business.

[MrPiper]

The point is that contrary to what some Freepers believe, not every study can master all the curricula in a university (college is over rated.)

But yet, every study CAN master plumbing, electrical, HVAC, carpentry, auto mechanics, and NEVER be unemployed.....(or need to hire or get ripped by a crook mechanic!)self sufficient?

side note.. (HVAC in the south is known as a recession proof trade) People will hock their BMW to get A/C in the summer.

[ican'tbelieveit]

There are a couple of problems with the CURRENT economic situation. If hundreds of people are applying for the same job, the applicants without a formal education will go into the trash pile without a second consideration.

Here, to drive a truck, a CDL is required, additional education. And, in the instance of my son, they require the person to be 21. So he wouldn’t qualify for that job.

In the case of the person the article is about, is he close to a mining operation? Does he have transportation to get to the job. If you play out the whole situation, liberals have these inner city kiddos trained to rely on public transportation and make car ownership so outrageously expensive, the person starting out probably can’t afford a used car.

Now, the other day I was watching a truck driver on the road where they were doing road construction just sitting. I was thinking that would be sweet, no real responsibilities. While I am sitting there, I can have wireless connection and go to school online.

[Neidermeyer]

Those trades are good if you’re 18 or 20 but impossible if you’re older ... I know HVAC better than 99% of the people in the business (I have a mobile a/c cert) but if you do the comm college course and get the ticket the HVAC companies want you cutting your fingers bending sheetmetal for $8/hr (same as their unskilled mexican help) for at least 2 to 3 years before you get a truck of your own.. just can’t do it later in life when you have responsibilities.

[hinckley buzzard]

My late father told me that even in the depths of the depression successful salespeople had money.

Well, yeah. 25% unemployment means 75% are employed. The problem is that "English majors" like Dan think they are above selling men's wear for a living. They will learn otherwise, if things follow the likely trajectory.

[hinckley buzzard]

It is true, studies have shown, that only about 15% of the population has the unique configuration of cognitive talents that allow one to be a successful engineer. OTOH, anybody who can read can be an English major.

[hinckley buzzard]

Generation Stupid...as opposed to the Baby Boomers who spent like drunken sailors for decades and now expect my generation to clean up their messes *and* pay for their retirement?

Ho hum. Time to change the slacker's di-dee again.

[ntnychik]

Fingers crossed waiting to hear about my son’s interview.

[hinckley buzzard]

I have been out of academe for some time but I cannot conceive of a school with over 400 engineering students, in any discipline, or all engineering disciplines put together. I think you've been fed a bill of goods.

[hinckley buzzard]

Zero is no boomer. He makes the demographic cut by a year or two but he is definitely a member of the Slacker generation.

[MrPiper]

(I have a mobile a/c cert) but if you do the comm college course and get the ticket the HVAC companies want you cutting your fingers bending sheetmetal for $8/hr (same as their unskilled mexican help) for at least 2 to 3 years before you get a truck of your own.. just can’t do it later in life when you have responsibilities.

In the south, if you can define superheat and sub cooling and how to adjust each, you can have a truck come summer. (residential hvac) knock on doors in March, show vocational training, pass drug test, and work cheap to start, you can find work.

I took and passed state hvac contrtactors license test and passed, folks call me at night to come to see them for work.

[SnuffaBolshevik]

Well, yeah. 25% unemployment means 75% are employed. The problem is that "English majors" like Dan think they are above selling men's wear for a living. They will learn otherwise, if things follow the likely trajectory.

Sadly, I think you may be mistaken.

The Government makes it possible to exist via transfer payments of all sorts for subsidized housing with subsidized food and subsidized gas/electric. Use the cash to buy 40's and 7-11 burritos and life is good.

No longer does an empty belly provide an incentive to work.

[SnuffaBolshevik]

Ho hum. Time to change the slacker's di-dee again.

LOL - I thought when they turned 16 we wouldn't have to do that anymore!