For your information, blue collar workers, people without college educations, have never recovered from the end of manufacturing. They have gone steadily downhill since the 70's. For them, it most definitely has been gloom and doom as they have nothing like the standard of living their parents did. Look at the cities of the Northeast, none of whom recovered from the collapse of manufacturing. I'm one of those Northeasterners who lost his job when manufacturing left.
I took some classes at a Community College and got a 2 year degree, and ended up in a much better line of work.
Oh, I'm sorry. My story doesn't fit your doom and gloom scenario, does it.
An exception doesn't contradict what was reality for most so don't be boastful.